The Florida agriculturist., 1889-07-17

of that" said he; clam married already"
''You are married mani Does Pauline
know it?''
II told her this morning. It's a long
story, and you shall hear it another time
if you want to. | married in haste, and
/ am likely to have plenty of leisure to re-
pent. Well, you can imagine that moth
ing could please me so much as serving
her in any way can, and | know that
no better way is open to me than to give
helping hand to you. So, if you agree
to join me, you will be doing me the best
kindness that one man can do another
it is not to be measured in time, or
money, or anything else. My prospects,
as you may suppose, are not especially
cheerful at the best: but whatever good
comes to me will be from the thought
that I am of some good to Pauline's
brother. / can't live with her, or see her
any longer; but can live with you, and
that's the next best thing, not to men
tion that you are tolerably good company
on your own account" He ended with
laugh.
Its very kind of you to put it in that
way, old fellow" said Percy, in a some
what unsteady tone. "Well, I'll go with
you. | have been drug in the market
so far, and | won't make any promises;
but don't think you'll find me volun-
tary drag on you, at all events. Have
you any definite plans?'
Il have thousand; we have only to
pick and choose" Valentine replied.
"My intention this morning was to go
direct to Australia by way Of San Fran
cisco, but think shall change that, for
one reason, because | mentioned it to
Judge Ketelle, and, in any case, it will
be well to get outside the country as soon
as possible. We might go to Mexico by
steamer, to begin with. | have some
good letters to people there, SO that we
shan't be strangers. If anything good
turns up we can stay there; if not we
can go to Colon and Panama, and get
aboard some vessel bound westward.
You may find an opportunity to make a
practical acquaintance with mining be-
fore you are DONE"
It was then about o'clock in the after
noon. On consulting newspaper they
learned that one of the United States and
Brazil Mail Steamship company's vessels
sailed on the following day. Wednesday,
at o'clock. This vessel stopped at St
Thomas, where, if they saw fit, they
might disembark and take passage to
Havana, and thence to Vera Cruz and
Mexico, thus throwing possible pursuers
off the scent. This seemed to be the best
route open to them; and, as there was no
time to be lost, Martin left at once for
Broad street to secure their passage
Percy was left alone to mediate on his
position.
Martins rooms were in bachelor
apartment house, not far from the juno
ton of Fifth avenue and Broadway.
The roar of the streets was audible as
continuous sound: and to Percy, sitting
in an easy chair before the fire, and
wearied with the emotions and vicissi-
tudes of the day, it had the soporific in
fuence of the wind among pines, or the
noise of surf on shore. The sun had
set, and the room became dusky. Percy's
eyes closed, and he was just on the point
of falling asleep.
The sharp sound Of the electric bell
aroused him. Had Martin returned al
ready? He must have left his pass key,
to be obliged to ring. Still palSly asleep,
Percy arose and went to the door and
opened it, A lady stood on he thres-
hold and as the door swung back she
r+oyo,ocd u11ickIv inside