The Florida agriculturist., 1889-06-12

ne LAIlleTIcdIl, ulOI0 IGCAOCuI dnO AAOAO
5iven to moods and inequalities of tenn
,er. He had brought with him several
-ood letters of introduction and had duly
cLivprcd them, but he had availed him
'f l.,t ,,>.,ri,, rrlv IF the social cOurtesies
extended to him, seeming to prefer a less
formal and regular life He made no
pretense of large wealth, but, on the
other hand he never seemed to be
cramped for means. and no one could be
found from whom he had borrowed
money If he were trifle mysterious
nobody was concerned to fathom his
mystery, for it was no ones interest to
do SO Valentine Martin had not come
to America to speculate, to organize
company. to raise capital. or to do any of
those things that are apt to render en-
gaging foreigners suspicious in our eyes.
He had apparently come to amuse him.
self and mind his own affairs, and after
a time he was permitted to follow this
innocent inclination The upper ten
whom he neglected. ceased to take an
active interest in him. and those with
whom he associated relinquished the
vain effort to persuade him to reveal his
secret, and came to the sensible conclu-
sion that there was probably no secret to
reveal
The acquaintance and subsequent
friendship between Martin and Percy
Nolen had sprung up spontaneously.
without any formal introduction, They
had tastes and ideas in common. and they
mutually pleased one another Martins
was perhaps the stronger character. but
Percy's was the more enterprising and
lively; so that they were upon fairly
even terms. One day the Englishman
accepted an invitation to come and take
afternoon tea at the NoIens; he met
Pauline on that occasion. and it was not
afterwards necessary to urge him to re-
peat his visit. Pauline was interested in
him as an Englishman, and after discuss
ing his native country with him ad-
mitted him to a certain degree of friend
ship, partly on her brothers. recommen-
dation, partly on his own account He
seemed gloomy at times, and she was
sorry for him, without knowing or even
caring to inquire what made her so. At
other times he conversed in a manner
that interested her and stimulated her to
talk in return; and. though Pauline was
but girl. she had a mind that was worth
coming in contact with The English
man never made any direct demand
upon her sympathies or emotions, and
probably he gained rather than lost by
this forbearance When a woman has
insight she would rather exercise her in
tuitions than have things explained to
her.
Matters went on in this manner for
several months. and the years vacation
which Percy had allowed himself was
more than up. He had as yet shown no
sign of being bankrupt. unless a certain
abstraction of manner at times, accom-
panied by a biting of his nails, and
drumming with his foot, might be con-
strued as symptoms Of approaching i'm
pecuniosity But another affair not
connected with finance, was going on at
this period which. unless put an end to
betimes, might result in trouble.
There was young married woman in
New York society named Mrs. Cuthbert
TunstalL Her husband, also young. had
inherited from his father an immense
business in coal. Cuthbert TunstaIl was
fond of activity, and he plunged into his
coal with hearty good will, intent upon
creating fortune twice as large as that
which his father had left him. AS
matter of course, and of necessity, he
ohC iii Il - l. 4