Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-02-26
Gelrtte0 3f1tstelIanp.
LADY MARGARET,S VALENTINE.

In our village of Kempton there was
only one opinion of Lady Margaret
whether contemplated in the past or the
present, whether thought of as the wife or
widow of Sir Geoffry Caryll, she was al.
ways spoken of IS "a perfect lady"
People were not persuaded of anything
more entirely than of the perfections of
Lady Margaret Her excellence was an
article of faith among us, so perfectly did
our little world believe in her.
This gracious lady was beautiful in face,
very graceful in movements, gentle in
manner. She was affable without imper-
tinent condescension, and respectful to
every body. The good Kempton people
were very proud of her title; "a lady in
her own right" they called her; dear,
faithful, friendly souls and had listened
tothem in my childhood with much solemn
wonder in my swelling heart as to what
those words might mean.
Lady Margaret had stood much alone in
the world before her marriage. She had
been an orphan she had brought no
grand relations to look down on the he
reditary devotion of the Kempton neigh
bors; and Miss Smithers, the grocer's
heiress, had had a larger fortune; but
Lady Margaret stood in no need of the
recommendations of money or friends,
she was such a perfect lady
AS to myself, worshiped Lady Marga-
ret with truly devoted heart, and my
mother gave her the purest admiration
and very grateful love.
suppose l may say that my father,
James Royds, had been the first gentle
man of his family. The Royds family
had, in long succession, from father to son,
been in the place of land stewards to the
Caryll property; but the late Sir Geoffrey,
who had been Lady Margaret's husband,
and my father, had been "only sons"
and, as the boys grew into close friends,
it was agreed that they should not be
parted. They went to Oxford together
where my father greatly distinguished
himself He had become barrister, and
he had married early; then, in the same
year, he and Sir Geoffrey died-Sir Geof-
frey of fall from his horse, my father in
consequence of fever caught in London
i was ten years old at that time, and Lady
Margaret had been only two years mar
ried.
The house in which we lived had been
prepared for my mothers reception when
= bride, by Sir Geoffrey. 1t stood within
the park wall, which was covered with
ivy from the ground to the coping and it
was backed by great cedars, whose huge
cone-covered branches gave out sweet
odors as they lay struggling in great
feathery lengths across the turf The
Court was about half mile off, and we
could get to it by a pathway straight
across the park, passing by the spring
called the Deer Pool" which lay on the
sunny side Of a dense thicket of ever.
green's; this path was only used by the
servants of the Court, ourselves, and two
maid servants, and the privileged feet ol
vi OTn MI thAw
were also allowed to use "the private
drive" and there my little pony carriage
wheels were often heard merrily running
over the well-rolled, perfectly Kept grav
elled road.
On the deaths which l have recorded
the Kempton people added to their every
day thoughts many speculations as to how
my mother and Lady Margaret would be
left; and on both matters they were sooI
sufficiently informed. My mother wa
left in aftluence and Lady Margaret haC
the entire Caryll property bequeathed t.
her; but if certain Capt. CRANKY, o
whom no one had ever heard before, bu
who now turned out to be some distan
cousin of Sir Godfrey, survived hN, HI
was to be the future owner of KemptoI
Court.
Nobody cared for Capt. CRANKY No
body knew where he was. In India, saiC
somebody; so they took that matter fo
granted. For all practical purposes, Lady
Margaret was mistress of the situation
and more magnificent sympathy was of
fered TO her in consequence.
In the old times there had been public
days at Kempton Court, such as the oil
Kings birthday, by which George tn
Third was meant, when flag waved from
the porch tower, and the place had beei
thrown open to all who had an estab
lished right TO come. The accession O
Queen Victoria had been kept and il
my time i had always been Lady Marga
ret's wedding-day.
After Sir Geofrey's death there wa
much wondering about these public days
For six years Kempton Court was hous
closed to all but particular friends; AM
during all that time the wondering as Il
the possible fete days of TIE future wa
every day renewed. During all this tim
Lazy margaret had been the angel of od
house. She had won nv mother ont q
her despondlng grief for my fathers earl
death, and she made me love her as coulI
not hope by any description to make snv
body understand. Iquite worshiped Lad,
Margaret The most perfect ladyl coul
echo the village judgment now from M,
own heart, and because of my own expt
rience; and generally Lady Margaret wa
even more delighted in as a widow thal
she had been as a wife-our perfect lady
Lsdy Margaret used often to have me sta,
with her at Kempton Court and rathe
more than six years after her husband
death, when was her guest-it being Feb
ruary, and in fact, St. Valentines eve, sh
said.
MARY: the people have been six year
without their public days in the park.
am thinking this year of beginning then
again. wonder if il would be liked"
l spoke positively of the pleasure
would give; and when | looked at he
beautiful young iace-she could not hav
been more than twenty-segen, l think
felt glad that she would no longer depriv
our little world OF so much loVeliness Q
person and mind.
And dyou win 90 out again-see friends
mean"
Yes" said she 81 but shall not 90 4
London nfs year, think"