The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-19


10 her. i'm fact. TO use the colloquial |
phrase. she set her cap at him. and Val |
entinc. who spoke Of himself without re- /
serve as a poor man, and who was not |
aware that she disbelieved all his asser- /
tons on that head, and interpreted them
as polite attempts to conceal his real
wealth and prospects-Nalentine was
completely fascinated by the charm OF
her person and conversation, and 50 far
committed himself with her, that by the
time the voyage was ended he felt that
ne could not do less than offer her mar
riace.
She consented, and the ceremony was
performed on their reaching New lea
land But she stipulated that the mar
riacc was TO remain for the time being
s,~.ret. for she Rad come on to visit some
relatives Of hers and was unwilling, FOL
reasons satisfactory to herself, that they
should know anything Of the hope she
privately entertained Of becoming Lady
Martin. Valentine. on his SIDE, offered
no objection to this arrangement; he had
his place to make in the colony, and the
necessity of providing a suitable home
for his wife at the outset you'd have
seriously hampered him. She went TO
her relatives in Napier, and he, as has
been already related, cast in his lot with
his friend Brown, and visited her in town
whenever opportunity served.
Now that she was his wife, however,
she no longer Eel, any necessity OF con-
cealing from him her real belief rs to
the extent of his means; she proceeded
from yelled limitations 10 plain speech,
and he became aware for the first time
that she had married him, not for him
self. but for something that he did not
possess. Her plain speech led to eXplana-
tions on his part equally plain. and thus
they speedily arrived at perfectly clear
understanding Of their mutual attitude
The consequence was bitter quarrel
and determinations The woman APP
reared i'm her true colors, which were
not engaging. she called him a variety OF
| hard names. and if he had reirained
from retorting ian kind il was not because
there was any lack of suitable expires
sions waiting behind his lips. But they
were still husband and wife, and the
bond between them could not be severed.
Astheir marriage was secret, however,
there was no difficulty about a separa-
ton. and Valentine agreed TO whatever
pecuniary conditions she chose to die
fate. I'm case OF his brother death she
would come i'm for her share of the IN
heritanco; but here he stipulated that
She should receive the money only on
condition that she forbore to assume the
title. on allow her relation TO him to be
known. She at first demurred to this;
but ON his Offering to hand over every
thing except the real estate and lands
am offer extremely advantageous TO her
from a pecuniary point Of view-she
finally consented. probably rejecting
that il would be difficult or impossible TO
make such a contract legally binding. and
that when the time came-f 1t ever
should come-she would be able to repu-
diate il with IMMUNITY.
This affair produced bad effect on
Valentine, he became reckless and in
different 10 his business interests, and III
fortune attended him. lie welcomed the
Maori revolt as an opportunity of Kidding
himself Of his troubles 10y stopping bull
let: but though he stopped the bullet, the
bullet failed to stop him, and the legacy
that he received changed considerably
the complexion of affairs. He placed
half the sum in tho bank at Napier for
tine benefit of his wife, and sailed foI
San Francisco with the rest. He had
had mo- settled plan in leaving New lea
land. except to appease his restless desire
for change and excitement. The future
could hold nothing good for him, be
cause. however good in itself it might be
it would be defled by the chronic ano
, inevitable necessity of sharing 1t viii
that wife Of his-for what is the greatest
blessing. stimulus and joy, toamsn hap
pilv married. is the dreariest' of miserie'
20 the man mismated
One misfortune, however, he did no
look for: one danger he did not fear
one emotion of all others he was con
! Gdent he could not feel. And ye
I this emotion. this danger, this misror
, tune were precisely those to which III
! was destined to fall victim. He coul'
not foresee the meeting with Pauline
/ Nolen. nor the effect that she would pro
s duce on him. Upto that time his un
e happiness had been chiefly negative-th
D ordinary disappointment and disillusion
now he had TO deal with positive pan
Q the impossibility of being united L
D the only woman he had ever loved. l
- was like tantalizing prisoner for hi
b. with scenes Of freedom and felicity.
I IL am talking n lot about myself, II
remarked one day 10 Percy, as they wer
o sitting smoking together on the deck
h "but it isn't entirely egotism either.
S have motive nit, connected with you.
1 "What have to do with it;'
Y "You and Brown are about the onl
, friends have in the world. want 20
70 know what my life has been and wha
Is nv situation is in order that you may i
, able 70 act inteIligently in case anythin
= happens 70 me.
e Come. Val. you're not contemplatin
5 a premature end, are your
T. "Oh. my health is good, and l am l
l. good shape generally-never better.
!. ann speaking of accidents, which al
z liable to happen to the best regulate
e gentlemen. In case Of my sudden tai
J. inc off occurring while | am in you
r company. want YOU TO be competent
Ie act as my agent, Representative or exec'
n tor: want 10 give YOU my unrestricte
power Of attorney, in short. And to th'
le end" he added taking a wallet from h
% rocket. Il have written out pap'
n which empowers you to use the requisi
At authority and also indicates what
ls would ike 10 have done in case certal
y. other things happened. Here's the doc
e. ment put it in your pocket. and don
d. bother yourself TO look at 1t unless Ct
:. cumstances should make II necessary.
is elf had anything 70 leave or {. maj
ne age" said Percy. taking the paper whi'
n. Valentine handed him. Il would rela