The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-08-19

But at last it was done, and had at
tached the sturdy animal to the lightest
pillow on the place.
AS we started for the strip I was near
ly taken off my feet and I saw that dark
masses of cloud were arising in the west,
while feathery advance courierS Scurried
ahead of them, fiecking the blue Skies
I lifted the pillow into place and spoke to
Major Would he mind ME and pull the
heavy load? 1t needed two horses, but
perhaps the one could stand it little
while. Major shook his head and did not
start. Trembling with nervousness, l
went to his head and almost pleaded with
him to help me.
Again I shook the lines, and with an eff
fort the noble animal gave his weight
against the collar and we moved on, a
narrow, chocolate colored ribbon of sod
being thrown out behind.
The strip was a long one-half mile to
the other side of the section and when
I had reached the turn 1 was confident of
my success.
But upon looking backward the appear
ance of the heavens startled me. The
massive cloud was drawing nearer, and
was intense in it's blackness. The wind
had died out for a moment, but came
again in fitful gusts.
1--WE must hurry, Major" I called to
the horse, and we started toward the
house.
1t was a race for shelter The clouds
were coming now so near that could al
most hear the rumble I knew accompa-
MED them. The foam-lilze advance flyers
had reached the opposite horizon. The
sun was hidden, and darkness was upon
u.s. Desperately L struggled on, alter
nately praying that the storm would
prove merciful, and that John would
come.
[ reached the end of the furrow, and
the storm was not yet upon me. Two
more rounds would make the half acre
and blindly anxious to save our home
determined to make them, rain or no
rain.
Major was not eager to obey me but L
scolded him sharply, and down the track
we went again. The clouds seemed to be
resting, and I hurried on. Back to the
home and then down the stretch for the
third time. Oh, if I could only complete
it-and if John would only come.
the last furrow when the storm broke.
There was a wrirl of dust and rain anG
hail, while terrific crash of thunder
shook the very prairie.
Major, frightened worse than I, gave
quick spring, and, swapping the single
tree, was off to the stable. [ tried to fol-
low him, but [ could see nothing, and
sank down upon the freshly-turned earth,
confident that my last hour was at hand.
Scarcely had I done so when dark
form appeared at my side, two strong
arms lifted me from the ground and car
ried me against the wind at a rapid pace,
while big bearded lips pressed against my
cheeks told me that it was John who had
rescued me from my perilOus situation.
The cabin creaked and trembled in the
storm, but did not hear it. sat in my
husbands arms and sobbed out the story
of my attempted task.
But, darling, the men must have been
Mistaken" said John, interrupting me.
"They-they said they had looked on
the records still sobbing.
'"They must be right admitted John,
musingly; 81 remember now that the en-
try was made just six months ago. I
uedHI W have SeeH " ll-puI uIuH l, anu
it remained for you, little wife, to save
the claim. But to think that was away
off in Coronado
AT Widow St. Clair's,' L put in be-
fore I thought, for I had not intended to
mention the news I had heard that day.
''Why, who told you" began John, in
a hurt voice, while I hid my face on his
shoulder.
Did he suspect anything? I do not