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

too hard. All the loneliness, all the home
sickness, all the longing of the days that
had so slowly passed, welled up in my
heart and / could not control myself.
The thought of John riding about the city
with the wealthiest lady in that section
of the State, while I, tired out and lonely,
was fairly wearing out my life in our
humble home looking after the meager
surroundings because L loved him so. /
had practiced the entire creed of love-
sacrifice. I had given up all of joy and
companionship for him.
And how had he repaid it? I remem
bered now that he had been somewhat re-
ticent regarding his employment in the
city I did not know what he was do
ing. To be sure, nothing was neglected
at home-but his wife for there was lit
tie of the claim cultivated or even plowed.
Bitter thoughts came to me and I half
uttered, half sobbed them to the window
shaken walls of the cabin. Vowed that
I would go back to mother and soothing
memories of the old home set deep in or
chards of apple and cherry, with it's wide
porches and cool parlors, thronged my
brain. The roaring of the south wind
changed to the humming of honey bees
about the morning glories and the clink-
ing of a loose board was the rattle of a
moving machine in the neighboring clo-
VERIFIED. Sweet breaths, soft cooings and
tender pictures that were once common
enough, but now seemed glimpses of par
adise. bewildered me and soon I was far
into dreamland.
l was aroused by voices outside the
house. Stealing to the window, I saw
two rough, cowboy-like plainsmen water
ing their saddle ponies at the trough.
They were typical Westerners. Wide
sombreros sheltered their long locks and
hugh spurs glistened at their heels, while
their costumes were fringed and braided
after true frontier style.
mighty soft snap fer somebody" said
one of the men, shipping off the top of a
swaying sunfoWer with the lash of
long, sinuous SNAKE whip he carried in
his hand. He'd ought ter hev thought
ferther'n that"
''Probably clean forgot the date" was
the comrades reply.
mighty likely place he's got here"
'Ya-a-s, not ter be proved upon.'
Lived on it long enough, amt he
Yes, squatted long enough, but amt
ploWed enough sod"
us that the way Of it?" with a vigor-
GUS cut of the whip. 'The time fer
breakin' is up today
Air yeh sure?'
"Know it, Was around by McClarens
yesterday an he entered tn same time
this Teller did an his time was out ter
day He was workin' his horses ter
death gitin' enough sod broke by ter
night
Who were they talking Of? A suspicion
that they might mean our place came
over me and it was made a certainty by
the next word:
eff he don't get her done tonight We'll
be ter work bright an early in tn morn
in. You go to the land office an enter
the claim an I'll start the plow.'
"How much breakin' is lacking?''
ooh, not much; about half an acre, I
guess. That strip yender behind tn
house'll make it. The margins small but
it'll do ter throw him OUT
The men frightened their saddle girths
and remarking that a big storm was
coming up mounted and went cantering
easily away through the prairie grass and
soon were lost to view.
How could John have been so careless?
After all our work and inconsistencies and
trouble we were to lose our home.
Then in a rushing wave came over me
the thoughts which have filled my mind
as I was for moment undecided how to
act But then it was John! Perhaps I
was mistaken i'll my surmises. I loved
him in spite of all and we must save our
claim
nh