The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1889-01-23

from his pocket sent it to her by the negro
boy.
Having no otner cares on his mind for the
present, Allen threw himself upon tie bed
and in five minutes was sound asleep The
exhaustion, mental worry and excitement
through which he had passed in the last
few hours would have overcome any per-
son. of ordinary strength and powers of en-
DURANGO
After toll sweet is sleep, and no sleep so
deep and refreshing as the sleep of ex-
haustion. The shadows heightened, and
the sun was just dipping behind the West
ern horizon when he was awakened by the
mulatto boy.
Signaling Allen to rise, he handed him
sealed note, which contained instructions
for his safe return. The note was written
in English, in plain neat, lady-like hand,
and Allen suspected that the directions had
been written by Bertha herself and in
closed with the note which he had brought
MademOiSelle who now sent it to him. At
dark he was to start on his return, and he
would reach a certain village ten miles from
Turkeys Point, where he was to remain
closely concealed all day. At or near sun
down he was to again set out for Turkeys
Point, reaching it after night. The horse
he was to return and tie to the same tree at
which he had found him.
"Umph, humph," said Allen, gazing at
the writing and wondering if Bertha had
penned those lines 81 suppose this affair
is to terminate as mysterious as it begun"
The mulatto informed him by signs that
his supper was ready, and by the time he
had finished it his horse would be waiting
for him. Allen rose and went to supper.
He finished his meal in silence, and then
by the same pantomimic motions, the boy
informed him that his horse was ready It
was almost dark Wnen he found himself
once more at the side of that coal-black
horse that had borne him so nobly on his
long journey to FrenchtOwn. A days rest
and excellentcare had removed all indica-
tions of evil effects of his hard travel
Neither the child nor mademoiselle had
been seen by Allen since morning, and no
message was given him to return. He
vaulted in the saddle, and the mulatto point
ed to a road leading off through grove of
trees. This road went directly north from
the village, and by following it he would, he
knew, come into the main road a mile or
two away from Frenchtown.
"They seem to fear that am being
watched" said Allen to himself, "and |
suppose that the sooner I get away from
here the better"
He gave his horse the rein, and the ami
NAL cantered away at. a brisk pace.
1t was a quiet night. The hum of insects
and chirp of crickets along the wooded
road made pleasant music for the lonely
traveller. Though he had been considerably
rested, his muscles, unaccustomed to the
hard strain SO recently put upon them, were
bruised and sore. Had not his horse been
an easy going animal he could not have
stood the journey. Being alone and unin-
numbered the return was much more COM
Portable than his ride of the night before.
The farmers were returning to their
homes after their hard days toll. The
weary horses, now freed from the clanking
chains, crunched their corn and oats at their
stalls. AS Allen cantered along the dusty
road he envied the farmer, sitting on the
doorstep to cool his heated feet the night
of sweet repose that was before him.
The country was thickly settled, and for
the first hour or two of his night ride he
heard the low murmur of voices in and
about the farm-houses. At one the weary
plow-man sat ON the front porch smoking
his evening pipe; at another a pair of lovers
were cooling upon the lawn; at a third two
or three noisy children were playing prison
house, their shouts and laughter making the
weary traveller glad.
But anon the hum of voices and scenes of
life died away. AS night still more closely
quiet repose fell over the scene and all be-
came silence. The farmer had cooled his
feet and was sleeping sweetly; thcsplow
man had smoked his pipe and retired; the
lovers had separated with a parting kiss,