The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-09
MYsTERY OF
AGREA Adm

had come, for what ae came, or who
he waa. And no one cared.
In, those old days he had been a
young man like themselves. and there
had been rumor after rumor; for why.
indeed. should young man come to
the swampg Of Florida and settle on
the shores OF Lake Kssimmee for no
apparent reason7 Unlike the others
he had not been In search Of we"'th.
for he did not labor. and even Area
Adm must have known that without
labor there could be no wealth. even
in the phosphate lands.
He had made aequaiutances Of
everyone In the region round about.
He knew every man from Drospec:or
to engineer. and he also knew their
hopes; he knew their wives and their
daughters, and their timid fears Of
the swamps and safety Of their loved
ones; their sons and their ambitions.
but of Agrea Adm himself not one
single person from Barlow to st. Au.
gustine knew one thing beyond his
name, and even that was not his own.
And. SO. Agrea Adm had grown old
and his mystery had become old with
him and been forgotten.
But one day there came an ambiti.
GUS young man to the Newton pros
pect at Barlow The property was a
new one and development had scarce
ly begun. 1t showed good promise
and the owner. a large financier in the
North. had sent the young man. Jas.
per Monroe by name. as overseer and
assistant to Griffin. the general n an.
ager, a disagreeable. non-committal
man.
From the first 1t was apparent thai
Griffin disliked Monroe. On the other
hand it was evident that Monroe was
not one whit intimidated by the silent
thrusts and antagonistic moves of the
older man. They did not disturb him
and the reports that reached the f1nan
cial magnate in the North were so sat
isfactory that seven months from the
day of his arrival Monroe realized
that his services were no longer neces.
sary on the premises; that Griffin re-
allied his employers desires and work
would be accomplished accordingly.
and that he could go home.
Home! The very word made him
vince. He had been brave man in
the world that had called him So;ith.
and the swamps had held no fears for
him, but home, ah! that was another
thing.
= Like everyone else Jasper Monroe
had formed an acquaintance. or per.
haps something more akin to a friend.
ship, with Agrea Adm. The old man
| had observed that the lad" as he
fondly called Monroe, was not eager
to return North. and while he had not
asked the reason, something like -di.
vine intuition must have told him
that it was woman. And 1t was.
Agrea Adm had guessed the truth.
It was on the eve Of his departure.
and Jasper Monroe turned his steps
toward Lake Kissimmee and the hut
upon it's shores where Agrea Adm
lived. He found the old man expect.
antly awaiting him. He did not need
to tell him that he was welcome. AS
Agrea Adm had guessed his secret.
Jasper knew In the same way that he
was welcome.
Silence reigned for few moments.
He seated himself on the straw sea;
Agrea had placed at his side for him.
and it was he who broke the silence
well, Agrea. 1t Is my last night.
The seven months have been busy
ones, and we have accomplished Sc
much at the plant that ought to start
home with a clear conscience. but
somehow"
Agrea Adm interrupted him.
Home" he echoed. Home" and he
drew a sigh. Lad. I haven't known
home, mother, single thing that
goes to mako a home for over SO
years; not since" And he stopped.
Since what?" asked Jasper, quietly.
but interrogatively, as If not to dis
turb the old mans thoughts.
ut was q woman. lad" be went on.
1.-THE sweetest girl in Savannah. Her
name was Margaret. Margaret For.
syth, and loved her." and he drop
ped his voice as IL in reverence at the
last words.
Jasper Monroe started. Margaret
FORSYTH had been his grandmother's
maiden name.
The old man went on again as II
unaware OF his companions presence
"And then I went North and there =!
met another whom | thought loved
I married her. She died a twelve
month later. returned to Savannah
but too late. Margaret Forsyth hac
married, too His name was JGspe
Monroe" He jerked out the shor
sentences IS if the words torturet
him. Then he continued more easily
81 came tere to forget. but. lad, neve
forget that true love is lasting aEt
cannot so easily be forgotten ant
signing he looked vacantly toward tho
waters of Kissimmee.
Jasper Monroe dared not ask why
nor when, nor what Margaret Forsyth
had married Jasper Monroe. and his
Jasper's father, had been her son. ant
he, the LAD" sitting beside Agre"
Adm, her grandson. 1t seemed toe
unreal, and yet 1t was all true.
"Agrea," he said after while. y
am going North tomorrow. but I'm