The Florida agriculturist., 1889-08-28


hundred and fifty thousand poundsy
says l. Not with that hundred and
fifty thousand, at any rate said ne.
But what are you going to do
about itY says /; the property is
yours, and it's entailed. and you can't
get rid of it. oh, don't trouble yourself
about that, said he, with a laugh 1t
the worst comes to the worst how do
you know that am the right man after
all? have got the papers and am
called by that name; but you yourself
said that you never saw me before; and
you could not swear that am not some
body else. should have to go to Eng
land In any case to prove my identity
But prefer to stay here. and that's the
end of itI
lit was the queereSt case ever | heard
of. and didn't know what to make of
it. sat there and talked and argued
with him for an hour and more, but
nothing could say made a bit of diff
ference. He wouldn't have the property
at any price. and he didn't care what
came Of it. Igave 1t over, at last, for
the time being. and passed the night in
the hut; the next morning tried him
again, but he was as obstinate as ever
Well, didn't believe yet that he meant
all he said. so I made up my mind to
give him bit more rope. told him |
was going to stay in Mexico week or
two. and let him understand that if he
wanted to change his mind he'd have an
opportunity; and then said good day
and rode Of went back to Mexico,
and put up at the hotel,. and thought it
all over; but the more thought about
it the less | could make it out If he
was the right man land everything about
him showed he was) it didn't seem in
human nature to refuse the property;
and If he was an impostor, who had
somehow managed to get hold of the
right mans papers, and to personate him
why, then, what on earth could his
object be if not to get the property If
anything. that would be the strangest
case Of the two
II had been back from Pachuca just
week when l was told that there was
lady in the house-an English lady-that
wanted to see me. Thinks l, Now, what
does this meanY l brushed myself up
bit and went down to find out She was
sitting at a table in the patio. with cup
of tea in front of her, She was good
looking woman, and as judged might
be something under 30 years old.
II made my bow, and she asked me to
k>o - all
Il hear you have been inquiring after Mr.
Valentine his full name, you
understand. told her that had. Did
you find hinly asked she. L did. said |.
She seemed bit excited or anxious, and
began to have my own ideas; but
wasn't prepared for what she said next.
i wish you to know that am his wife,
she said, and whatever is his business is
mine also. i am bound to inform you,
madam, said at last. that his family
has no knowledge of his marriage; they
believe him to be a bachelor i am
aware of that. said she, but fortunately
am in position to prove what say
and with that she took her marriage GER
tificate out of her pocket and showed it
to me: 1t was as regular as the multipi-
cation table; she was married to him
three or four years ago, in New Zealand
/ hadn't word to say. i understand he
has come into his property, said she
We'll, as to that, madam, said |, so he
has; but he has refused point blank to
have anything to do with 1t. She turned
white and looked at me very sharp.