The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-06-25

avoid her, and enter the carriage as
quickly as possible. In order that there
NAV be no mistake, have told the dri-
yer to wear white choke around his
neck. hope that you llbe punctual.
Everything depends upon punctuality.
Till nine O'clock, goodbye. Your most
devoted. VIVIAN. S.
Miss Marrable, after reading this note,
refolded it as usual, and took care that,
it reached Amy. Then, with the con-
sciousness that she was about to perpe-
trate great and good action, she sat
down in her own room, and waited for
Amy's reply to be brought to her by the
treacherous maid. The note, which was
than half an hour. "Dear Wv" wrote
Amy, I will be ready, and will look out
for the white choker. Your loving A -
In spite of the ordeal which was be-
fore her, the good old spinster was per-
fectly calm and unfurried. At l O'Clock
she made a very hearty luncheon; at
half-past two she took her nieces for a
walk, and talked to them with extraor-
binary affability about the emancipation
of women; and at half-past six she APP
peared at the table d'hote, and, Just as
II the occasion were an ordinary one,
complained of the soup being too pep
perry, the fish too cold, and the mutton
too underdone. Her GOODNESS was admi-
rable. Lucy and Amy, on the other
hand, could scarcely conceal their ex-
element and agitation. They each
looked at least a hundred times during
dinner at the clock upon the mantel-
piece, and they each started and turned
red whenever the noise of carriage
wheels without was heard. After dinner
Miss Marrable went again to her room
and began to make her preparations.
How sad it will be-" she thought to
herself, for poor young Jcilicoe, when
l discover myself and overwhelm him
with reproaches. Men are poor crea-
lures. Perhaps he will faint. Yes, /
will take my salts bottle" She wrapped
and having shrouded her face in thick
veil, took a seat at her window, which
happened to be Immediately above the
front door of the hotel.
Meantime Edward Griffiths, the bill
iard-marker was i'll at ease. He knew
Miss N1arrable by sight, and looked for
ward with terror at the prospect of an
encounter with her at close quarters.
Nevertheless he had Vivian Jellicoes
five-pound note in his pocket, and he
was determined to see the affair bravely
through. He felt, however, that his
natural bravery would not be sufficient
to support him; and he therefore, at
about 6 O'Clock, began to swallow sue
cession of potent doses of whisky and
water, with the object of laying in a
stock of Dutch courage. Whether the
whisky was bad or the water was too
powerful, cannot say; but at ten min
Yogi tttogive final directions and Counsel to his
substitute, he found Edwards Griffiths
decidedly the worse for liquor. Fortu-
nately the young fellow was neither
quarrelsome nor noisy in his cups. His
main ambition seemed to be to go to
sleep in peace; and no sooner had Wv
ian bundled him into one corner of the
carriage, which was in waiting in the
stable yard, than Mr.. Griffiths inconti-
nently slumbered. The carriage was
| then driven around to the front door of
the hotel. Miss Marrable from her post
of vantage saw it, and remarking that
the coachman wore white choker, de-
scended at once, and listened, as she
went, outside Amy's room, to satisfy
herself that that young lady had not fore
stalled her. The porter with alacrity
opened the carriage door. In the dark
shadows of the interior, Miss Marrable
| Caught SiSIlb Vi tilc VI d IlldIl, dIlu
making sure that all was right, she en-
tered at once. An instant later she was
being whirled northward along the lone
ly Harlech road.
Half an hour afterward two other car
riages left the hotel, but in an opposite
: direction. In one of them We're Lucy
and Mr.. Rhodes; and in the other Amy
, and Mr.. Jellicoe. 1t was nearly mid
!, night ere they arrived at the Browns
> house at LlanNtid; but the Browns were
! all up and waiting for them, and the two
: runaway couples were warmly well
, coined and Hospitality taken care of.
q Miss Marrable was less fortunate. As
q soon as the carriage in which she sat had
r been driven beyond the lights of the
/. town she threw aside her vail and gazed
/ with magnificent scorn toward the dim
. form upon the seat in front of her. The
> look eliciting no response of any kind
= Miss Marrable ventured to cough, at first
: gently, and then with considerable VIC
s lence; but still the figure took no notice
s This is exceedingly strange, " Thought
t the spinster lady. ~ must adopt more
# active measures" and with great tender.
(; ness she prodded Mr.. Griffiths with
It the point of her umbrella. The
e billiard-marker groaned in his sleep
e "Mr. Jellicoev' she exclaimed in hei
j, deepest and most threatening tones. She
e had counted on this exclamation produ
: cling an instantaneous and astonishing
e effect upon her companion; and she was
S woefully disappointed when he merely
e groaned again.
"Gracious !" she said to herself; che
is i'll. He would never go on like that i
!, he were not ILL., The fright has been toe
: much for him. Oh, how sorry | am
3 These,men are such weak creatures.
7 must stop the carriage !" And, throw
l inc down the sash of the ,vindnw- shl