The Florida agriculturist., 1884-07-23


haunts OF willy men of the world, was
given over entirely to farmers and far
ming interests; Simple-mined and sim
ple-mannered people, who lived out their
uneventful lives in the routine of daily
duties. The small market town of Nor
than, four miles distant, was sleepy and
primitive, never awakening from its
slumbeis save on the weekly market day.
1t had its parson; its doctor; and its
lawyer, Harry Leete; all three of them
being nearly as simple as the farmers.
Not simple in point of intellect, it must
be understood, but as to life and manners.
This Thursday was market day. James
Harbury had gone to it in the gig of a
brother farmer, Peter Hall, his own mare
which he either rode or drove generally,
being sick. He was a tall, slender man
of nine and thirty years, very fair, with
| exceedingly handsome features and mild
blue eyes, looking as unlike the popular
| notion OF farmer as man could look,
and presenting marked contrast to his
agricultural neighbors. So far as ap-
pearance went, none of them, rich or
poor, could vie with James Harbury,
and his temper and his bearing were
alike gentle.
He had one fault-though perhaps all
people would not call it a fault-love of
money. That he was one of the warmest
farmers in the district, was universally
believed, and the most saving OF men.
Too saving, his wife would tell him
and where was the use of it, she would
ask, considering that she had neither
chick nor child ?-and every now and
then she would make the money fly, for
she was a dear lover of smart attire, and
of having pretty things about her. James
would vince, and bid her to he careful,
but he never went the length of telling
her she had spent too much. He was
fond of her, and she of him.
Neither chick nor child" In that
fact had lain a sharp sting. They had
been married eight years now, and the
sting was wearing itself away Time
softens all things. He had never given
her cause for an unhappy thought-until
.o-night He had never had secret
rom her, except that he never could be
brought to tell her what the exact sum
vas that he was enabled to put by at the
md of each year Dinah Ann Harburv
lid not care for that; she knew that
lowever much it might be, it was all for
Ter.
But she did care for this--this mystic
ious secret which had come to her hear
ng tonight She knew how good look |
ng James was, how universally he was
liked by man and by woman, and what |
kind heart he had-she put it soft
nd something like jealousy began to !!
orment her spirit.
When James came in again, the sup |
ler-tray was at one end of the table, and |
)inah Ann, an unusual light in her eyes, (
at at the other end, near the lamp, |
laySng taken up her knitting. The-far-l
nefs's general manner was easy and |
,lacid, though he had certainly seemed |
estless after leaving the gig, but now he
vas calm again.
"Well," she said, as he cut himself a
lice of the cold boiled beef, "and how
i'd you find White Bess 2"
ooh, she seems comfortable" he re-
lied, looking around for the mustard |
,ot.
"You deceitful vaillain You know
-ou did not go near the stable,'' thought |
lis wife. "You are sure you think SOP"
he added, aloud.
Gay. White Bess will be all herself |
gain, tomorrow, Dinah Ann"
It's more than shall be-" thought |
)inah Ann, "unless | can come to the |
,ottom of this
He ate his supper nearly in silence, |
And he enjoyed it, too, for he was very |
James, do you ever hear anything |
now of that Emma Land?"
James Harbury laid down his knife |
and fork in surprise at the question, and |
looked across at his wife, whose face |
h,1, l,a,. l-,,it4i,,fr |
''Do l ever hear anything of Emma |
you ask that, Dinah ANN"
''What can make me ask it? | don't |
know. The query happened to come
into my mind. Why should not ask it?'
There's no sense in it-that ! see."
But do YOU"
'Do what ?"
Ever hear OF her?'
Why, you know she went out to-
where was it?-the West Indies, l think
to her friends there-ever SO long ago.
Nigh upon eight years it must be. You
know she did, Dinah Ann.
But she may write from the West In
dies. Perhaps she does. Does she write
to you?"
He shook his head to imply negative
and occupied himself with his sI1nner
again. Emma Land had once upon
time been a somewhat sore subject be-
tween them, for Dinah Ann ,ras ieal-
Gus in the old days.
'Doyou ever see her, James,"
"See who?"
You know. Emma Land.
Il can think what has put all this into
your head tonight, Dinah Ann. How
is it?
"But do yoI3d
''Do | what?"
''See her."
Why, how could l see her?' re. urned