New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-04

'i'u hidJ tIlS WAN me UllSslNe tldU 'o"0i"
had promised TO write concerning tire possible
arrival of the Gerrys.
She felt hope die within her. There might be
person in 81. Augustine who knew of that man,
but how could she find that person?
In desperation she asked to be directed TO a
| cheap lodging house. She must go somewhere.
Then she went forth TO find Mrs Marks on
Tolan;ato street II was a shabby enough house,
and seemed TO smell OF something she could not
define and which made her want to cry with
| sudden rush of homesickness and the rent was
| five dollars week.
1t was man with greasy skin and IIebrac
nose. with his feet thrust half way into carpet
slippers. who showed her this room. and who
assured her it ore of the best locations IN the
city, and that she within five minutes OF
everything.
But to be within Ave minutes OF everything was
| not the reason for her coming TO Florida She
said she would look further whereupon the man
| came down hili dollar on the rent. and when
she was out on the street he had taken of another
half dollar and asserted that he was now giving
| her the rent. and that he should be ruined
She hurried away. convinced that she
should be obliged TO stay indefinite time in the
town and spend an indefinite amount of money
| before she could find Mr. Meine. if she found
| him.
"If only knew somebody here" she whispered
TO herself.
The glittcrng carriages rolled by her; men and
women on horseback cantercd softly over the
| sand OF the stretch. every one had money
| enough. Why did she come TO place like tins
| And there was her husband at home denying him
self that she and Salome might be here.
Thunder! Why in time don't ye git, if ye can
cit?'
As drawing. stridcnt voice called this out
directly behind her. Mrs. Gerry sprang aside and
pressed up against building.
There was no sidewalk. and the queer little
| highway seemed at that instant full OF vehicles.
| Directly behind her cart drawn by
mule. or, rather. It was fastened to a mule. which
was not drawing anything now, but had stopped
apparently from its own voition This animal
| wore a few pieces Of harness and few fragments
of rope, which seemed TO be very insccurely tied
| upon him. and which connected him To the cart
behind him in mysterious manner.
Tho cart was broken at the side and the break
was mendcd by the mailing it OF a couple
| of barrel slaves But one of these slaves had
pulled away from its nails. and when the mule
moved the barrel stavc Topped more or less, in
accordance with the motion of it's propciling power
The bottom of the cart what might be
descriptively called "opcn work." for there ap-
pearcd 10 be more apertures than anything else.
But these apertures were now concealed by some
old cotton bags tackled across. These bags were
there temporarily. and to enable few cabbaSes
and sweet potatoes 10 remain in the vehicle until
they should be sold.
The driver and owner of this turnout was sitting
with great calmness one front corner OF The
cart with his feet braced against shaft
lie was long and thin and yellow. He had
beard which was also long and so thin that II
allowed the contour Of his chin and cheeks TO be
plainly seen.
have no wish 10 keep reader in suspense, md
will state Immediately that this person was JOB
Maine. and that he believed himself to be now
engaged in selling truck
But Mrs Gerry did not know that il was Mr..
Maine She believed she was looking at n speci-
men OF cracker. How could she by any means
guess that this was man New England born and
bred?
Mr.. Maine. however. had not forgotten the
appearance Of those people among whom he had
grown up. lie did not ask his mule 10 20 on
Immediately There was always time enough.
lie leaned on his elbow and gazcd down at Mrs
Gerry, who only a few feet from him
Perhaps some unaccustomed pulse was awakening
in his heart but this organ was so unused to such
pulses that his face had long ago forgotten how
to reveal anything OF them.
| This face might have been a piece OF leather, 30
| far as any expression was concerned
, | And vet the owner of that countcnance was
curious
II ruther guess en- hold in my mule for
| minute or go, remarked Mr.. Maine. not glancing
AZ the animal. whose whole attitude might have
been taken for an illustration of the verb =" to
droop.7
81 en- most always hold him in" he added,
explanatorily as if his assertion might be doubted
When this gentleman had said. / ruthcr guess
there had come to Mrs. Gerry quick feeling, as
of recognition. not Of the individual in the least.
but Of the Yankee in generic sense. SIM. OF
course this must be a cracker
Jest arrovc. | calclate?' inquired Mr. Maine
.Rut the season amt TO its height till after
Christmas. Still. they're droppin' in. Con-
sumption p
/, I'm we'll" answered Mrs. Gerry. not knowing
why she fingered
lyon don't look consumptiye N you don't
look like one of them that has money rott.n' n
! has 10 come South to cit rid OF it,
; MIR. Maine apparently had the whole day IN
which TO sit there and converse, ana ms interest
in a Yankee, dull as was that interest was some
fling like excitement to him. lie saw great num-
hers Of Northern people every year, bat he rarely
saw this kind Of Northern person.
| Io rolled something that was in his mouth IRON
ro side If his face TO the other. He passed the
hac, Of his hand across his dry pale lips.
} Urs Gerry now made the assertion That she
| had no money rot;ing. She made a STEP loi"'r'
and said also that she had no time to spare:
. "Don't rush round so,7 said Mr.. Name
.Tbere's all the time thur is. amt they Dri
yc jest come in?'
"ycs And I've got to find a lodging. cheap
,odo;ng Ia there any such thing hcrc?'
The man slowly shook his head.
, "There amt nothn' cheap in Augustine IN
this season." he replied. You're bark'n up '"'
wrong trce--'lcss you want cabbage III lev ~
, have one or them cheap.
Mrs Gerry had never in her life felt s"ch Il
frantic sense of inability and incompetence one
.antnh In wrinn lcr hands and cry ON.