The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-01-01

arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and
then she suddenly started: 'Oh, Mr..
Danai How could have been so thought
less-and this is your wounded sidep'
Dana protested that her slight weight
was soothing balm, not additional pain,
and Perry promptly asseverated that if
he were Dana he would beg her not to
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn
at him as she said, ''How can you know
anything about it, Mr.. Perry? You've
never been in action or got a scratch,
while Mr.. Dana"-and now the dark
eyes spoke volumes as they looked up
into those of her escort-''Mr. Dana is
one of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment" Even that failed to crush
him. while it had the effect of making
Dana feel mawkish and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only Won
dered the women ever could find time to
show any civility whatever to fellows
like him, when there were so many who
had records She was completely at
loss to fathom him, and when tattoo
came ON Monday night, and they were
all discussing the project of run with
the hounds for the coming mOrrOw-a
May day celebration on new principles
Mrs Belknap resolved upon change Of
tactics.
Dana was officer of the guard and over
at the guard house. but nesrt7 ali the
other officers were chatting about the
veranda and the gate of the coionePe
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted his pretty wife, and she waa.
as usual, the center of an interested
group. Perry came strolling along after
reporting the result of tattoo roll call TIC
the adjutant, and Capt Stryker called
to him and asked some question about
the men on stable guard The orders of
the colonel with regard to watching the
movements of the men after the night
roll call were being closely observed, and
when the trumpets sounded TAPS" few
moments later, several of the troop COM
manders walked away together, and this
left smaller party. 1t was just at this
juncture that Mrs. Belknap's sweet voice
was heard addressing the commanding
officer:
''Oh, colonel! Ever since Thursday
have been telling Capt Belknap about
those lovely albums of yours; and he is
so anxious to see them. Could he have
look at them to-night?'
"Why, certainly" exclaimed the colo
mel, all heartiness and pleasure. Come
right in, BeIknap. come many of you
all of you-where it's good and light. :"
And he Hospitality held open the screen
door. Perry had seen the albums dozen
times, but he was for going in with the
others, when he felt little hand press.
ure on his arm, and Mrs. Belknap's
great dark eyes were gazing up into his
with mournful, incredulous appeal
Don't you know want to see your"
she murmured so that only he could
hear. "Wait!'
And, much bewildered. Mr.. Perry
waited
She stood where she could look
through the screen door in the parlor be-
yond, watching furtively until the party
were grouped under the hanging lamps
and absorbed in looking over one an
others shoulders at the famous albums;
then, reckoning to him to follow, she
fitted, like some eerie sprite, on tiptoe
to the southern end of the veranda
where clustering vines hid her from
view from the walk along the parade
Perry began to feel queer, as he after
wards expressed it, but he stalked along
after her, declining to modulate the
thunder of his heavy heels upon the re-