The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1889-01-23

completed, Allen Gray left his office, and
passing through the dark, silent village,
entered the old, long deserted turnpike.
Pausing on the hilltop he instinctively
gazed down on Turlcy Point, now buried in
slumber. He almost wished that he could
run away from the tolls and vexations that
had harrassed him ever since that morning
when the steamer brought him to the land
ing. Oh, to be free from tho bitter envy and
iealousies which were blighting tho village
He was engaging in a mysterious under
taking, and really knew no cause for the
Journey. Hating a second time on his way
UP the hill, he said:
"Why am going? Her conduct has been
very unnatural from the first, and / may be
following the mad rawlings ola lunatic. But
no-there is some powerful cause that IN
duced her to ask my assistanccin this That
afflicted child is very dear to her. promised
aid in taking him to place of safety, and /
will keep my promise even though the
heavens fall
Vending his way along the road, now al
most ovcrgr0wn with weeds and bushes, he
felt a recurrence of that supcrstitiOus dread
which had almost overcome him on q former
occasion. He vainly fought against it, yet,
by more than superhuman power, he man
aged to keep his feelings in subsection.
At last the spring was reached. and he
found the horse tied as had been rep
resented. The noble animal, as if aware of
the journey before him, stamped in his i'm
patience to be on the road
He unfastened the horse, and, vaulting IN
the saddle, the spirited animal, as light and
free as the woodland breeze, fitted along
the dark winding path to the turnpike.
A dark figure, leading a child SO complete
ly wrapped up that he could not at first dis
tinguish it's features, came up to HIM. Bend
ing low in his saddle, Allen lifted the little
boy to the horses back and seated the
child before him. The old negro woman,
thrusting into his hand a scaled note, muir
INJURED the name of Mddemoiseue Cansiti0
Am to give her this!" he asked.
soul, monSieurp she answered.
"Too bad, too bad % said Allen, thrusting
the note into his pocket, as his horse started
down the road. ''Every one connected with
this COMPOUNDED mystery is either dumb or
speaks some foreign language except
Bertha, who refuses to reveal any thing"
The child proved to be avery patient little
fellow, and sat silently in front of Allen.
Fearing that some of the villagers might be
awake and that they would see him, Allen,
after cantering gaily down the old turn
pike to the bottom of the hill, turned aside
and rode around Turley's Point, entering
the road two miles beyond 1t.
Knowing his danger he became quite
nervous. Every sound emitted from that
dark wood he construed into pursuer.
From those dark recesses he seemed to ever
see the frightfully stern visage of the tall,
dark man at the chateau. The demoniacal
smile Of triumph on his dark visage bode no
good to the horseman and his young charge.
The face followed him everywhere. 1t
peered at him from the fence corners, or
hedge-rows, or the orchard beyond wherever
he WENT that revengeful face followed him.
Down long lane, through Forest across
a bridge and upa hill the noble steed, bearing
his double burden, galloped, The child was
so still and quiet that Allen thought he must
be asleep. 1t was not until he attempted to
change his position that he found him
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