The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-01-08

she finished speaking and held out her
hand to him. Then it was that William
Tucker made the one chief mistake Of
his life, and, in stammering utterances,
tried to tell her of the emotion which
possessed him. But she staid him with
a light hand upon his lips.
II am more grateful even than be-
fore" she said slowly, "but you offer
me gift which cannot accept can
not tell you how sorry I am or how
much believe in all that you have told
me. But love another man, and love
him very dearly
He was silent for few moments,
standing there with his eyes cast npon
the ground like a scolded schoolboy.
But he looked up at last, with some
thing of smile breaking across the
whiteness of his face.
81 might have KNOWN" he said slow
ly. II might have known, above all
things, that it is not for such man as
7 am to snatch SO great prize. might
have known that it was the best and
wisest thing for me to remain only your
friend-only your faithful dog, who
may try to be Of service to you some
times. Can you forgive me sufficiently
to let me still hold that place in your
thoughts?"
Il shall hope that you will be my
very good friend always, Mr.. Tucker"
she said gently. II am to marry Lieu
tenant Lacey. should have told you
before "
"Believe me, I am very glad" he re-
piled. II am only dull dog, but I
should be poor sort Of fellow indeed if
I did not appreciate your kindness and
your confidence.
Thereafter the dull stupid, common
place man showed so delicate tact and
was also so cheerfully generous to the
man who had taken the place he had
hoped to occupy that she grew to have
a regard for him that was almost like
that of younger sister for brother in
whom she implicitly believed and trust
ed. For his part he was proud Of the
position and would not have lost it for
anything else that the world might Of
appearance then, however, and the now
excited little command arrived at CHM
arron, crossing long before dark.
Going into camp at the usual spot,
the wagons and ambulances were cor
rallied, and every preparation made for
the anticipated charge Of the Indians.
The venturesome little outfit was we'll
armed, the majority of it's members
with that most effective weapon, the
Martini-Henry rifle, and felt themselves
equal to the offer Of battle, though it
came from even hundred times their
number of dirty savages.
Immediately after the camp had been
established and all was in readiness tc
give Satanic and his innumerable scalp
hunters a warm reception, couple Of
scouts were sent out to make recon
noissance of the condition of affairs in
front. They returned in about an hour,
having successfully made their way to
within a few hundred yards of the gath
ering savages. They discovered them
concentrated in the sand hills on the
south side of the Arkansas, numbering
more than 1000 warriors, according to
their best judgment, and were evidently
aware of the proximity of the paymaster
and his escort, for they, as the cavalry
man had before reported, were going
through their savage tactics usually
preparatory to an attack.
Major Smith gave positive orders for
no one to fire shot at the Indians until
| they committed the overt act by COM
moncinp the attack One of the ridicu-