The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-20

to his sister, the great grandmother of
Senior Don Luis. O wing to some techni
calilty of law, at her death, the prop
erty was confscated by the govern
ment, and so had remained until pur-
chased, at an enormous price, by Hugh
Caravan, who, with as little delay as
possible, entered at once into POSES
sion. A few alterations had been made
IN the ancient abode of the Don Jarras,
but these were only temporary. Cara
van proposed very shortly to remodel
the entire structure-from founda-
ton to it's turrets. His plans mate
raIlzed would involve the expenditure
or many thousands. But what cared
he for moneys Was he not a million
air many times over. His steam yacht,
then In course of construction at Tam
pa Bay, was to be a thing Of beauty.
In Its make up were to be combined
all the modern improvements and con
venlences. No expense was to be
spared in making it all that could be
desired or wished for as a source of
beauty and pleasure. It's name
though one, perhaps, that would cause
comment as to it's appropriateness
was to be THE WILD Rose"
Yes, the boat was to be named for
his wife-his beautiful wild rose"
He had other boats in course of con
strucSion, and scarcely a day passed
but that a portion of it was passed on
the p~eninsular.
A few days after his parting with
Senior Don Llis on the wharf, he re.
turned home rather late one evening
and found his wife with anxious face
awaiting him at the landing.
"Ol! Hugh" she cried; why are
you so late; I thought you were never
coming"
Indeed, sweetheart, " he said caress-
ingly, drawing her arm through his
and moving towards the house, my
little wife shouldn't have such gloomy
thoughts
Il know I shouldn't. dear, but some
how whom you stay away late I feel so
lonesome and think something dreadful
has happened to you. why were
you so long, dear; couldn't you have
come ~sooner7" she pleaded.
Yes. darling, I could have come
sooner" he said, but to tell you the
truth II didn't-want to-"
Didn't want to-" she repeated, be-
wildered, Hugh what do you mean"
He made no reply.
Sac stopped, turned and faced him,
and with tears dimming her beautiful
eyes, asked, in a heart touching, pa
thetic tone:
HAS my husband-my dear hus-
band-ceased to love his little wife?"
"No-a thousand times no! he cried.
elias ping her to his bosom.
"Then why did you not want to
Gomez" she asked. On! Hugh, do tell
me; why was it, dear9"
IL cannot tell you bad news, dar-
ling; I cannot-and still I must"
Bad news" she repeated; what
news can you have to tell me that
would be bad3"
Imagine the worse thing that could
possibly happen, and then I will be
spared the pain of imparting to you,
my darling, that which l know will
cause you much pain"
The worst thing that I could imag,
me as happening would be the death of
my dear, loving husband, "she said, lay
her head lovingly upon his bosom,
and clasping him tightly about the
neck, as though to defy all power
both human and divine-to wrest him
from her embrace.
And the neIt worst9" he asked,
his voice trembling with emotion.
"And next worst would be to learn
of the death of my dear, dear papa"
And then, as though a sudden
thought had struck her, she asked:
Hugh, why is it that we have not
heard from him lately. Has anything
happened-to-him9" she fal cred.
II received a letter this afternoon"
he answered.
From papa9 Oh! I am so glad"
she cried. Did he say when he was
coming to see us?"
THE letter was not from your father,
but the postmaster at Brevard, telling
me that"
He hesitated.
"Oa! Hugh, tell me-what do you
mean-what did he tell you?'