The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-09-20

OF strangers troubled them not. Even
the terrors and troubles Of the revolu-
ton had seemed to have passed them by,
and now, when the hamlcts Of France
were being drained of men to recruit the
wasted armies and to swell The "army
of England" which was gathering on
the northern coast, this sheltered nook
escaped unscathed.
Such a thing as a complete stranger
was unknown in the village. Now and
again came an official on his way from
place to place-a casual peddler or an
itinerant musician on his rounds-and
at such times the curiosity which lay
dormant in the breasts Of even these old
world villagers raised its sleepy head
and enjoyed the rare attraction. Very
few Of the villagers had ever been away
from their homes. The cure, it's true,
went now and again to Grenoble, and
the doctor had been once to Paris with
in the 40 years during which he had
aided in the incomings and outgoings Of
humanity in this quiet spot.
1t was therefore with strange feelings
that the little group assembled under the
spreading lime tree whose shade kept the
clear water Of the well perpetually cool
saw approach stranger, and not merely
stranger, but seemingly distinguished
stranger-a young man Of some 30 years
Of age, tall and we'll built, with striking
features and flashing eyes and a habit Of
command which, however, tailed but
poorly with his time worn clothes. He
was a handsome, graceful fellow, with
the easy gait that marks the habitual
pedestrian. His glance was bold and
rowing, with something Of the predatory
look, which conveys to educated eyes
a customary ignorance Of where the next
meal might come from. In word, the
man in less simple community could
not have been mistaken for anything but
an adventurer, but here in this forgotten
corner of the earth, among a people so
guileless, his very boldness, stiffness
and extravaganza Of action became marks
of higher culture than their own.
AS the stranger came up the dusty
roadway the little village crowd peered
out eagerly from their shadowy citadel,
and by some exercise Of that unknown
instinct which brings the vulture to the
quarry and the crowd to the street the
cottages began to pour forth their in
habitants. The village maidens made
their appearance with marvellous celeri-
ty, considering the fact that they had re-
manned an extra minute for further
adOrnment.
The traveller seemed to be a shrewd
fellow enough for the occasion, for so
soon as he began to find himself an OBJ
ject of public attention he began to
slacken his pace, to look around with
eyes of lazy inquiry and generally to
act with that careless Indifference which
has so much charm for those who but
seldom find their lives quickened by any
object Of curiosity. AS his value per-
ceptibly increased in the public mind,
SO he got slower and slower, until an
agonizing fear came to all that perhaps
the stranger might, after all, change his
mind and not condescend to visit so
humble place.
More and more anxious grew the little
crowd which still keptswelling up as the
new arrivals joined. The stranger in an
unconscious way hummed q tune as
though he saw no one. Then he stop
ped little, looked around and strolled
on again. The villagers admired in