The Florida agriculturist., 1889-11-20

no one came; but the murmur OF voices
in subdued but earnest controversy was
again audible on the second floor, and
at lasta door was opened and he heard
the same stern tones that had command
ed her silence before, and this time Uhev
said:
THAT is entirely my AFFAIR." / will
see the gentleman myself, and let him
know my opinion of this impudent and
-and-burglarious intrusion"
"Whew!' whistled Mr.. Perry to him.
self at sound of these menacing words.
This is boarding the lion in his den
with a vengeance! Now trot out your
Douglas in his hall. and let's see what
it all means. I've seen the girl, anyhow,
and he can't take that back, even if he
turns me out.
He heard heavy step, accented by
the sharp energetic prodding of a cane;
it came slowly along the hall, slowly
and majestically down the stairs, slowly
into the lower front room, and presently
there loomed forth from the darkness
into the broad glare of the astrals at the
hanging portieres the figure of a tall.
gray haired, spectacled, slimly built and
fragile looking Englishman, erect as
pride and high spirit could hold
man against the ravages Of
age and rheumatism sharp, stern
and imperious of mood as every glance
and every feature plainly told; vehement
and passionate, unless twitching lips and
frowning brows and angry. swapping
eyes belied him. man who had suffered
much, unless the deep lines and shadows
under eyes and mouth meant nothing
but advancing years; man who entered
full of wrath and resentment at this in
vasion of his privacy-this forcing of his
guarded lines; and yet-a gentleman,
unless Ned Perry's instincts were ali of
little worth.
The young soldier had been standing
by center table, coolly scanning the
pictures on the walls, and determining
to present rather exaggerated picture
of nonchalance as reward for the hostile
language of the proprietor of Dunraven.
He expected to hear an outburst of in
vective when that gentleman reached the
room; but no sooner had he passed the
portiere than he halted short and Mr..
Perry turning suddenly, was amazed at
the pale, startled, yet yearning look in
his quivering face.
The moment the young man confront
ed him there came as sudden a change.
1t was with evident effort that he con-
trolled himself and then, after brief
searching study of Perry's face, accosted
him, coldly and with sarcastic emphasis:
ITO what circumstance do | owe the
honor of this intrusiOnp''
II regret you so consider it, Mr. Matt
land, as believe you to be- The old
gentleman bowed with stately dignity.
"One OF our men, sergeant. rode down
this way quite early this morning and
failed to return His horse came back
bleeding at sunset, and we feared some
accident or trouble Searching parties
are out all over the prairies, and the
colonel ordered me to inquire here"
Does your colonel take us for ban
ditti here. and ascribe your desertions
| and accidents to our machinationsY'
Far from it, sir. but rather as a hos
pltable refuge to which the injured man
had been conveyed" answered Perry,
with quiet smile, determined to thaw
the hauteur of Dunraven's lord if cour-
tesy of manner could effect it
He is utterly mistaken, then," an
swered the Englishman, ''and resent
resent. sir, this forcing of my gates
after the explicit understanding we had