The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-16
CHAPTER VIII.

"Hilda," said Lord Dunhaven, "this is
our wedding day; give me one kiss
No flush came to the fair, sad face 1t
grew whittier, and the lips quivered
"No," she replied, proudly, turning from
him. 'There can be no kiss from you to
me because you do not love me-"
He was vexed and disconnected.
"But you are my wife," he said.
cit does not follow that you love me-"
she added. II have heard you call your
self a truthful man. Can you say hon
estly that you love me even in the leasty"
The dark, clear eyes were fixed with
such unwavering truth on his that he
could not speak false word to her.
There is no question of love- but of
obedience to your fathers commands" he
said. "You must do me the Justice to ad-
nit that there has been no love in the
natter
''No, there has not. Then why do you
hesitate to answer my question. Do you
love me?"
She knew quite we'll that he did not.
She had heard him say that no man could
love her, but she wanted the satisfaction
of hearing him say so.
81 will answer you," he said. "No, L
do not; but l think we may be very COM
Portable together do not doubt but we
shall get on as well as other married peo-
pie do"
81 am sorry for married people, then"
she said, with little flash of satire which
her companion left unanswered
81 think, Hilda, if we both try that we
may be really comfortable" he said. ST
shall try my best to make you happy: You
shall have all you want"
Again the strange little laugh that he
cannot understand.
"Thank you," she said, "you can give
me everything except love-
PLENTY of people live without that" he
answered; and then again there was ST.
lence. He did not ask her to kiss him;
he did not even touch the little gloved
hand that rested so lightly on the cush-
ion. He went back to his old seat, feel
ing more puzzled about her than he had
even been before. They went on for some
time, past the great white chalk hills, and
then the young wife, looking up suddenly,
said:
lord Dunhaven, l do not understand
business; l want YOU to tell me some
thing
81 will tell you anything you may wish
to know"
81 have signed my deeds and papers. l
want you to tell me if all that money is
safely yours now?" .
Eyes, it is mine and yours"
"Will you tell me what part of it is
mine?" she asked.
"You would have known had you lis
tened to Mr.. Preston" he said; "you have
a settlement of so much year out of it
for your own purposes" he said. "If
die before you it will all revert to you, un-
less-but cannot explain more
"Tell me-" she repeated, ''if die what
becomes of it?"
"N1y dear Hilda, do not talk about dy
ing in that cold-blooded fashion"
"still, will you answer my question:"
she said ''What would become of it?"
'In that case" he said, sit would all
come to me-"
'And you would do as you like with it 2"
she asked
Eyes; it would be at my own disposal"
he replied
"You might marry again and be quite
happy she said.
He laughed.
"How your imagination travels, Hilda,"
he said 81 have only been married about
seven hours, and you are talking about
my second marriage"
81 want you to answer me the ques-
ton simply from business point of
view" she said. "If l die could you
marry again and keep it?"
Eyes. certainly 1 could" he answered.
"If l died, you could marry again and
keep it."