The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-04-22

Uoh0 anu ~ W lily IJdEOHUS.
At B O'Clock she called the serving
maid, whom she sent to the garnet for a
valise, and commenced to pack. The
maid said nothing, but she was sur
prised that her master had not risen and
did not help his wife. However, she
made the coffee and then went after
cab
The front door was wide open and a
locksmith busy with the big lock when
Annie appeared in the hall. The land
lady ran to meet her. exclaiming in a
furry of excitement "Did you hear
about it, madam? A thief was here last
night and made an attempt to enter the
house. Some one must have frightened
him off. He left a broken key stuck fast
in the lock, and was unable to unlock
the door. had to call from the window
until | aroused a neighbor, who ran for
locksmith. Now am going to have
patent lock put on and spoil their little
game. But you look very pale, my dear
madam. am sorry to have frightened
you with my burglar story. Are you 60
ing to take a ride SO early in the morn.
ing?"
Annie nodded and passed on. She
was glad that the woman had not seen
her valise, which her maid had already
put into the cab.
"What a narrow escape I had last
night! How near I came being robbed
perhaps worse!" She was now thor
oughly angry. $50 much more reason
for leaving the fellow, no matter what
the consequences! For the present shall
remain with my parents ;" Thus musing
she arrived at the depot.
Before purchasing her ticket she in
tended to leave her valise in the waiting
room. Annie entered and made for an
empty table, when suddenly she drop
ped the valise and almost screamed
aloud. Wash It that her husband, cher
Gus sitting there in corner and snor-
ing loud enough to make every body in
| the room smile at his nasal powers? He
| looked tired and worn and his garments
| appeared damp. How did he get here
and why was be in such dilapidated
condition? She stood for moment un-
decided and unable to take her eyes off
his drawn, wOrnout features
Suddenly the sleeper opened his eyes.
Whatever the outcome, she must avoid a
scene in a public room. Anything but
that! The walters had more than once
looked wonderingly at the man who
had drunk three cups of coffee and then
fallen sound asleep hours ago. Annie
tried to appear quite unconcerned, and
took seat beside her husband. Some
how her anger had suddenly vanished.
ooh, darling, what brought mel
mean rather what brought you-here?"
he asked, astonished at the unexpected
appearance of his wife, dressed for a
journey.
"Never mind, dear. Don't bother
about that now" she whispered.
"Come, let us ride home, where 7 will
explain all. :"
Gus acquiesced in silence. His feet
felt heavy and hardly able to carry his
weight. He was sick. All he could do
was to drag himself to a cab
And then explanations were in order
Annie had 10 reason to doubt her hus-
bands narration Of his adventures dur
ing the night, and what the landlady
had told her about the broken key tend
ed to corroborate and exonerate him.
But he could not quite make out from
her explanations what had taken her to
the railway station. He was, however,
too i'll to ask many questions.
Arrived at home, she simply told the
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