The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-04-22

Wl0n was IL. the 1Qef I1fSC SGfllCk me
the horrible idea that even the peculiar,
ity and novelty of situation could not al
together account fop Pauline's apathy
and lack of. animation-that shyness
alone could not. be. entirely responsible
for the difficulty J. experienced III. maxi
ing her talk to me, even in inducing, hen
to answer my questions? l made every
excuse for her. She was tired; sh0 was
upset she could think of nothing else
save the rash and sudden. step taken to.
day-more rash for;her than for MEAS
I, at least knew that / loved her,. At
last, I, too, sank into silence, and miles
and hours went by, whilst the bride and
| bridegroom sat side by side without ex-
changing a word, much less a caress. 1t
was strange situation-a strange Jour-
ney!
And on the train rushed northwards-
on and on until the dusk began to creep
over the flying country and [ sat and
looked at theaistless beautiful girl atmy
side. and wondered what our future life
must be; butt did nOt.despair, although
the rattle ofthe traiamns it whirled along
seemed to resolve Itself into dreamy.
rhythm, and reiterated without ceasing
| old Teresas sullen words, she is not
| for love OF marriage-nOt for love o1mars
riage."
Darker and daIikeHr it grew outside
and as the carriage light fell on thepure
white face of the giTllbeside me; as /.
watched its never changing expression
its beautiful but. never varying pallor,
o strange fear came,ower me-a fear lest
she was wrapped, lin. an armor of. ice
which no love w0ulddeWer thaw. THEN
tired, weary and almost dispirited Fsank
into a kind of,sleep., The last thing L.
could remembers bef6xe my eyes closed
was that, inlspite ofhlg resolution, / took
that white, well-shaped passive hand iin
mine, and sleptstill hhlding it.
Sleep! Yes;,. it, was sleep, if sleep
means anything. bhtt rest aud peace 4
Never, sincerthe might I heard It, had
that wOman's stihed, moaning come back
to me SO clearly; never had my dreams
so nearly approached, the reality Of. thee
terror which the blind man had felt
years ago. Right thankful was when
the haunting cry ross shriller and shriller;'
and, at last, eliminated by resolving
itself into theAshnielding whistle which
told me we were aneaRr to Edinburgh.
loosed my wifes hand and recalled, my,
senses. That dreamnmust have been a.
vivid one. for it left me with the beads
of peRspirationlclamBay on my brow.
Never having beenstO Edinburgh, and,
wishing to see somsthing of the city,
had proposed staying there for, two; or.
three days. Dhring: the journey I had
suggested this toomy wife. She had
agreed to it as ttnRash place or time was
q matter of little dnoGnent to hers Moth
ing, it seemed to mas awole her inter
est
We drove toutEAep hotel anda supped
together. From nnn manner we might.
at the most, haze. been friends. Ourr
intercourse, forthe,time being confined!
tothe usual ciGilitias shown bY gentla-.-
man towards ailadT In whosesociety he
s..thrown. Paulina thanked me for any;
little attention, to her comfort, and that
was all. The si0urney had been long
and trying once she looked yRearied out.
You aree tired Pauline" I said,
would you like to- go to yoE room? ?:
81 am very tired" She spoke almost,
Blaintively.
Goodnight. then, ssal; ''to-mar-
row you Will feel better, andiwe will look
at the lions e6tha p ace. !"
She rose, 4we. shook hands and said
lSgood-night... Ranline retired to haar
apartment whilsttI went out for a ranahlR
| through the gas lighted streets, and
with q saAi heart recalled the eventssof
the day.
MISUNDERSTANDING? Tie bitter moalE-
cry of tha,, words. Fora in everything
except the legal bond Pauline and IrNafe
as far apart as. We were on that day when
first I saB2her at Turin. Yet this morn
ing we bad vowed to 1--we and cAarSsh
each other till death did us part. Why
had been rash enough to take Caneri
at his wosd. Why not have waited until
had ascertaaned that the girl coUldlove
me, or at least ascertained that she had
the power of loving at all? The apathy
and utterindifference she Displayed fell
like a Chilli lHpon my hSart. l dad done
foolish. thing thug that couldlnever
be undona 1 mush bear the conse-
quences. Still would hope Hope, par
ticularlX for WHAT tomorrow might
bring, f0rth.
I walked about fena long time think
ing owen my strange position Then I
returned to the hotal and sought nv own
apartment. 1t Yves one of the suite of
rooms, I had engaged and. next to my
wifess. [ dismissed, as we'll as could,
aAi hopes and fears until the morning
came. and, tiredawith days events at hist
slept.
| My bride analI did not; visit the lakes
| as, I had planed.. In two days time i had
learned the whole truth learned all L
could know-al that might ever know
about Pauline. The meaning of the old
woman's reported phrase, 'tshe isnot for
1 love OF marriage, was manifested to me-.
The reason " ny DIR. CsMeri had stipulated
4 that Paulines husband should he content
to take her without inquiring into her
i early life was clean Paulines-My wife
my love- had no past
Or no knowledge of the past. Slowly
at first. then with swift steps, the truth
came home to me- Now knew how 30
account tor That puzzled, strange Look y, N
the indifference, the apathy, she dis
played The face of the woman i had
/ married was fair as the morn; her figure
as perfect as that of a Grecian statue her