The Florida agriculturist., 1889-10-09

about it? Of course you do not seek ex-
pert testimony in asking me. He tries,
suppose, to adapt himself to circum
stances. But why do you ask?"
Because see that he has been induc-
tassel on the button of his cap. He has
worn it when off duty ever since he
came; and we supposed it was something
he cherished; know she did"
Graham broke forth in peal of merry
laughter, but gave no further reply, for
just then the colonel and the doctor left
their chairs. and, sauntering over to the
hammock, brought mighty relief to Bel
KNAPP at the whist table and vexation of
spirit to his pretty wife. The Irritation
was broken at a most interesting point,
and Perry, rising suddenly, came over
and Joined Mrs. Lawrence.
If she expected to see him piqued or
annoyed at the interruption and some
what perturbed in manner, she was
greatly mistaken. Nothing could have
been more sunshiny and jovial than the
greeting he gave her, A laughing apol-
ogy to Graham for spelling his tete-a-
tete was accomplished in moment, and
then down by her side he sat and plunged
into a merry description of his expert
ences at dinner, where he had been
placed next to the chaplain's wife on the
one hand, and she had been properly ag-
grieved at his attentions to Mrs. Belknap
on the other
''You must remember that Mrs. Wells
So
and, for that matter, none of us have
seen dinner such as the colonel gave us
this evening for ever and ever so long.
We are quite unused to the ways of
civilization; whereas you have just come
from the east-and long leave. Perhaps
it is the fashion to be all devotion to
ones next door neighbor at dinner
mot if she be as repellent and vener-
able as Mrs. Wells. assure you Why,
| thought she would have been glad to
leave the table when, after having re-
fused sherry and Pontet-Canet for up
wards of an hour, her glass was filled
with champagne when she happened to
be looking the other way
''It is the first dinner of the kind she
has ever seen here, Mr. Perry, and l
don't suppose either Mr.. or Mrs. Wells
has been up SO late before in years. He
would have enjoyed staying and watch
ing whist. but she carried him off almost
as soon as we left the table. Our society
has been very dull, you know-only our
selves at the post all this last year. and
nobody outside of it.
lone would suppose that with all this
magnificent cattle range there would be
some congenial people ranching near
you Are there none at ALP
absolutely none! There are some
ranches down in the Washita country,
but only one fine one near us; and that
might as well be on the other side of the
Atlantic. No one from there ever
comes here; and DR.. Quin is the only
living soul in the garrison who ever got
within the walls of that ranch. What
he saw there he positively refuses to tell,
despite all our entreaty.'
''YOu don't tell me there's ranch
with mystery here near RossiterT' ex-
claimed Mr.. Perry, with sudden interest.
''Why, | do, indeed! Is it possible
you have been here two whole weeks
and haven't heard of Dunraven Ranch?'
''I've heard there was such thing;
saw it from a distance when out hunting
the other day. But what's the mystery?
what's the matter with it?'
"That's what we all want to know
and cannot find out Now, there is an