The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1897-06-02
I expect you will see her some of these

thumped against the window easement
on the next floor above. He was not
aware that any one overheard him. In
deed, he was not particular whether any
body did or not. He did not notice, either
that at the next meal that day, the un-
attractive face which glanced over his
shoulder as the bill of fare was ratified
off, was marked by lines of suffering
should he, when she studiously kept be-
hind him? What did he know of the
plain little woman's secret?
But Dan Cuthbert gave out the word
and it went around. All Quartz Gulch
was on tip-toe when, some weeks later,
it was whispered that the stage would
bring as a part of it's burden freight
age more precious to John Belington
than anything it had ever yet brought to
Quartz Gulch. Everybody was interested
The air was full of gossip about what
was going to take place Dame Rumor
had gone so far as to select the brides
maids and groomsmen, arrange for them
the details of their attire, and attend to
all the minute features of the interesting
occasion which she decided in her mind
was certainly involved in the coming of
the next stage.
John Belington seemed as unconscious
as stone man of the drift of all this
clatter and conjecture, or, if it came to
his ears at all, he only laughed quiet
sort of a laugh, as much as to say: Let
them talk on
Hes a sly old rogue said Dan to a
group of young fellows on the piazza one
evening. "I'll venture weeks washing
that she's as pretty as they grow in the
east
He did not know what it was that
caused such a slam just over his head
just then. He did not see form that
leaned out of the chamber window over
the piazza to catch his words.
But Hetty had no opportunity to hear
more upon that subject, for just then
Lucy, the chambermaid, pushed her
white face into the door without knock
ing, and gasped: "Oh, Hetty! Have yol
heard? It's dreadful! The men are al
hurrying to get their horses ready to go
and are hunting up the doctors''
What for? Where? What is the mat
ter?" asked Hetty, starting from her
seat.
1T isn't SO very far from here" said
Lucy, but it's on the other side of the
canon, and they have to go ever so many
miles around. There is no way of cross
ing"
why, thought you'd heard something
about it, The stage coach has broker
down, and there has been a terrible ac-
cident. Nobody can tell exactly how
bad it is, but they are afraid John Bel
ingtons-''
Hetty did not wait to hear another
word. She sprang up and caught Lucy
by the arm. LET us gO!' she said
Quick, [ know the way! Come on!''
But how can we!'' answered Lucy
''There aren't horses enough for the
men,
1--WE will go up the side of the canon,
answered Hetty quickly.
But how will we cross? 1t is a ter
rible chasm, and we could see or dc
nothing on this side of it,
Never mind; come on!'' and Hetty
fairly forced her companion along. They
stopped in the dining room long enough
for Hetty to grasp something from the
sideboard, and from the kitchen she
seizen wrap and a lantern, and the
next moment they were out in the dark
AS Hetty had said, it was not very fal
by the footpath up the canon to a point
opposite where the coach had broker
down. Ana in a few moments, almost as
soon as the men were mounted and pre-
pared to start the girls were there But