The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-12-24
THE FLORIDA AeR1cULTUR1sT.

while TO rest. Strange to say, silence
PAD ALLEN upon him and his companion.
ne broke u by saying, abruptly:
- am gong away tomorrow. Aren't
you sorry for me, leaving all this beauty
ana pleasure for dusky desk in busy
She had been leaning over the side of
the boat, letting the water run through
her nngers but now, she started up
glanelpS at him with a hurt, panied look
GU are not really going so soon?''
she said slowly, as If She couldn't be-
lieve it.
r eyes, really (" he answered picking up
the oars and beginning to row with I'M
wonted zeal.
" Are you sorry
Then" he said quickly, ~ won't go
right yet. will wait awhile, then take
you back with me. am not rich man, !"
ne went on hurriedly, Shut i have
enough to make my wife happy. Will
you come Bessie ~ He dropped the
oars, and held out his hands for answer.
she put her own dimpled white ones IN
his big brown ones. s, f.l4 st
just then the boat ran into the wharf,
bringing them back to their senses
The walk home was very quiet and
rather EMBARRASSING Bessie wondered
whether it was exactly right to accept
lover without so much as asking her
fathers leave. To be sure, his indul-
gence and weakness to her were proven
bal. Still she. thought she ought to
have gained his permission first. She
expressed her fears to Mr.. Lansdale who
set her mind at rest by producing let
ter from her kindest of parents, giving
him permission to try his fortune, wind
ing up with, ffshe's a dear girl, Lansdale,
and as like Won, hope you will sue
coed. ,,. Z. $780,. .,,1.s .tf.f,
BY this time they had reached the
porch. With a hasty goodbye" she
sprang up the steps and rushed away to
her own room, where Janet, ON her re-
turn, found ervainly trying to cool her
tell-tale cheeks.
fsWon't you come out ON the lawn for
a game of croquet? '' she said, pretend
ing not to notice. a8
No thank you; / have a raging head
ache. You go down like dear girl. |
will come down tonight. | may feel
better then. f m
Perhaps you may; it will be dark !"
with which farewell shot she departed
to inform Fred, she thought ''the blow
was about to fall" n
With the night and the moonlight
came Bessie out on the broad front gal
lery, blissfully unconscious that Fred.
and Janet were aensconced behind the
blinds, waiting, as Fred expressed it,
''to see the fun" She looked around,
surprised to see no one, and half deter
min I'D krNf lNoO
ped out from 9he shadow OF the pillars
and came toWardsher. f ASA
is that you Dick?' she cried, dart
ing forward; but no-she drew back with
a hasty i reg your PARDON forthe
moonlight shone down full on as red a
crop of curls as were ever owned by a
man. Excuse me- - she went on, 81
took you for Mr.. Lansdale."
"And so | am, answered familiar
voice; surely Bessie, an absence of
two hours can't have, made you forget
my face 2" s.,.ss7ass .,i1 t.l.5'.t.ef.
~ haven't forgotten you, Dick" she
cried piteously, 'sbut what she hest
tated-then desperately, What's the
matter with Your hair? tx j. ......,..t,
"Now, don't be angry with me, dar-
ling, and will tell you all about it, he
said persuasively. y on know YOU said
you would never marry man afflicted
with red hair, SO adopted this ruse to
make you love me-. IT'S true / began it
all as a joke, but soon was terribly in
earnest" And then he told her the his
tory of the plot, When it was finished the
blinds flew open and out rushed the con-
spirators. NJ s.i
"Pity and forgive, most beautiful lady,
the humblest of your servants cried
Fred, falling on one knee, while Janet
overwhelmed her friend with kisses,
crying at the same time, "Oh, | have
won, ! have won :"
AS for Bessie she forgave them both !;
then, with tenderest smile, said, laying
her hand on her lovers, 81 think would
have loved you anyway, Dick, in spite
of your red hair. Nee Orleans Times
Democrat.