The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-20

Srney, who received me very cordiai-
ly He offered me some refreshmeni
before going TO bed, setting out bot
tie of whisky. | swallowed some OF II.
though | didn't like 1t. and smoked Il
cigarette with him. which didn't trou
bio me so much. | took quite fancy
to him from the start and anticipated
pleasantly my approaching rides with
him over the plantation. But ! gasped
for breath every time ! thought about
meeting his mother in the morning
AS to his sisters. thank heaven he had
none.
Mrs. Varney is just too lovely for
anything When | had finally screwed
up my courage to go down to break
fast her son had finished his meal and
had gone out SO | was received by
her alone. breakfasted principally
on fruit. Mrs. Varney chatting with me
the while
Now. my dear boy she said. you
must make yourself entirely at home.
Go to bed and rise when you like. eat
and drink what you want, but would
advise you to keep out of doors as
much as possible. Bert asked me TO
say to you that he will start to ride
over the plantation at 10 O'Clock this
morning. and If you wish to join him
| am to order a horse for you. How
did you leave your dear mother!
You're looking better than | expected
to find you-a little pale, but when
you have spent a month in the open
air with Bert you'll have more color III
your cheeks
Il should think so. Indeed. ! felt the
color coming into my cheeks every
time | looked at my trousers. de
cided to ride with Bert that very morn
ing and in half an hour went out on
to the yeranda. booted and spurred. /
had ridden in divided skirts. which
! was a fine preparation for riding in
breeches. Bert, who had already been
out on horseback. rode up. and when
had mounted we started on the daily
rounds
Il studied Bert's countenance in an
I effort to make out how far successful
| was in persoEating II man. He didn't
/ give me the slightest evidence that
/ there was anything unusual in me.
! treating me as man would naturally
treat another man several years young
er than himself. He was very kind
and attentive. telling me all about the
orange culture. the dangers incurred
| and the pleasure experienced after
passing a season of them in gathering
an abundant crop. | refined In several
times during the morning under a tree
to pluck ripe fruit. How much more
delicious is an orange eaten just of
the tree than one picked green and
sent north, ripening on the way.
1T would require several hundred
pages of this letter paper-especially
written in my scrawly band-to give
4 you an account of my experience with
Bert Varney. | thought him a very
! pure man. for | noticed that he said
not word to ME but what he might
have spoken to a girl companion
| | came at once to have so great a
Observation-Disclosures him partly
on this account that | took pains t.
repress the hoyden nature to which
was born, and up TO Il few days be
fore was expecting to leave for home
+ deported myself in an exemplary man
ner.
You know that riding horseback is
? my hobby. and if had been a man
would have long ago broken my necl
at IL fence or ii ditch There were nc
j. fences at the plantation except some
inclosing orange groves. but the bitches
, were a constant temptation to me.
was afraid that if | should get fal
in taking one of them it might lead tt
D betrayimg my sex. After resisting
many temptations ! yielded one morn
ing and. making a run for ditch. at
, tempted to pnt my horse over it.
;, felt the bottom of the universe drop
ping out beneath me. thud. and
knew nothing more till / saw Rer
bending over me. My coat and YES
were both open. and my shirt and IN
derveSt hId been badly torn. / saw
- in momont that my secret was ont
.. Though ! was badly stunned. felt tn
hot blood rushing into my cheeks.
-. Nov. wasn't this just too provoking
= for anything: WAS lying on TIN
ground, TINT gathered strength to al
about al. : could do was tu button m
>. coat Then | clapped both hands t
:. my hurniu- cheeks and would hay
kept them there had Bert not gent
. pulled them away.
Don't troubIe yourself. I've know
:, it ever since the evening you cam
to US
> He said no more at the time: b
was too much concerned about my il
), jury. l made an effort to rise. but |
- was not very successful However
- with Bert's assistance l got on to m
feet | took no thought us to bruise
. or broken bones or internal injuries.
- was Mortified at my secret being on
=, and the manner of it's exposure NJ
= head was hung while my companio
- was trying to get some Of the dirt O
my clothes. at the same time lookin
at me with anxiety