The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-12-25
AGRICULTURIST.

was over, I'd she Slipped outN.the
sink-room d with undignifed haste
took shordht through the woods,
and Joined IT, as if she were return
ing from Hghbors.
NYou'd dEhter not to take to
tramping rofd the country SO much
with BaxteI she advised Polly on
one occasion folks will begin to talk
about you. fl. y
aTalk AIT me? what can they
say !" aslSe$olly.
aTbev'llhy. Baxter's making a
fool Of youEand they won't be far
from right.
Why sHuld he wish to make a
fool Of me- persisted Polly, the tears
gathering iIher eyes "Why should
he take theIrouble 2"
at ain'tIo trouble-it's amusing.
You're an dsy victim I reckon"
After tha Polly made an excuse
when BaxtE wished leave to go with
her on an brand, or begged her to
step outsid on fine twilights, and
listen to til whip-poor-wills !; she had
ALWAYS a shit to finish, the bread to
mix, the mix to set, or some homely
duty to deIin her. An older woman
than Pollykould have seen that Miss
Hannah hdself had set her heart on
BAXTER. folbwed him about like his
shadow. cArted him with sweet
meats, and fiattered him within an
inch of hialife.
"Raxtels that cute about a place
it's pity ID wasn't born twins" she
used to deaare. "Though ne be a
tramp THrnlv would add. But it
was lovc'siabor lost. Her batteries
fell upon dhoeding ears, as she was
not slow q discover. By painful de-
grees her been eyes took in the situa-
ton, and her emotions changed, as
the case bScame hopeless. from love
to hatred she seemed to echo the
poets assertion:
To love you was pleasant enough;
But ohl'tis delicious to hate you"
Neither was Polly's existence
made more agreeable al this time
Hannah'5 amusement was to thwart
Baxter ID his love-making; to send
him wild goose-chase mile or two
in the wlong direction, to put STUN
bling blocks in the way. But she did
not stop here: she suggested tt
Thornley's slow mind the possibility
of an eIspement, Of duty neglected
We EnoT anyrhingx s5oas - 3 s y
Did he have a recommendation ?
she darby insinuated. Didn't
caution you against taking him in
1t you lose anything through him AM
Polly, don't lay 1t to my door, that
all?
"Him and Polly!" gasped Thorn
ley. Baxter!" Hannah had hi
the mark at last. Blessings brighter
as they take their flight, Polly
might have lived at Thornly farm TO
a century, and Thornly never hav
found out that she was dearer to hin
than Hannah, until, some one els
should threaten to claim her. Ate
that Baxter could do nothing t,
please him; he lay in wait AM
watched the lovers as cat watche
mouse, and worried them as cruelty
One evening Miss Hannah entere,
the room where Polly was sitting il
the twilight.
Plotting mischief I reckon" sh
said. care you fond of darkness
because your deeds are evil ? Strik
a light, girl; I'd a roll of crisp banl
bills in my hand an hour ago-Squir,
Emery paid his butter bill this after
noon; put 'em in my gown poke
when Hiram called me to turn tn,
grindstone-and they're gonel nov
you needn't tell me they're gone with
out hands"
There's been no pickpocket here
Miss Hannah"
"Ain't there? When you take
folks in out of the highway, without
no. recommendation, how do yor
know what their habits is? To be
sure, | didn't suspect no one of 'hav
ing stole them out of my pocket
there's hole in my pocket; I'd for
got about that, and naturally them
bills must have dropped out between
here and the barn (; but Hiram and
me has hunted the place over and
over again, and it stands to reason
they couldn't have travelled further
without hands, a9 ~.
=" Mercyl", cried Polly. elbow
much was there pm ~ Ell
"A whole hundred dollars, miss
andif it amt forthcoming, somebody
III smart for .it.n, ~