The Florida agriculturist., 1889-12-11


too surprised to speak.
1.-THE colonel told him to tell mer was
Perrys wondering soliloquy at last.
.Then suppose he must have told the
chief some story to account for his being
away" 1t was pretty evident from the
young fellows manner as he entered the
house that the story was not one which
struck him as being entitled to conf
dence or consideration.
On the table in his little sitting room
lay dainty note. 1t was not the first
he had received under that superscrip-
ton, and he had not been slow to open
and read them. If anything, the cloud
upon his forehead seemed to deepen at
sight of it. He picked it up, looked lm-
patiently at the address, hesitated mo-
ment, tossed it back on his desk and went
into the inner room. He would not read
it now; it was almost parade time: he
had to bathe and change his dress, for
after parade he was to dine at the quarters
of an infantry friend, and Capt. and
Mrs Lawrence were to be of the party.
Already it was noted that when any of the
few infantry people at the post gave
little tea or dinner at which only eight
or ten were gathered together, the Bel
knaps were not invited on the same even
ing with Mr.. Perry, and vice versa. When
Parke came in, whistling and singing
and banging doors and making all man.
ner of uncouth noise in the exuberance
of his spirits. he bolted into Perry's do
main, as was his wont, and begin rat
Ting comment on the events of the day.
by the way" he broke in. suddenly.
1--WE can't both go tomorrow; and sup
pose you want to-
500 where?"
"NNhy, out with the hounds: to-mor-
rows the day. you know"
Perry gave whistle Of perplexity.
The colonel had promised the ladies that
there should be run this very week.
ALI the fleet hounds of the cavalry bat
TALON were to be out. and all the officers
who could be spared from the days du-
ties: a detachment was to go over into
the valley of stream some ten miles
away, pitch tents in the shade. and there
set luncheon for the entire party: horses
were to be provided for all the ladies
who cared to go mounted, buggies and
''buckboards' were to convey the others,
and it was to be gala occasion. Ante
: lope, coyote or jack rabbit-any four
! footed game the prairie afforded vast
be ''coursed' in due state and ceremony;
the ladies ''in at the death we're to be
crowned and subsequently presented
with trophies of the chase more slightly
than the mask or brush au naturel The
affair had been gayly talked over that
very evening of the colonels dinner, but
the events Of the previous day and the
perplexities of the one just closing had
completely driven it all out of his head.
And yet he was engaged to ride with
Mrs. Belknap, the amazon of Fort Rossi
ter! And for the first time in his life
Ned Perry would have been glad of an
excuse to get away from gallop with
an accomplished equestrienne.
"You don't mean to say you had for
gotten it?' asked Parke. in amaze
Don't blow on me. there's a good
fellow; but, after all my breaks of yes
terday getting an absent from drill
and into row at the ranch-I declare
it had slipped my memory. No, you go,
Parke; don't deserve to be let off any
thing, after yesterday. You've been
sticking to duty like brick ever since
you joined, and Stryker ought to give
you the preference.
"But you're engaged to ride with Mrs.
Belknap," said Parke.