The Florida agriculturist., 1889-11-20

objects spoke OF security and rest. Far
away towards the corrals he heard the
sound of voices in jolly conversation; a
rich, melodious laugh rang out on the
cool evening air; he heard some one
shouting genial good night to somebody
else, and then the slam of distant door.
Presently light popped out from a
window in what he believed to be a
storehouse, and all was still again. Even
the piano had ceased Now was his
time, thought Perry; and so, boldly
mounting the steps, he stood upon a
dark portico and strobe to the black
shadow in the wall before him where he
knew the main doorway must be- II
was his intention to knock or ring. Up
stairs dim lights were shining through
the open windows, but on this front of
the ground floor all was darkness. His
gauntleted hand felt all the face of the
door in search of knob or knocker, but
nothing of the kind was there; neither
was there such thing on either door
post. Just as he decided to hammer
with his clinched fist the piano began
again
He waited for a pause, but none came.
This time the music was vehement ano
spirited, and no banging of his on oaker
doorway would be audible against such
rivalry Uncertain what to do, he con
cluded to reconnoiter the eastern front
A few steps brought him to the corner
and there lay the veranda before him
bathed at it's farther end in a food oi
light that streamed from one opened
venetian window, and through this cur
tanned aperture poured the grand tones
of the melody ''That fellow can rattle
more music out of piano than any mar
ever heard" muttered Mr.. Perry tc
himself, as he strobe down the wooder
gallery wonder if it's that boss COW
puncher met this morning Another
moment and he stood at the open win.
dow, rooted to the spot, and with his
frank blue eyes fairly starting from theil
sockets in amazement at the sight that
met them, all unprepared.
Across spacious room, hung with rich
curtains, carpeted with costly rugs oi
Oriental make, furnished with many 8
cozy chair and couch, and tables covered
with dainty bric-a- -brac, and shelves with
tempting books, lighted by several large
and beautiful astral lamps, some with
colored shades of crimson and gold an6
delicate tint Of blue, there stood close tc
the opposite wall large piano of the
class known as the grand, rare enough
among the railway towns west of the
Mississippi states. but utterly unlocked
for here, weeks long march from the
nearest of the Texan railways. That ir
itself were sufficient cause for much sur
prise, Notwithstanding the measure Of
preparation he had had in Mrs. Law
rence's remarks.
The sight that well nigh took his
breath away was something far more
than the interior of a luxurious and
beautifully appointed room Nothing
him in the faintest degree for the appa.
rition facing him, seated at the piano, Of
a performer utterly unlike the "cow
puncher" whom he had met in the morn
ing. The fellow" now bending over the
key board was a young, exquisitely fair
there in the full glare Of the parloI
lights, she lifted up pair of soft,
shaded, lustrous eyes and saw him.
The music stopped with sudden shock
Tannhauser was undone. The firm,
white, shapely hands fell nerveless in
her lap; pallor as of faintness shot
over the wild eyed face, only to be in.