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

1t was ] / :05 o'clock when Gus arrived
breathlessly and post haste at his house
door and tried to fit his key into the
lock.
Poor fellow Had evil spirits con-
spired to get him into trouble? Click
the key broke in two, and the bit stuck
alone remaining in his hands
He knocked, he called, he knocked
again and louder-for unfortunately
there was no house bell-all in vain. 81
hardly think my wife has retired as early
as this, - he reflected, "but of course she
is in the sitting room, and most likely
she cannot hear me-" Once more he
knocked-this time very loud. He called
until his voice was hoarse. No reply.
To fill his cup of misery to the brim
it commenced to rain, and he was with
out an umbrella
perhaps Annie has gone to bed, aft
er all, he thought, shivering and drip
ping wet. "Shall I 60 to hotel? No!
What would the people think The only
place that I know of that may still be
open is the railway depot, for there is
| CTdlu drFlVluS aG mluulSuG.
He went down the street in the pour
ing rain, and at last found himself in
the waiting room Of the station.
ga glass Of beer, sir?" asked an en-
terprising waiter. Gus shook himself.
He felt chilly. "Punch, he said, "and
| make it hot !" He drank one glass and
then another, and still another, to while
away the time. He was the only person
there. In due time the last train had
arrived, and he could stay no longer.
They were about to close up.
In sheer desperation he looked at his
watch.
It was / o'clock when he emerged
| into the street, and it had ceased to
rain. The full moon seemed to grin and
wink at him maliciously through the
clouds, as though she meant to say:
"See, old man, it serves you right Why
must you go out to play cards and leave
your wife at home in loneliness?"
In spite of the repeated potations he
still felt chilly. "There is no help for it
but good run, he said to himself,
starting on a lively trot through the
city, first down one street, then up an.
other, through the suburbs, until he
reached the open country, and back
| again without stop Or rest for fear of
catching cold.
The town clock struck the hour Of 4.
"It is still too early to get into the
| house" he said "The front door is new
er unlocked before o'clock! Will they
! be able to unlock the door anyway? A
piece of my key sticks in the lock. The
women are imprisoned and cannot get
out. But now can stand this no Ion
ger. I must have something hot to drink
and sit down somewhere. There is
train at o'clock. - And forthwith he
once more wendell his way to the rail
road depot.
A snug corner and cup of hot coffee
somewhat restored him. But he was
very tired, and pretty soon he was as
sound asleep in his corner as his wife
had been the night before on her lounge.
And how did his wife fare? She
awoke in the middle Of the night with a
start, almost frightened out of her wits
by horrid dream, i'll which her hus-
band had appeared before her, wounded,
bleeding and torn by huge bloOdhOunds.
Pretty soon, however, she comprehended
the situation. Her face bathed in tears,
she paced restlossly up and down the
room wringing her hands. ooh, the
wretch To stay out all night! Just to
| think of it Such man has the effron-