The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-04-09

lady would never get out again, and
as he went, Mr.. Simpkins busted
himself with THOUSAND vain conJec'
lures. Fho was she9 Was she
married br single? OF what nation,
atty? Was she beautiful? He had
not seen her face, but the possessor
Of such a figure, ne argued, cou'd not
be Otherwise than beautiful IN fea'
ture. Young? Yes, she was surely
young-and patrician, too. NO pie
bian ever owned an instep like that.
In fact, SO sure OF all these things
did Mr. Simpkins feel, that he almost
dreaded the moment when the lady
should descend, and, perhaps, In
meeting him face TO face, destroy at
single blow his proudest illusions.
He had not long to wait, Tor at
Thirty-fourth street the conductors
bell rang, and the lady got out. She
crossed the street, and, with MIR.
Simpkins following in transport OF
admiration, entered an office on the
corner.
Now, as Mr.. Simpkins' luck WOULD
have it. this office was the real estate
office Of Mr.. John Bigler, and Mr.
John Bigler was the brother-ln.law
Of Mr. Simpkns. Mr.. Simpkins
halted suddenly in some confusion,
and "walked round himself" so TO
speak. The lady passed in without
noticing him, and disappeared from
view. Mr.. Simpkins stood tor mo-
menL lrresolute in the doorway, and
then, fired with sudden determine
ton, dashed up stairs.
The offices of Mr.. Bigler were sit
uated on the second floor. They
consisted OF two rooms, an outer one
about ten feet square, called by Mr..
bigler his receptionroom," and a
larger and more luxurious one with
in, reserved for the purposes OF con-
fdential interviews. As Mr.. Simp-
kins expected, the lady was in the
private room, but the door stood
slightly ajar, and, as she sat with her
back towards it, he could see her
earnestly conversing with the villain
Gus Bigler. At that moment Mr.
Simpkins caught Blgler's eye, and
beckon.d trantically TO him to come
out. Blgler, thinking from Simpkins'
excited manner, tina: the house might
be ON fire, came quickly into the
outer room. AS he did SO he swung
the door wife open, revealing to MIR.
Simpkins' entranced gaze the lovely
object of his pursuit, her head resting
upon her small and delicately gloved
hand, her lace shawl dropping grace
fully from her beautiful shoulders,
and that kty foot peeping sancily
from be the folds of her dress.
ffer nesd I! ~ tusreG away, and
eyes bent evidently upon the floor.
The sight was entirely too much
for Mr.. Slmpkins, and he seized Nj.
Bigler's arm with such energy that
the latter fairly howled.
"What the DEVILS the matter ?
exclaimed Bigler.
"Who is she ?" cried Simpkins,
pointing toward the private room.
Introduce me. In Heavens name
who is it ?"
Who's who p" asked the bewil-
dered BigIer, struggling to free him
self from Mr.Simpkins' grasp. What
in the name OF common sense is the
matter with your"
THAT divine creature in there"
said Simpkins, wildly. I must
know her. / saw her for the first
time yesterday, Shes the most love.
ly woman l ever met. l followed
her here to-day. Such figure! Such
a step! Such an-ail ankle Bigler
must know her. There are chords,
Bigler. in the human breast which,
once struck, render no man RESPONSE
BILE for his actions. Who is she 7"
"Who? That?" exclaimed Mr..
Bigler. following Mr.. Simpkins' gaze
toward the open door.
Mr.. Simpkins nodded eagerly. Mr..
Bigler looked at Mr.. Simpkins bland
ly. Then he looked at the lady, and
tnen again at Mr.. Simpkins. Then
he became seized by a violent inter
nal paroxysm, and commenced cram
ming his handkerchief into his mouth.
"That ?" he exclaimed, as soon as
he had in come measure relieved him.
self by this proceeding; why, you
blasted fool, that's your wife.