The Florida agriculturist., 1880-03-24

OA OOolOO ann CcbAA AhAtC6 L GILL
pas, brusquely. "Why shouldn't I
be?"
"You are so much older than he
is"
"What's fifteen years where real
love is concerned ?" said Miss Pc
tunia.
But does he love you?''
"To distraction" said the lady.
"He has the name Of being a great
fiirt," went on Flora, the iconoclast.
"I'll soon cure him of that" nodded
Miss Petunia Pampas. "Now, girls,
don't be jealous because I've been
luckier than YOU"
And she laughed exultantly in
Flora's face.
Il told you so, Flora" said Polly,
with deep sigh.
Here's little Pauline actually
fancying that he cared for her once"
said Miss Petunia, giving her neice a
good .humored pat on the cheek. Gle
has vowed to me again and again that
he never really loved a woman until
he saw me!'
"Oh, Miss Petunia, and you believe
him ?" cried Flora.
"Why shouldn't l ?" retorted the
bride elect. "To be sure L am no
longer a girl, but neither was Cleo
patra when Mark Anthony fell SO
desperately in love with her; and the
Empress Eugene was decidedly an
old maid when she turned the head
OF the imperial Napoleon Come,
girls, you've no more than time to
get ready for sea bathing. The flag
has been flying this halt hour, and
Leo is so anxious to teach me to
SWIM"
II shall not bath to-day" said Pol
ly, COMPRISING her cherry lips into
a round scarlet. "Oh. | shall stay in
the shady hotel parlor and read"
"Such pity said Miss Petunla,
when the water is so delicious for
bathing. But if you're quite deter
mined"
"Oh, quite" said Pauline, with
toss other head.
"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind
lending me that lovely blue alpaca
suit of yours? said Miss Petunia.
Mime fsnranfEVso 'E:torrffpfg -ands+
the crimson trimmings are SO shock
ingly faded that it's hardly decent.
| never will buy crimson for bath
ing-suit again"
"You may have it tor all l care"
said Pauline, ungraciously enough.
II don't suppose l shall ever use the
old thing again"
So Pauline went into the house to
read, and cry surreptitiously, with
Flora Grey to comfort her with the
old, old story that "men' are deceiv-
ers ever" and Aunt Petunia trotted
down to the row OF bathing houses,
took the key of "No 81" and pro-
ceeded TO attire herself in the azure
glories OF PoIly's blue alpaca bathing
suit. with its rows of white braid
and cleaning pearl buttons.
| after ALL" said Miss Petunia to
herself, 'it's horribly tropical work,
and l don't think I should care for
surf bathing if Leo didn't like it so
much. And, OF course, | am bound
to study Leo's tastes and tancies in
all respects now"
Thus moralizing, Miss Petunia
Pampas walked out into the ocean,
in the deep blue bathing suit, with a
tapping hat of sun bleached straw
tied down over her face so that only
the extreme tip OF her nose was visl-
BILE, while the insolent pillows buffet
ed her about and sprinkled her with
showers of salt spray, and the rope
to which she clung so desperately ly
shook and swayed at every assault
of the turf.
eff can only get out to the other
bathers," said Miss Petunia, resolute-
ly screwing up her face and eyes.
"Oh, dear, i'll should be drowned
and never see Leo again"
Crash, splash, came prodigous
breaker, and for second Miss Petu
MIA Pampas struggled as it was for
dear lite; and the same instant a
strong arm passed itself around her
waist, and voice murmured, clear
and distinct through the roar of the
surf
"Polly, my own little darling"
Mr.. Leo Goldtern's arm. Mr.. Leo
Goldfern's voice.
''Dont be vexed with me, darling,
soothed her manly adorer. "Don't
try to tear yourself away"
(But it wasn't Miss Petunia-it