The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-28
siarcn.s mother. L have come rrou

Then you know what the wish-the |
great wish of my life is?'
yes. l know. You want to marry !
my niece. Now, Mr.. Vaughan, have |
many reasons for wishing my niece to |
remain single, but Your proposal has I!
me 70 reconsider the matter
Pauline might have been bale Of
cotton. so impassively did her uncle |
speak of her future
In the first place. he went On. Z am
told you are well born and rsah- Is that
soy"
aMy family is respectable. I am well
connected and may be called rich
You viii satisfy me on the latter
point, suppose
bowed stif1y. and taking sheet Of
paper wrote a line TO my solicitors ask
ing them TO give the bearer the fullest
information as TO my resources Ceneri
folded I'D the note and placed it in his
pocket. Perhaps I showed the annoy
ance l felt at the necessary exactness of
his inquiries.
4 am bound to be particular in this
matter" he said, as my niece has moth
ing"
4 expect nothing or wish for moth
ing"
tune. 1t was lost long ago. You will
not ask how or where%
i can only repeat my former words"
VERY WE'LL feel have no right to
refuse your offer. Although she is half
italian her manners and habits are En-
glish. An English husband will suit
her best. You have not yet, believe,
spoken of love to herr"
Il have had no opportunity. / should
no doubt have done so, but as soon as
our acquaintance commenced she was
taken away"
Yes, my instructions to Teresa were
strict. 1t was only on condition she
obeyed her that / allowed Pauline to
live in England"
Although this man spoke as one who
had absolute authority over his niece,
he had not said one word which eyinced
affection. So far as that went, she
might have been stranger to him.
but now. l suppose" said. Il shall
be allowed to see herr"
"Yes-on conditions. The man who
marries Pauline March must be con-
tent to take her as she is. He must ask
no questions. seek to know nothing OF
her birth and family, nothing of her
early DAYS. He must he content to
know that she is lady, that she is very
beautiful, and that be loves her. win
this sufficer"
The question was such a strange one
that even in the height of my passion l
hesitated.
L will say this much added Ceneri,
she is good and pure-her birth is equal
to Your own. She is an orphan and her
only near relative is myself"
L am content" | cried, holding out
my hand to seal the compact. @Give me-
Pauline, | ask no more"
Why should ! not be content? What
did l want to know about her family
her antecedents or her history? Sc
| madly did | long to call that beautiful
girl mine that, l believe had Ceneri told
me she was worthless and disgraced
among women. should have said, give
| her to me and let her begin life anew as
my wife" Men do such things for love-
"Now, Mr.. Vaughan" said the Italian
| drawing his hand from mine; my next
| question will astonish you. You love
| Pauline and believe shei not indiffer
| ent to you"
He paused, and my heart beat at the
| thought.
VIII your arrangements permit al
| early marriage-an immediate mar
riage? Can |, upon my return to the
| Continent in Il few days, leave her flu
ture i'll your hands entirely?"
| Il would marry her to-day if it were
| possible" l cried.
| We need not be so impetuous as that
| but could you arrange for, say the day
| after tomorrow"
! stared at him-I could scarcely be
lieve heard correctly. To be married
| to Pauline within few hours! There
must be something in the background
| of such bliss! Ceneri must be mad
man! Yet, even from the hands of {
| mailman, how could | refuse my happi
! ness?
But don't know if she loves me
would she consent?" / stammered.
Pauline is obedient, and will do as
| wish. You can WOO her after her mar
| riage instead of before it."
! But can it be done on so short a no
tice?"
Il believe there are such things a
special licenses to be bought. You ar,
wondering at my suggestion. / an
bound to return to Italy almost at once
| Now, put it to you-can I, under tn,
| here with only a servant to look afte
! her? No, Mr.. Vaughan, strange as i
may seem, must either see her you
wife before | leave or must take hel
| back with me. The latter may be un
| fortunate for you, as here / have onl,
myself to consider, while abroad thert
may be Others to consult, and perhaps
| might change nv mind"
Let us go to Pauline and ask her.
said, rising impatiently.
Certainly" said Ceneri, grayely, Wv,
will go at once"
| Till now had been sitting with m,
! back to the window. AS l faced thu
| light | noticed the Italian doctor lool
very straightly at me.
| Your face seems quite familiar Il
me, Mr.. Vaughan, although | canno
recall where | have seen you"
| | told him he must have seen me out
side San Giovanni while he was talking
to old Teresa. He remembered the oc
currence and appeared satisfied. Thel
we called cab and drove to Pauline.
| new abode.
1t was not so very far away. / won
| dered | had not encountered either Pau
| line or Teresa in my rambles. Perhap.
they had both kept to the house to avoi(
| the meeting.
Would you mind waiting in the hal
| minutef" asked Ceneri as we entered
the house. Il viii go and prepare Pau
| line for your coming"
| would have waited month in Z
| dungeon for the reward in prospect; sc
| / sat down on the polished mahogan,
chair and wondered If was in my right
senses.
| Presently old Teresa came to me. She
looked scarcely more amiable than be
| fore.
Have done well?' she whispered in
Italian.
You have done WE'LL will not for.
get
You will pay me and blame me fol-
| nothing. But listen-once more 1 say
1.-THE signorina is not for love or mar
| riage."
Superstitious old fool! Were Pau
| lines charms to be buried in a nunnery
Then bell rang and Teresa left me
In a few minutes she reappeared and
| conducted me upstairs TO room il
! which found my beautiful Pauline and
| her uncle. She raised her dark dreamy
| eyesand looked at me-the most Infatu
ated man could not have flattered him.
self that the light of love was in them
fully expected that DIR. Ceneri would
have left us to arrange matters alone;
| but no-he took me by the hand and in
Pauline, you know this gentleman.
She bowed. Yes, ] know him"
Mr.. Vaughan" continued Ceneri
docs us the honor Of asking you to b,
his wife"
could not permit all my wooing t.
be done by proxy. so I stepped forward
and took her hand in mine.
Pauline" / whispered, II love YOU
since first saw you I have loved you
will you be my wife?"
Yes, if you wish it, she replied soft
ly, but without even changing color.
You cannot love me now, but yo,
Will by and by-will you not, my dar
ling?
She did not respond to nv appeal. bu,
then she did not repulse me, neither die
she strive to withdraw her hand from
mine; she remained calm and undemon
stratlve as ever; but threw my arm
round her, and, in spite of Ceneri's pres
ence, kissed her passionately. 1t was