The Florida agriculturist., 1889-08-28

that moment. don't think he was over
pleased at the meeting; but it was too
late to get out Of it, so he came up; and
noticed he only glanced at the lady, as
if she was some one he had never seen
before; then he gave me good day, and
took my hand. 1t was bit awkward,
| said, i suppose you will wish to con-
verse with your wife alone, sir; will
leave you My wifeP says he; l was
not aware there was such personP Is
not this lady your wifey cried |. He
stared at her like man astonished, and
then at me. i never saw her till this
moment, said he Come, sir, said l, i
have just seen the certificate of her mar
riage with you. oh. it's all mistake
put In the lady. i was never married
to this gentleman; never saw him;
am the wife of Mr.. Valentine We'll,
and this gentleman is Mr., Valentine.
said l. He may have the same name,
but he is another person altogether. said
She AS TO that, said l, you must settle
it between you; Mr. Valentines papers
are all correct, and there is only one
estate in England with the name that his
bears. But | have proved, cried the
lady, that am the wife of the heir Of
that estate: and if this gentleman says
he is the heir. denounce him as an inn
postorr
AT that, | looked at Mr. Valentine.
He had kept his eyes on the lady all the
while, with a sort of perplexed express
sion. but now he smiled very quietly
and said he Il think have heard of this
lady before. ! wish to say nothing
against her. She seems to be in dilem-
ma from which there is no way of extri>
eating her If she wishes to lay claim
to the estates. she can do so only by ac-
knowledging me as her husband But
you have just heard us both declare that
we have never seen each other before
But she also declares me an impOstor
Suppose am; she must find the real man
before she can profit by the inheritance.
If | am not he, where is he? Grant, on
the other hand, that am he. and this lady
is my wife; / still decline to touch
penny of the hundred and fifty thousand
pounds. and what | will not accept she
cannot share. That is logic and law
both, believer"
Upon my word. Henry Clifton, ejac-
ulated Mr. Bob Stapleton at this junct-
ure, this is about as peculiar yarn as
ever listened to It's as good as play
and better too When you get to New
York, do you go straight to manager
and offer to sell it to him. and if he
don't give you good price for it I'm a
Dutchmanl"
"Good or bad," returned Mr., Clifton,
lit happened just as tell 1t you When
Mr.. Valentine said that, the lady seemed
staggered for moment; and then all at
once she called out: i see how it is! You
two have arranged this thing between
you! You are in conspiracy to cheat
mel You have plotted to get hold of
this property and share it between you.
and keep me out! But | will have
my rights in spite of youl will
denounce both of you to the au-
thorities. For all know. you may have
murdered my husband and taken his
papers, But you will not succeed. will
expose you, and you shall be punishedr
''Well that made me a little angry,
and | told her that if she wanted to
charge mo with conspiracy she had bet
ter set about it at once, and the sooner
the better, for | knew who would get
he didn't lose his temper. but he said
very quietly, i am not murderer. ma
dam and you will only waste your time