The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-24
Married for Money.
By The DUCHESS.
CHAPTER H.-CoSr1NUEp.

before.
"Well?7 she says, resting her eyes by
an effort upon his.
g | am afraid have reused you from
happy thoughts he says quietly. "But
1 find it necessary to ask you again
where you would like to 60"
al thought Rome was our destina.
zion"
at was. But it shall be home again
dnstead, if you wish il"
"Why should: / wish it?" asks she,
flashing a sudden glance at him.
@There, or at Rome, it will be all the
same to me; shall be as happy in one
place as in the other"
.aOr as unhappy! That is what you
mean, of c0urSe?"
Seeing she will not answer, he goes
on again,
BE candid with me at least. /
shall never forgive myself for having
tempted you to this marriage; there
fore I cannot expect you to forgive me.
But let there be no polite reservations"
you can hardly accuse me of hypoc-
rfsy so far" she SAYS rising suddenly,
and going nearer to him. The GOODNESS,
the half suppressed aversion, she had
displayed during his courtship now
comes wildly back to her. "Why did
you marry me?" she says, lifting her
eyes to his.
"For want of more fashionable
reason, let Us say because loved you,"
returns he in an unmoved tone.
cat least" says Florence subdued by
his earnestness, did not deceive YOU.
I told you openly, distinctly, that
did not love yoW."
You did, indeed. DO you inn ~ine
have forgotten one look or tol f
yours on that occasion. And vet I
the anchor of the soul" 1t has t.,i!"l
me however. Nv bark has go4e dow :;
has foundered, with Ill hands Oh ht'r ~
AZ warned you," she says su..~n,y.
al told you the worst
1.-The worst?" His glance Is sccllti-
nizing.
"Ies. What could there be worse
than the fact that bore you no ! r O.
tion----none; not even the smt.4cst
friendliness ?"
"There might be far worse" savs
Darlington slowly; "thare might Ne
for instance, the fact that you loved
another"
The blood recedes from lip and brow;
hut she does not lower her eyes before
his
"When asked you to marry me I
believed you heart WHOLE says Bur-
riArton in the same low even voice 'ls
hal used all through; "an1 so beliav-
ing, | S"ore to myself would make
you my own, heart and soul, by RI" t
of nv love, in less than three months.
Two hours AFRO lost all hope"
"You menu she asks. still defiant.
She is terribly pale; but her eyes have
not fallen. Even at this supreme
moment he pauses to cast thought of
admiration upon her undaunted cour-
age
II have discovered your love for
7'd;s care" She has swayed little
and the laceof her sleeve has caught the
fame Of the light nearest to her. In
an instant blaze shoots up from her
rounded arm. With swift movement
Darlington closes his hand upon the
burning lace, and so ex'inGuishes it.
You are not hurt z" he asks anxi
ous'v.
"No"
an 1t even scornhnd?'
He pushes up the half burned sleeve
as he speaks, and passes his fingers
with light touch over her arm-the
soft pretty arm that is his by Lawful
right. The remembrance that it Is his
cones " him at this moment, but fails
to cO"1ner him; he throws it out with
am"0 II sheer. and let's the white arm
IA y is owners side.
"Forret my ARM" she says, with
Denomination; @just now, you were
s. Vt"
"F11t Fate had been kind to me-"
"Knd"
"YHs. can no longer be tricked OF
bef00' ii. A chance moment has con
WINGED me that though I labored fol
ever to gain your heart the end would