The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-08-09

have an incident of another night IN
March to relate. 1t was not clear, star
lit night, though. 1t was a dreary, win
try night, wondering whether it should
relent into the capriciousness Of April.
A disagreeable rain was falling, one OF
those wretched compromises between
snow arA sleet. was sitting alone by
the fire, my pupils had retired to bed,
and Mr.. Ashley had gone to the adjoin-
ing village.
Suddenly the door opened, and there
entered, preceded by a gust Of wind al
most visible in the mistiness, young
woman. She walked straight up to the
CRATE and held her hands over it, neither
speaking nor looking around her 1t
was this silence that made me feel so un-
comfortable. A chilliness crept over me
as gazed upon her; it was not the chill
illness of the rain, but the chilliness of
dread.
She was scantily attired, though a
heavy blanket carelessly thrown around
her had in a manner protected her from
the storm. Her hair was disheveled
and very black. Her face was ghostly
white, and her eyes dull and CHASTITY,
like those of a drowned person when
they are found open.
cannot say that was afraid of her.
She seemed perfectly harmless, and there
was all air of refinement about her that
told of better days.
cit is cold," said.
She turned around and bent her eyes
upon memo, flashed: before they We're
so icy, but now how they blazed!
"Who said it was cold?" she asked
fercely.
II did, replied in mild tone, though
I was conscious that [ trembled.
"You, Ell? Well, it's nothing to you
or to me If it is cold! Who makes 1t
cold? It is nice night to those who
never get out into any night at all!
How bright the fagots in this little hole
Blaze on the hearth and warm the pictured
wall!
Did Campbell say that? Well, there are
no pleasures Of hope for mel have no
hope. What makes you stare at me so?
But oughtn't to speak so gruff1y; you
are a woman and may help me. Tell
me, do you think me crazy?"
did not answer directly. Itrequired
an evasive answer, and one so framed
that she could not detect that it was
such. l still kept my eyes upon her, and
said quietly: "Who said that you were
crazy? Take a chair. / want to talk
with YOU
"Hal hal ha! Just like l answered
you awhile ago. Well, | amt crazy
though they say / am. lhave just broke
out of the madhouse. All! am q good
hand at stratagem! There now, send
me back!'
''You need not fear me. l have no
reason for sending you any where. You
can stay here. You are no more crazy
than am"
A warm light came into her eyes at
those words, and with q little persua
sion got her to lie down on the sofa
where she soon sank into slumber My
thoughts were varied as gazed into that
face, pale and careworn, yet beautiful
still and framed in with its wealth OF
raven hair. My life had been a life Of
toll and struggling and suffering. One
by one my relatives had passed into the
shadowy tomb, and just then there was
a great sorrow brooding in my heart,
but | felt thankful that, amid all, God
had still vouchsafed unto me my reason.
A prayer went up in that lone, quiet
room; the wind still howled dismally
without, but there was a calmness in my
heart. parted the hair from her white