LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2430, 19 January 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A FORCED MARRIAGE. [From “ Linden Society.” { Continued .) They paused at length by a conservatory, and Hugh found his paitneraaeat beneath a tall tree-fern. * What a splendid wnltzer you are!’ he said graciously ; ‘ did they teach you that In Paris ?’ She answered pleasantly, with a manner ro unaff cted, and a smile so bright, that Hugh recalled with wonderment the stiff prim , ess which had characterised her every gesture and word when last they met. How, ne asked himself, could four short months have brought about so striking a difference 1 Their talk flowed gaily on, for Hugh melted and warmed under the influence of his companion’s gracious manner ; until Pauline, being in request for another dance, dismissed her ooualn with a parting Intimation that sho hoped to meet him the following evening at the house of a mutual friend. • We shall be there early,’ said she, with an ingenuous air ; ‘ if yon like to come by ten o’clock X can give you the first quadrille.’ Hugh went home bewildered ; and, entering the room In the gray morning twilight, throw himself into an easy chair, and meditated there till sunrise. What ! This girl # so mindless, so worldless, so prudi h, so unsympathetic, whom a mistak-n devotion to the interests of kinship would havo forced upon him as a wife, had suddenly changed her whole natnre, and become genial, frank, intelligent, charming. Hugh _ oould make nothing of the mystery. It did not ooonr to him that he too muot have appa»red to Pauline that night under a now and very different aspect from that presented by the gruff and unamiable young man who had been offered her for a husband. Let that havo been as It may, however, it is not on record that Mademoiselle Lestrange made any observation of this latter kind to her mother. Lady Leigh’s ba’l was hut the first of a goodly number of dances and “at homes ” at which the cousins were destined to meet. Hugh told himself that to attempt avoiding such meetings wonld be childish and affected and that, moreover, as Pauline showed no evidence of embarrassment or annoyance in his presence, but, on the contrary, a most natural and perfect gaiety of speech and manner, he ought not to consider himself an obstacle to her enjoyment. One circumstance only began, little by little, to disturb tho peaceful equanimity of Hugh’s existence. There was a certain Colonel Spier# Gordon, a tall handsome officer of Hussars, with whom Paulino danced much, and rode often beside her in the park, and whose presence at Madame Lestrange’# afternoon teawas not infrequent. It was, Hugh admitted to himself, supremely ridiculous to feel annoyed by such paltry incidents as these j for the colonel was a man of the best reputation personally, and his pedigree and fortune were all that Mayfair could desire. Hugh examined his mind deeply on the subject, and fonnd there nothing to account for the incipient mistrust and discomfort which this acquaintanoe caused him, Paulino was hiß cousin certainly, but In tho third degree only, and hia interest in her welfare was comparatively remote and of a mere friendly character. Doubtless bis uneasiness arose from the incongruity presented to his mind by the idea of a marriage possibly taking place between so young a girl and the colonel; for the latter must certainly have attained his fortieth year, while she was not yet nineteen. Hugh had sufficient regard for his cousin to feel some solicitude for her happiness as a wife, and to wish for her a husband at least more suitable la age than this gallant Hussar. Young Lestrange was not a little comforted at having thus satisfactorily solved the secret of his disquietude. It had looked at the outset so suspiciously like a latent flame of jealousy, that to feel assured of the harmleasuess of its true nature was not gratifying. To have been jealous, even in the smallest degree, wonld have implied the existence of a feeling in regard to Pauline which it was absolutely and internally impossible he should ever entertain; and he was well acquainted with thefact that she on her part, held similar immutable views in respect of himselfOne brilliant May noontide Mademoiselle Lestrange, entering the breakfast room on her return from her morning ride, found her mother apparently absorbed in meditation over a letter which lay open on a table at her elbow beside a cup of chocalate. When she saw Pauline, sho started slightly, and refolded her letter, but, observing her daughter’s eye upon it as she did so, said lightly, ‘From Colonel Gordon, dearest.’ ’No bad news, I hope ?’ asked Panline, in the same tone, gathering up the folds of her habit, and contemplating tho splashes upon it.’

' How could there be any bad news from him.!’ returned her mother, with some surprise. 1 Only because I iee it is a long letter; and as we meet him every day, it is difficult to conceive what he can possibly have to write about.’

'ls it?’ said Madame Lestrange, with peculiar emphasis; roan you notjimagine, Pauline, that there may be some things a man wonld rather write than say I’

‘ If ha says it In writing, I don’t see mneb difference, ’ answered the girl with a droll air ; ‘ but what is it he say# —or writes V With a smile, Madame Lestrange put the letter into her daughter’s hand. Pauline read it hastily, tho rosy color gathering brightly over her face and throat; then, then, turning again to her mother, she said, in a low tremulous tone —

’So be wauts me to be Madame Spiers Gordon.’ * They oa 1 ! it Mrs in this country,’ replied her mother correctively, and with an expression of playfulness. * Well, mamma, will you please say No ?’ ‘No!’ echoed Madame Lestrange, astonished; ‘surely, my dearest, you don’t mean to refuse such an offer as this ?’ ‘ Why should I accept it ?’ replied Pauline, ‘ I do not oare for him as I ought to care for a husband, and it would not be right to say Yes,’ ‘ You plunge me In despair, Paulino ; this is the second moat excellent chance you have bad within four months, and you decline both unconditionally. Tell me, my child, is there any motive for this behaviour on your part ? Bo you—can you be thinking of anybody else ?’ And as she spoke, Madame Lestrange rose and took her daughter’s hand caressingly in her own. But there was no emotion in Pauline’s gay rejoinder. * Dear mamma, of course not. X don’t want to marry Colonel Gordon, that’s all. Is It so very inexplicable ?’ ‘ And yon would not marry Hugh either ; such a charming intelligent young man too, and exactly suited to you in every way.’ Fanline turned abruptly away, and seated herself by the window. ‘ I wish Hugues had always been what he is now,’ she exclaimed almost fiercely. * What do I hear ?’ cried her mother donbting her ears. * Why, that It was hia own failt I said I hated him,’ continued tho girl, still looking away from her mother ; * he chose to make himself rude and disagreeable, and of course I thought him odious—then ! Bnt ever since we have been here he has been quite quite different, and nobody would suppose he was the same man. There ! I have said too much, bat I couldn’t help it. You mast keep my secret, mamma, and tell Colonel Gordon that Pauline is a spoilt child and won’t marry.’ Madame Lestrange caught her daughter impulsively in her arms ‘My poor darling child, never did I dream of such romance as this ! Tell me. tell thy good mother thou wouldst not say *’ No ” to Hugues would he but ask thee of us now?’ Pauline burst into a shower of passionate tears. 1 Poor child 1’ cried Madame Lestrange, ‘ what can we do for thee ? Is It too late ?’ Precisely at this critical moment the door of the room was opened, and brother Jacques walked In. * Why,’ cried he standing aghast, ‘ mother—Pauline 1 What is the matter V < Pauline is a little goose,’ answered madame, with a fearful effort at playfulness ; ‘ Colonel Gordon baa written the most charming 1 etter, asking my permission to make her an offer of marriage, and she will have nothing to say to him.’ * Well, that’# nnluoky for him, certainly,’ rejoined Jacques ; * bnt what has my little sister got to ory about! Has she, perchance, been scolded for wanting to say unkind thing# to the colonel ?’ ‘Of course not,’ replied his mother uneasily; ‘I told you she was a little goose.

that's all. Now run upstairs, Pauline, and change your dress, dear, and you, Jacqnes, ring for the luncheon tray.’ ‘Girls are certainly odd creatures,’ said Jacques, to himself, as he lighted a cigar on the doorstep that afternoon ; ‘ faney crying like Niobe because somebody whom one doesn’t care about wants to marry one! What an excess of heart!’ Ho strolled into the park, and presently at an accustomed rendezvous he met his friend Hugh, and forthwith related the episode. ‘So you. think she has refused him definitely ?’ asked the elder cousin when the story was finished. ‘I understand so, certainly. And it is easy to see that by doing so she has greatly vexed my mother. It was an excellent proposal, you see.’ ‘ 1 see nothing of the kind,' replied Hugh, with some heat; * confound Colonel Gordon ! I never liked the fellow from the beginning.’ ‘ Sapristi 1’ ejaculated Jacques ; * what can he have done to you ? He’s a capital fellow, and never had a bad word for any man.’ Hugh threw away the cigar he was smoking. * I don’t mean to say he ever offended or injured me personally,’ said he ; but I mean that 1 never liked his being so much with your sister. She ought to marry a younger man, Jacques.’ ‘Well, I daresay she will,_’ returned Jacques, carelessly; ‘Pauline is a great favorite. But then, you know, the colonel’s position is really first-rate.’ Hugh turned on his cousin almost wrathfully. (To ir continued')