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

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fraught with an honor all it's own, and
that the Importance of the owner Of it
grew with an ever increasing rapidity.
Macaire remained at the house of
Beaumont, and by borrowing reason
able sum of money from his host as
personal favor to him and by various
purchases of clothing effected in the
neighboring hamlets OH his account-for
he would net leave the place even for a
few hours-he began to make better ap-
pearance.
Hitherto the rustic youths had regard
ed Marie with distant love. They had
not ventured to lay their stricken hearts
at her feet, but had contented or rather
discontinued themselves by admiring
affair off the beauty which they dared not
approach. Now, however, with the
sight of rival-for as such they of
course regarded him-lovers regard ev-
cry one as a rival, and rightly so, when
they have not the courage to speak out
for themselves-before them installed in
the house, and their possible chances
fading into nothing, they began to grow
more courageous and to come closer to
the object of their alteration, although
they did not dare to speak.
There was one important exception to
this rule, a bright eyed, keen witted
young fellow called Pierre Lamar, the son
of well to do farmer. He was some
what younger than the rest of Marie's 81
lent suitors, and he had hitherto refrain
ed from speaking to her of his love from
the natural difidence of youth, but for
some time it had been half understood
between the old folk that if the young
people should care to make it match
there would not be any objection expe-
rienced from the seniors.
Pierre became more ardent i'll his WOO
ing, and although Marie had all wom-
ans natural gift in the way Of protec-
ton by keeping a declaration away it
took her all her time to prevent the
young man from declaring himself.
Robert Macaire did not like the constant
attention which was involved in the
young mans passion and tried to keep
him away, but all in vain, until by his
delaying to declare his own intentions
Marie prompted Cupid with little jeal-
ousy.
AS Pierre's hopes began to grow Rob
ert awoke to the necessity of the case,
and as preliminary asked Marie to give
Pierre his congo. This she did, protest.
ing that she did not know why she should
10 SO. Pierre was therefore kept strict
ly among the crowd who in the evening
were permitted to come to the foot Of
their idol.
This was very pleasant for Marie, who,
like all her sex, loved admiration, and
also for Robert, who, like all his sex,
loved company, and who, by this time
confident of his success with the village
beauty, could afford to be easy in his
mind and to enjoy the company undis-
tIlrbed.
There was very general impression
that Farmer Beaumont was possessed OF
great riches. For many generations his
family had been prosperous and thrifty,
and the hamlet was so small and so re-
mote from any great center that it had
always escaped lightly from the cruel
exactions Of the tax farmers. In those
days there were few banks, and in such
spots as Charmont- sur-Pont they were
quite unknown. Those who had any
money to keep-and they were none too
many-preserved it by the simple expo
dent Of locking it in a strong box, hid
ing it in their houses Or burying it in the
ground.
Robert Macairn knew we'll enOuoh