The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-26

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ness more poignant than he had ever
known. Tie action lasted but for an in
slant. but the effect was by no means so
transient; on the contrary, it kept glow
ing and increasing in his soul, and quite
illuminated his whole aspect. Pauline,
too was in an unusual mood; she seemed
softer and more accessible than was
usual with her. The tears which she
had lately shed had brought all the
woman in her to tho surface. There
were tones in her voice that thrilled to
the judges heart like exquisite music.
The memory Of her brother had done
her lover good service.
A spot was selected under the shade
Of a cedar, with clean white sand under
meath. Here Mrs. Nolan was established
with her cushions, and the cloth was
spread for lunch. The basket was un.
packed, the plates and knives and forks
arranged, and the good things set out
They had brought jug Of water, but 1t
had become so warm as to be unpalat-
able; so the judge proposed that they
should 60 and find a spring; there was
sure to be one not far off. Pauline
assented and they started, leaving Mrs
Nolan beneath the cedar.
i did not know whether to be glad or
sorry that | was the means of bringing
that strange message TO you,' said the
Judge, when they were out of earshot.
"And yet could not help thinking that
there must have been some providential
design in the matter. 1t was as if Percy
had appointed me his messenger to YOU"
ooh, lam glad-I am only glad!' re-
Joined Pauline musingly, with her eyes
downcast. at puts my doubts at rest.
All this time | could not realize that he
was gone. knew it, Of course; but it
had not been brought home to me. Now
can feel that all is well with him. l
am glad it came"
at seems a pity that so much Of the
message should be illegible," remarked
the Judge. 1T would have been well TO
know for n certainty that it came from
Percy's own hand
Perhaps it will become moro legible
when the wood is dried. But | should
not care if it turned out TO have been
written by some ono else. 1t is from
Pcrcy's ship-the Amazon-and in that
case it is from him."
II am n little surprised" said the
Judge, after pause, "that Mr.. Martin
has not written us some Of the details OF
the affair. lie can hardly have failed to
understand that any information, how
ever slight, would have been precious to
YOU. You have not heard from him,
have your
"No, and think you are right. lie
should have written. But can imagine
why he has not. 1t was his suggestion
that Percy should leave New York. lie
urged him to go with him; he took that
responsibility. The least he could do was
to guard him from harm. When that
storm came he should not have let him
20 out of his sight. But, instead, he let
him be drowned. can understand why
he has not written to me-he would not
dare"
She said this with a passionate en-
phasis. The judge was secretly con
scious Of q feeling Of relief, but his sense
Of rectimde compelled him to say: "ll
would not be just, think, to charge Mr.
Martin with being accountable for Per
cy's death
perhaps it is not logically just; but
that is the way feel, >" was her reply.
BY this time they had reached the
spring, which trickled out Of asand bluff
a few feet above high water mark, anc
filed barrel that had been sunk in tho
sand below. The judge knelt down anc
plunged tho jug into the cool water
which gurgled into it with refreshing
sound. Pauline stood, with her hand!
hanging folded, looking down on him
The blue sea, the sunshine, the warmth
were inexrressibly soothing.
"How pleasant it is here" she said.
The Judge rose, with the jug in hii
hand. A moment before he had not
meant to speak so soon; but now the
words seemed to break from him inyol
UNFAIRLY.
Pauline, will you be my wife;' he said
She took q step backward, and theil
eyes met. She was startled, and the ex
preston Of her face at first seemed tC
Indicate refusal. But after a few mo
mcnts the softer look returned TO it,
mingled with sadness.
"Would that be bestY she asked.
Infinitely best for me. But it is you
who must decide. have loved you eyel
since you were q little girl"
docs my mother know Of this"
Eyes, since last year; and she has bid
den me Godspeed. But l do not wish
You to be influenced by that. Decide
for yourself alone l am twice YOU
years, and more; but in my love for you
am young, and shall always be-.
She stood silent for while. She wai
evidently touched by his words, and by
the manly generosity Of his appeal; but
something was yet wanting to give the
final conviction to her heart, and she
was too true to herself to commit herself
without it.
There is no man living for whom
care SO much as for YOU" she said al
length; "but l have never thought Of
caring for you in that way. / have de
pended on you and trusted in you, but
to be your wife. Oh, you mus
give mo time! do not know what
think, or feel. But / shall not be II
Doubt viii give you an answer soon
Il seems to me that If I could love you
IS YOU wish it would be a fortunate thing
for me-fortunate that man like you
should wish to marry such q girl as
all. But give me till tomorrow"
"As long as you need" answered Tho
Judge, huskily. at is my duty and my
happiness to wait for you and upon you
as long rs live"
The breeze fell again during the after
noon, and they delayed thsir starting II
expectation of a change later on. The
result justified their forecast, for az tho
moon appeared above the eastern horizon
the clnil.s heean to gather in the west
and the Lops of the trees waved and muir
INJURED. The direction of tho wind wa
such that. after leaving the island, they