The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1897-10-13


a mad mockery to me, this phantasma-
goria of lights, flowers, and nodding and
bobbing puppets, forever interpoSing be-
tween you and me. Surely we may be en-
titled to a quarter of an hours emanci-
patton from the shackles of les conve-
nanceS."
put her hand within his arm.
~, Whittier would you have me go?
He looked down upon her, smiling.
THE moons rays only have a right to
be where our moon flower is opening it's
blossoms. Dunbrek had had less than an
artists eye had he failed to see the pecu-
charms of our lunar plant
She moved at his side, roseate and pal
pitant. So this explained the diplomacy
to move some of his choicest plants from
the retired alcove to give place to the
heavily foliaged plant sent up from Sar-
tini's. He had meant that only the moon,
beams should be there before herself and
him to see the faint pink blossoms open
their hearts of perfume: Much of the
the balance, of the house was; but by
detour Darby succeeded in introducing
himself and his bride into the alcove un-
seem. In this transverse section, where
the fern mounds ended, they found as
anticipated, their seclusion invaded only
by the half light from the outer conser-
light that was flooding the new plant:
They bent together over their floral
treasure r The bride uttered little cry
See Phil it has five or six blooms on it
already, and there are other buds open
ing, did you ever see anything lovelier?"
Yes, ne answered with gravity; yes,
my Carolyn, have seen something love-
She bowed her yelled head lower over
the pretty flowers. A strong arm was
oh my beloved!' was whispered in her
ear; these blossoms. are but insensate
envy of my own gift to you.'
She was yielding to his touch, ex-
pandlng into new beauty as the plant
rays.
Out from the shadows of a fern mound,
to one side of the absorbed lovers, a face,
livid, sharpened, contorted, glanced for,
calyx of one of the half opened buds.
The moon-plant shivered through all it's
foliage; One of it's stems snapped sharp.
the buds entangled in the mesh of her
veil.
"Ah, the pity of itr' she cried, taking
the despoiled bud into her jeweled fin
gers, and gazing upon it regretfully.
'Ah! if might but undo the ruin I have
wrought
So intent was she looking at the brok-
en- flower, and so intent was he gazing at
her in her wistful beauty, that neither of
them saw what the pair of staring eyes,
Swallowed by the fern fronds, caught a
glimpse of-the hideous, many-legged
of the shaken plant Alert upon one of
the broad leaves it stood until the quiv-
ering foliage had settled into stiffness,
then it crouched, waiting.
"Ah, Phil" murmered the bride, her
eyes dewy and her voice tremulous,
what if we should find our welded hap
piness to be no more than this moon
flower, lovely to look upon, but to be
broken by the first rough usage. See! I
cannot make even this small bud attach
itself again where it may gather life and
beauty anew"
She bent forward, making a pretty pre-
cred blossom but instantly she started
back, making vain effort to suppress
the exclamation of pain or terror that
sharply broke the stiffness of the conser-
Vatory. Her cry was shrilly echoed on
the instant from the clump of ferns close
by, which, violently agitated, gave sud-
den egress to the figure of a man.
to Carolyn: 1t was to the side of his for
mer pupil he now darted. Darby was still
c!asping her in an agony of apprehen-
sion, while she, nervously agitated, was
1T is nothing, Phil-a mere scratch-a
sting. A great spider, think. The crea-
ture nipped me-, and leaped away before
| could well see what it was. All, Signor
Pale and terrified, she lay upon on the
breast Of her husband, who, livid as
death, only held her closely, making no
effort to restrain the Italian, who had
wit ceremony seized the brides
pearing a faint line of discoloration,
maring. the course of the envenomed
sting she had received. The one word
spoken, as he applied his lips in suction
to the wound, had sent deadly chill to
the briQogrOOm'S heart