St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-10-03

IL
Upon what?" I asked
do you not remember" he replied
show we two have talked about the
possible existence of plants that move
from one spot to another with the same
freedom rs we conceited bipeds? Well,
I've solved that problem. They do
exist But / can't really can't
make out satisfactorily whether they
do it by the exercise of volition, or
whether they are transported in spite
of themselves It's not . bit of use
troubling the British association on
the subject until we have settled that
il it?''
Twas half disposed to laugh at him
when he said this But the mysterious
and quite unusual kind Of earnestness
ia his expression while he was speak
ing not only deferred me, but even
again made me feel uneasy shout him.
| "You are not serious, Hammond?" !
sid. And besides, old fellow. it's
very wrong of you to run away in this
fashion. Not to speak Of the fright
you gave me, you'll catch chill, and
v. shall have that fever business all
over again"
''Fever business! What do you meau?"
"Why, you know you have been ill,
AID you're not wet. vet; and SO come
right along to bed again"
He said nothing to this, bot allowed
the boy and me to take care Of him. !
must say he looked = strange object
wrapped up in the blue blanket which
had seized for the purpose when
we went after him, and especially
| when the moon shcne upon him
through the teak trees of the forest
The scurrying among the branches
overhead seemed to imply that the
monkeys also found him q spectacle
too strong for their nerves.
tie was better in the afternoon and
talked of the service and other matters
in perfectly rational manner. 1t
seems he had written to Pekin begging
to be removed from Annoy: and he dis
cussed the chances Of favorable re-
ply to his letter nationally enough.
though with q disregard for the be-
ne avement that l in that case should
suffer which puzzled me. For he was
naturally the most uuselfish of men,
ard he had over and over again said he
would never leave Annoy without me,
and that he would never be left in it If
I was appointed vice consul elsewhere.
Towards sunset he became excited. I
dill not like the metallic glitter in his
eye. 1t recalled to me in an ugly man
ncr certain visit had paid to Chi
ncsc madhousc little time previously.
He was irritable, moreover. and would
not let me touch his pulse. When
wanted him to come into the hut for
the night he objected.
mo, Randolph" he said, mot till
the moon there also goes tO bed in the
antipodes- l particularly mean to be
awake tonight"
''Why?" l asked
because ! am rs sure as I stand
was when the moon was high. I reckon
it went at about the rate Of yard .
minute. I mean to secure it. ahd
should very much like to photograph it
before nabhing it"
''What are you talking about, old
chap?'' I asked again. with the dismal
fear at my heart that the fever or sun
stroke had affected his brain.
Tho creeping plant, Randolph 1t
was. as well as could guess at it. nine
feet long, with flowers all the way along
1.-THE calyx . bright blue. l never
saw anything 50 odd since was born.
DO you know, I almost lost my senses
in q sort of excitement over it, and l
suppose IL got away in the meantime,
for when 1 tried to find it again I
couldn't
i could only stare at him in bewilder-
ment He was certainly not joking,
and yet the idea Of = plant of this de-
scription was to my unobservant intel
ligcnce perfectly ridiculous.
But poor Hammond did not like my
incredulous look. ''You don't believe
me, I see!' he exclaimed pettishly.
''That's ever the way with you prac-
teal fellows. am thankful I'm not
practical. Anyhow, too. mean to get
it this night, alive or dcad--thats .
clear thing"
"No, NO; plsaas. doa't think q II"
entxeatea ..Wait till you're . bit
stronger. and then If yea like veil do |
soothing else bot hunt this crawling
beanstalk. or whatsoever e H."
81 - . strong = ever was. Il
may jadee BY ny fselings, and 50 You
nay = ven 0aho up your mind to my
going. Remember. Randolph. that I'm
your senior in the service, and won't
put up with dictation from you or any
other man of your time of life"
could only shrug my shoulders, and
suggest to him rs casually IS possible |
that of course had no right to inter |
fere with his movements, but that for /!
his own sake he ought not to 20 on in |
'pyjamas- again, rs he did before.
..Yes. that was indiscreet." the dear |
old fellow observed, with u smile. /
We humored him for the rest of the
evening. and Ut length he fell asleep in
his bamboo couch-chair, and we COW
cred him lightly and arranged the mos
quito curtains to protect him as much
Is possible.
But had no intention of going to
bed. Somehow or other. l fancied he
would wake and start OF into the
woods. Just as he had done before. At
the back of my mind I confess, too,
there was . thin phantom Of curiosity
about the shape nine feet long. with
flowers upon it, which had fitted so
well with Hammond's ideal of . creep
ing plant
Accordingly, lit my pipe and read
the North China Herald until began
10 feel drowsy. The paper had dropped
from my hands, and l was bordering
weakly about the likelihood of some
senior In the service re-
solving to retire CT to die for the good