The Florida agriculturist., 1889-08-14

usual with her. The tears which she
had lately shed had brought all the
woman in her to the surface. There
were tones in her voice that thrilled to
the judges heart like exquisite music.
The memory of her brother had done
her lover good service.
A spot was selected under the shade
of cedar. with clean white sand under
heath. Here Mrs. Nolan was established
with her cushions, and the cloth was
spread for lunch. The basket was un-
packed, the plates and knives and forks
arranged, and the good things set out.
They had brought a jug of water but it
had become SO warm as to be unpalat-
able; SO the judge proposed that they
should go and find spring; there was
sire to be one not far off Pauline
assented and they started. leaving Mrs.
Nolan beneath the cedar
I did not know whether to be glad or
sorry that / was the means of bringing
that strange message to you, said the
Judge, when they were out Of earshot.
Sand yet could not help thinking that
there must have been some providential
design in the matter 1t was as if Percy
had appointed me his messenger to you.
"Oh, am glad am only gladl' re-
Joined Pauline musingly, with her eyes
d0wncast. 1T puts my doubts at rest
ALI this time could not realize that he
was gone. knew it, of course; but it
had not been brought home to me. Now
can feel that all is well with him
am glad it came"
GCTt coh1o0cS ,1itU fbof cr f7o11oh Of ho
message should be illegible," remarked
the judge 1T would have been well to
know for a certainty that it came from
Percy own hand"
Perhaps it will become more legible
when the wood is dried But should
not care If it turned out to have been
written by some one else. 1t is from
Percy's ship-the Amazon-and in that
case it is from him"
II am little surprised" said the
judge, after pause, THAT Mr. Martin
has not written us some of the details of
the affair He can hardly have failed to
understand that any information how
ever slight, would have been precious to
you. You have not heard from him.
have you?"
mo, and think you are right He
should have written. But can imagine
why he has not 1t was his suggestion
that Percy should leave New York. He
urged him to go with him, he took that
responsibility. The least he could do was
to guard him from harm. When that
storm came he should not have let him
go out of his sight. But, instead. he let
him be drowned. can understand why
he has not written to me-he would not
dareI'
She said this with passionate en-
phasls The judge was secretly con-
scious of a feeling of relief. but his sense
of rectitude compelled him to say: 1T
would not be just, think, to charge Mr.
Martin with being accountable for Per-
cy's death. ;"
Perhaps it is not logically just; but
that is the way feel was her reply.
By this time they had reached the
spring. which trickled out of asand bluff
few feet above high water mark, and
filled barrel that had been sunk in the
sand below. The judge knelt down and
plunged the jug into the cool water,
which gurgled into it with refreshing
sound. Pauline stood, with her hands
hanging folded. looking down on him
The blue sea. the sunshine, the warmth
were inexpressibly soothing
''How pleasant it is here" she said.
~. =. L