The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-02-21

Now don't you worry" she con-
cluded. "We'll fix Mr.. Browne and
George Winston too, that we will, in
jify. They will find they can't do
just as they please. Jennie, just you
go and put on your bonnet, and bring
mine along too, and my shawl and
umbrela-it might rain. Go quick,
Jennie p
But why ? what tor ?" asked the
surprised girl. i" Why? because l
tell you to, Missl What for? to go
to the parsonage, and"-here Mrs.
Winston dropped her voice to a
stage whisper, rubbing her hands
gleefully the while" get married,
right off ThereW
"Bless you, little mother!" cried
Raymond, his fine face flushing with
delight, and in his rapture he took
the old lady in his arms and kissed
her.
Jennie demurred to the plan SO
suddenly proposed, but as there real
ly did seem no other way out of the
difficulties that threatened to wreck
their happiness, she finally consented,
and the carriage was ordered to the
door to convey Jennie and her aunt
to the parsonage, while Raymond
hurried away to procure special Ii
| ceuse.
/ will join you very soon; it will
take me only half an hour. at most"
he said, as he closed the carriage
door. Wait for me in the lane by
the parsonage, and fear nothing"
Then the carriage drove of, and
he started on his errand, totally OBJ.
li1ious of the vicinity, in the shadow
OF doorway, of stout little man,
who had drawn near while the car
rage was waiting at the door.
Mr.. Winston He watched the
proceedings of the two, saw them
drive away and vanish in the dis
lance. Then he sauntered out of the
shadow and entered his own house,
whistling softly to himself.
A moment later he entered the
parlor and there-believe tiff you
can, oh reader-the venerable Mr..
Winston went through with strange
performance, a sort Of cross between
a reckless jig and a stately quadrille.
Then be sat down and laughed till
| the tears led down hiFcheeks; anon
mirtD broke forth again, and so be
continued alternating, until the sound
Of a carriage stopping at the door
drew him to the window, where he
peeped through the curtains.
"There they come" he chuckled,
looking like three frightened sheep!
no no ha Ia Be sober now,
George Winston; here they come to
confess"
Exercising 40 small degree OF self.
control, he sat down, assumed gruff
look. and affected to be absorbed in
newspaper lie held in hia hand. lie
looked up with a trowning brow, as
the returning trio entered the room,
looking, it must be confessed, very
much as if they had been in mischief.
Nov then, Mrs. Winston, what
does this mean ?" he demanded,
roughly. did you not understand
me when l told you that Mr.. Rays
mond must stop coming to this house?
Yet I see that both you and Jennie
have been out with him I"
Charles Raymond fastened to re-
ply
"Mrs. Winston did communicate
your unjust commands to me, sir, and
as the direct result, l pray you let
me present to you my wife. Mrs.
Charles Raymond"
Proudly the young man led the
shrinking Jennie forward, while Mrs.
Winston nervously watched her hus-
band as he sank back in his char,
completely overcome.
With wrath? If SO, it manifested
itself in strange way, for his hearty
.peals OF laughter rang through the
house, startling the three culprits
with the fear that his reason had in~
deed suddenly left him.
"Oh dear !" he sighed at length, as
he grew quieter, sit is too much. l
can't stand it! So you are really
married, fast and sure, you two sly
ones? And without my consent
given or refused either. That's the
best of it. 1t was never asked, SO
could not refuse, and now I can leave
Jennie as much as l please, and no
promise broken eitnerl Capital!
capital l had hard bout of it,
playing the cross old ogre, SO as to
drive you to outwit me! Oh you
sly ones!"
Light was breaking in upon his
hearers rapidly now. RAYMOND