The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-08-10

cousin great pleasure, for he laughed
necessarily, and asked Jenny if she
ever hoped to be able to capture such
shy creature as Jacob Muggins.
Although Mr.. Eldridge was very
much amused.over the coincidence of
the seeds, Jenny seemed to look upon
the matter quite seriously, and when
her cousin jokingly inquired if she
did really love this faint hearted coun
tryman, she replied with defiant
toss of the head and perceptible
deepening of the rose-tint on her
cheeks, that she ''liked him quite as
well as any of her other acquaint-
ances."
And poor Jake, who can describe
his feeling upon hearing this frank
avowal? For if his face had been red
before, it was now almost purple in
hue, while his heart beat ten times
faster than before. Yet he managed
to hold on to his seat, and watch the
progress of events down below, for
Mr.. Eldridge, who had listened tor
Jenny's declaration quite seriously,
had seated himself by her side, ana
was apparently about TO propose on
the spot. But just at that moment
Bounce, the big watchdog, came
running down from the house and
with hoarse growls commenced smell
ing suSpiciously around the base OF
the tree all the while casting furtive
chances into the branches where Ja>
cob was seated in mortal dread least
the dog. should disclose his position
to the couple below.
The strange actions Of the dog
could not help but attract the s.tten-
ton of Jenny and her cousin, who
were at first unable to assign and rea>
| son as 10 the cause Of it. Mr.. Eldrid-
ge suggested that there was a SOUR
rel in the tree, aud TO investigate the
matter more closely he arose and
peered up into the dark foliage.
II imagine that | see something
ksealed up there among the branShs,s- :,
he at length replied, shading his eyes
with his hand and gazing intently at
the tree, "bul as 70 whether tits man
or beast l cannot say, However, just
to satisfy Bounce, III run up toathe
house and bring the gun, and perhaps
we may succeed in having some sport
with the creature, whatever it may
| be-"
And with these words he started
off in the direction of the house, leav-
ing Jenny to her own reflections and
Bounce TO claw at the bottom OF the
tree.
Aud, now, what was Jacob to do
Should he sit still and be shot like a
thief or wild beast, or should he
take advantage OF his rivals absence,
come down like man and confess
his love for Jenny on the spot He
must take one of the alternatives, and
must choose quick. For a moment
he faltered; not knowing what apol-
ogy to make for his awkward posit-
ion; but he determined to do the
best he could, and quietly commenced
the descent, thinking it better at any
time to tace his lady-love than load
ed rifle.
| No sooner did the dog recognize in
Jacob and old friend and benefactor
than he relapsed into silence and
quickly permitted him to landi and
Jake did not fail TO notice that j emmy
was much less surprised at his sud-
den appearance than he had expected
she would be.
How he ever did it, Jacob could
never tell. But.he went down on
his knees before Jenny, and in such
language as had never before been
heard to flow from his lips poured
forth his love into the willing ear OF
his adored, while Bounce wagged his