The Faulkland quiz., 1892-06-25
TOM RINGGOLD.
4 Bit Of florida Life.
GRACE BROWN


two Interrogation points sparkling in
the deepest Of deep blue eyes.
Hugh, Just returned from answ' ring
knock at the door, sid, willie smile
wrinkled his round, quizzical face,
'sGuess."
tarace, the slender white maiden,
having cnught glimpse through the
orange trees, OF flaming head and
sturdy shoulders, murmured with the
calm omnisclent air that fitted her SO
I sweetly,
"Tom RinRgold ]"
"Yes; and what do you think he
waIts?"
II know cried Peter, short for
Lawrence suppressing violent yawn
that quiyered through his whole hand
some, lazy length. ''He wants to lend
us his head for festal torch on our
expedition to-day. He ssp1res, Tom
does, to be a cheering light in the midst
of darkness.
30, let him ~ Peterl Let him go.
,~HnqbI Please dol Tom is good. 1 like
lie can't help his red head, and
Very nice head anyhow"
pAnd young Ewes hewitching little
lface took on Madonna look of entreaty
as with clasped hands and upturned
F., eyes, she executed series of dances
about her big. indulgent brothers.
A shade of annoyance, born on the
calm white brow Of Gra e,-born only
to die OF ecstasy in the light of the
gold-brown eyes-was family per-
ceptible for moment, as she explained
to her northern guest, Regal Graeme,
that Tom Ringgold was nice, kind
hearted boy, but always so solemn and
distressingly awkward that he seemed
to carry about with him an uncanny
atmosphere, something neither of earth
nor Heaven. '.He is quite a pet with
mamma" she continued with her slow
lanQuorous smile, s'aud Eve thinks
him model of grace and elegance. So
OF course, we must make the best OF it,
and invite him to JOIN us to-day, with a
soft little sigh.
Just then the host and hostess, with
their guests, Col. and Mrs. Graeme,
entered the broad hall ;aud the party now
being complete, all started to walk
across the Causeway to rustic wharf,
where floating among reeds and ferns
and bonnets of blue and yellow, lay o
gayly painted beat.
II WAS day following one OF rain
and the earth seemed a newly created
Eden. In the rays of the rising sun, the
great stretches Of pine barrens were
transformed in to hall of columned
gold, the bright pools OF water, here,
there, everywhere among the tall green
grass, making tesselated pavement of
emerald and crystal On every side,
orange groves lighted the nj ght of
their dark shining foliage with thou
sands of lamps of gold and green, while
the magnolia, in stately rivalry, hold
ing high against its wealth of glitter,
pearly cups of perfume, seemed
Summer, herself, Offering hbations to
the deities inhabiting the airy spaces;
and over all, the beautiful palms, singly
and In groups, kept watch and ward.
Each member of the party walks in
self-created sphere of perfume, from
roses, jessamine and heliotrope worn
at bosom, belt or in button-hole.
All, in that group were no old and
no young,-but all were young that
The boat WAS nearly filed, and
Regal Grseme began to think the boy
with the red hair and s'uncanny atmos-
phere," had not been invited, when
Eve poised for spring into the boat,
drew back her slender foot, and ex-
claimed,
40, Tommy can I go with you2"
A boy of fourteen, the ye-v quin-
tsssence of awkwardness, in form and
feature, stood leaning against boat.
A shook OF brick-red hair hung low
over forehead and framed face COW
cred with enormous freckles of ugliest
brown. Added to these defects were
the large outstanding ears. stub
nose, and wide mouth; not one re-
deeming ieatureI-Yes, one, great,
frank, smiling blue eyes.
At Ewes appeal, he removed his
broad brimmed palmetto, and came
forward.
"If you will permit me, Mr..
Hillson," he said, 81 will take Eve
with me and be very careful of her,"
s'Thank you" was the answer, "only
keep your boat near ours"
Mr.. Hillson, intent on making his
northern friends acquainted with the
many beauties OF the Ocklawaha, rowed
from lovely to lovelier, following for
miles the numerous bends in this
crookedest OF crooked rivers.
Most of she time they seemed riding
on fairy lakes, completely walled in
z with spreading Expresses, massive oaks
and towering palms. Then treea, dis
playing in softened beauty through
wells OF swaying moss, the scarlet
bloom of air plants, and masses of gilt
\. tering vines, stood deep among grasses
Espferns and flags and lilies.
Peter and Hugh busted themselves
In gathering treasures for the herbar-
txrxvr ~ tt do
rowed close to the shore. When say
shore here, / do not mean what you
mean ty the word.
The Ocklawaha is really stretch OF
\ valuable timber, draped and decorated
by Nature in her widest, most fantas-
tic moods in all the richest and bright
est creations of water and sunlight.
A narrow clearing in this forest forms
the-fiver proper, but on the right and
ON the left the water laps and swirls
about the trunks of stately trees whose
matted underbrush forms a retreat for
numerous denizens OF air and water,
rkshe least of which are the deadly
sin and the surly alligator.
the wake OF the larger boat, fol-
rg its every curve and turn, came
the thy vessel otlicered by Tom Ring
9oid. He seemed to be acting the
devoted cavalier to Eve, whose silvery
laugh and song mingled pleasantly with
the iests and chat OF the occupants of
the leading boat.
40, exclaimed Regal Graeme at right
Of the Umbrella or Spider Lily, lean
ting its star of perfumed pearl against
slump of graceful fern. s'there is sure
ly dream blossom. Nothing of earth
<.vz t,a ohout If bid anv ona evar hold
touch?"
'Ist me t<y it," said Peter. stretch