The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-04-22
CHAPTER, w.
By LAW, NOT noEE.

1IOuu ttIIO llHppy as 1blb Wu0ui ScdtO0O
side by side with Pauline in the hallway
carriage which was taking, us to, north
fortunate as told. myself u was to have
was for the sweet girl who Had Just vowed
herself mine forever, Ceneri's extraOrdin-
airy stipulation kept recurring to my mind
the man that marries Pauline March
must be content to- take her .aS slls is; to
wish to know nothing of her pastl
Not for one moment did IthinE such a
contract could be enforced AS soon as /
had succeeded imimakingr Pauline love
me, she would surely wish to tell me all
her history there would haanWne to
ask for 1.-THE confidence would then be
given as matter of course. When she
had learned the secret of love-. all other
secrets would cease between u.s..
My wife looked very beautiful as she
sat with her head leaning against the
dark cloth of the carriage. Heg. clear
cut refined features showed !imlthat posi-
ton advantageOusly. HERITAGE, as usual,
was pale and calm her eyes were east
down. A woman to be indeed lprNnd of );
to Worship, to, cherishy and-h0w sweet
it seemed to whisper the word to- myself
my wife!
Yet suspect none would have taken
us for newly married couple AT any
rate there were no nudgingss and sly
chances among our fellow passengers.
The ceremony had BEEN seD hunried on
that no attempt had been nadeto invest
Pauline with the usual bridal accessories.
Her dress, albhougls, heeoming and fash
fo2fnbley -1r4ss the 0hef hwhiciflI had seen
her several times. NeitherIoffus had any
brand new belongings to, stamp us as
bound for a honey SD the only
notice we attracted was the notice which
was due to my wife's great, and uncom-
non beauty.
The carriage wass neaFfEfillll when we
started from London. .aNdIas the strange
ness of our new relationSs prevented our
conversing in an ordinary way, by
mutual consent we were all but silent a
few soft words in Italian weraan could
trust myself to speak untilwa.were alone.
At the first important station, the first
place attwhich the trainlstoppetl for any
time worth mentioning, IaNGneised a little
diplomatic bribery, audi changing our
carriage, we were installed ian a compart-
ment, the windows of which bore the
magic.word " engaged" TTai@line and l
were alone. I took.h hand in mine.
My wife l said passinnately, "mine,
only mime, fOreverip
Her hand lay listless. and unresisting
in my own. L pressed nay lips to her
cheek. She shrank, not from my kiss
neither did she retrlrnI if-she simply
suffered it.
''Pauline!' I, whispered, "say onae,
Gilbert, my hushand.s
She repeated the words like child
Learning new lesson. My heart sank
asher emotionles acoants fell on my ears.
Z had hard task before me.
I could not. blame her. Why should
she love me yst.2 Ne. whose Christian
name, 1 think. she. heard yesterday fnr
the first timer. Better, far better; indif-
ference than stimulated love, Slls, had
become my wife simply because. hel
uncle wished it. j could at Least. com.
fort myself by thinking the marriagehad
not been forced upon her; also that, sc
far as could, see, she entertained mods.
like to me. [ did not for onBA moment
despair. / must now WOO hen. hnMbly
and reverently, as every man should woo
his love. Certainly, as her husband
did not stand in worse position thar
when Twas her fellow-lodger. aud ole
Teresa was following my every move
ment with her black suspicious eyes.
wouldwin her, but until could claim
the rights which love would. give, l re
solved to- take none of those with which
the lawrha invested ma None save
this, and this only once.
Pauline, " said will. yosn kiss me
Only once l ask it twill make me hap
pier; but if you WOULD rather wait unit
we are better acquainted, I shall no
complain.
She leaned forwardand. kissed my for
head Her young lips Were red am
warm, but they chilled me- in that kis
there was not suspicion of the passion
which was thrilling me-
I drew my hand from hers, and stu SIT
ting beside her., beg0n to do my best t
make myself agreeable to the woman
loved. Ii 1 felt distressed and some
what disappointed. l concealed it an
strove to talk pleasantly and naturally
tried to ascertain what manner OF woma
had malxied--to get all her likes an
dislikes--to study her dispositiOn-t