The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-06-07
CHAPTER V.
A NAVAL CONQUEST.


It was the habit Of the doctor and the
admiral to accompany each other upon a
morning ramble between breakfast and
lunch. The jewellers in those quiet tree
lined roads were accustomed to see the
two figures-the long, thin, austero sea-
man and the short, bustliD:;, tweed clad
physician-pass and rcraas with such
regularity Tat stopped clock has been
reset by them. The admiral took two
steps to his companions three, but the
younger man was the quicker, and both
were equal to good II miles an hour.
1t was lovely summer day which fol-
lowed the events which have been de-
scribed. The sky was of the deepest
blue, with few white fleecy clouds
drifting lazily across it, and the air was
filled with the low drone Of insects or
with sudden sharper note as bee or
blue fly shot past with it's quivering long
drawn hum, like an insect tuning fork.
AS the friends topped each rise which
leads up to the Crystal palace they
could see the dun clouds of London
stretching along the northern sky line,
with spire Or dome breaking through the
low lying haze. The admiral was in high
spirits, for the morning post had brought
good news Of his son.
"It is wonderful, Walker" he was say
ing, positively wonderful, the way that
boy of mine has gone ahead during the
last three years. We heard from Pear
son today Pearson is the senior part
ner, you know, and my boy the Junior
Pearson & Denver the firm. Cunning
old dog is Pearson, as cute and as greedy
as a Rio shark. Yet he goes off for q
fortnight's leave and puts my boy in full
charge, with all that immense business
in his hands, and free hand to do what
he likes with it. How's that for conf
dence, and he only three years upon
changer
"Any one would confide in him. His
face is a surety" said the doctor.
"Go ON, Walker" The admiral dug
his elbow at him. "You know my weak
side. Still it's truth all the same. I've
been blessed with q good wife and good
son, and maybe l relish them the more
for having been cut off from them SO
long I have much to be thankful for"
"And so have l. The best two girls
that ever stepped. There's Clara, who
has learned as much medicine as would
give her the L. S. A, simply in order
that she may sympathize with me in my
work But, hullo, what is this coming
along?"
"All drawing and the wind asternw
cried the admiral. Fourteen knots if
it's one. Why, by George. it is that
womanP'
A rolling cloud of yellow dust had
streamed round the curve of the road
and from the heart of it had emerged a
high tandem tricycle. flying along at a
breakneck pace. In front sat Mrs. West
macOtt clad in heather tweed pea jacket,
a skirt which just passed her knees and
pair Of thick CATERS Of the same ma
terial. She had great bundle Of red
papers under her ARM while Charles,
who sat behind her clad in Norfolk
jacket and knickerbockers, bore a SINH
lar role protruding from either pocket.
Even as they watched the pair eased up,
the lady sprang off, impaled one of her
bills upon the garden railing Of an empty
house, and then jumping on to her seat
again was about to hurry onward when
her nephew called her attention to the
two gentlemen upon the footpath.
''Oh, now, really didn't notice you, -
said she, taking a few turns Of the treadle
and steering the machine across to them.
tETc IL not q hpautifu1 mOrninU2''