The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-17


and says, without any preface,
"Your father tells me there is some
hone for me-
"My father told you, no doubt, was
willing to marry you," returns she
slowly. Her eyes do not fall before
his. On the contrary, they look at him
steadily and half defantly
"Ies. could not bring myself to
believe in my good fortune, however;
so came to hear from your own lips
whether it be really SOL
"My father spoke the truth ~" for
once is on the tip of her tongue, but
by an effort sha restraints herself; yet
there is something more that proba-
bly, he did not tell you. l can marry
you indeed, but cannot love you.
Not yet" says Darlington. But
that is scarcely to be wondered at; you
have seen me but four times alto
gethnr, I think"
THAT is just the number Of times
you have seen me; and yet"
on should remember the differ
ence between us. interrupts he quietly.
The manly humility of his tone would
problbly have Touched any woman but
one determined to regard him at his
worst.
"And yet" she goes on haughtilv. as
though disdlimns the interrup.I IN,
"you say--at least, my father says
that you love me"
"Your father says less than the
truth. That you should love me on so
short an acquaintance is more than
ever hoped"
"Well, l have told you," said Miss
Band after a slight ptuse; IL thought
g. much WAS due to you"
at was. b lC is tlat alLs" asks he,
regarding her closely.
"Is it not pn)usl'' asks she in turn
contpmotuously. "Were l you,
Should hesitate"
"You are not me; I do not hesitate.
accept the risk" returns he slowly.
"You are brave mani" she says,
with curl of her beautiful lip.
In this spirit they got married some
few weeks later. The ceremony is got
over very creditablv. not so much as
tear falling to dim its lustre. The
bride, according to some, is too self
poSseSSed-almo,t stoical in her calm;
but according to others. sufficiently
pale to Alrry off any suspicion of want
of feeling. The brilArro IN, being the
inferior article on all such occasions,
is little commented upon.
After the wedding breakfast. NJ. and
Mrs. Darlington start for town. on their
way to the Continent. just at the end
every one makes way for the father to
bestow a last embrace upon his only
child; but the only Child 50 evidently
shrinkS from this public dem )nStration
that a sIi rht awHw Ines is the re-
suit; and finally her husband carries
her off hurriedly to the waiting car
rilre.
But this unpleasant little episode han
"
Florence finds herself in private sit
tlny-room at the Ltnrhlm. 1t is q
very pretty room, wonderfully home
like and coZy for a hotel: and Florence
sinking langnidly into a deeply cush-
Toned chair, tells herself, with a sigh
Of than"tllneSs, at last Iha is alone.
She had said some little thing to Mr..
j rrington shortly after their arrival
that hal left him no alternative but
to relieve her of his presence; and now,
letting her face sink into her palm. she
gives herself up to thought for the Iir5t
time for many days.
Recent events attract first the idle
workings of the brain. The cold dawn
when she had awakened and risen,
and gone stolidy about such prepara-
tons as must belong to a coming
marriage, whether distasteful or other
wise; the drive to church; the well
ding; every smallest word uttered by
her or him (she Shudders). every pulsa-
ton of her carefully subdued heart,
now returns to her clearly as when the
actual hour was at hand. The break
fast, where he (another shudder) had
spoken few quiet words, and where
the bishop had been more hopelcssly
silly than even his worst enemies could
have anticiDated-nH rOmaS tn her now