Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-10-14

mo, Selma, there has been no Qual
rel, and you can do nothing at all be
tween us. don't want you to try. Jus
be kind enough to ignore the whole Gil
cumstances. Lord Richard and 1 un
derstood each other nearly four year
ago." % s,izss3 l
'But it is not four years since yo
married" p III
"Just four years-yesterday." 80
"And my lord has been away"
"Three years, eisht months and eigh
teen days, as far as know" n
c"Well, this is most extraordinary
thing, and very, very sad, I must say.
SIT might easily have been much sad
dor. am going to tell you the exao
truth and rely upon your honor and
discretion to keep the secret inviola
ble.n -
my dear Kate, I would not name i
| for svorlds." 3 ~
.'Listen, then. One night, when
was scarcely seventeen years DID, my
father sent for me to his study. I hac
known for months that he was dying
He was the only creature that I had tt
love and I loved him very tenderly. ]
must add, also, for it partly explains my
conduct, that the idea of disobeying him
in anything had never presented itsel1
to me as possibility. This night ]
found with him his lifelong friend, the
late Lord Talbot, and also the present
lord, my husband. was shy, shrink
ing girl, without any knowledge of dress
or society, and very timid and embar-
rassed in my manners. Then my faith
er told me that it was necessary for the
good of both houses that Richard Tai
bot and should marry; that Richard
had consented and that I must meet a
few friends in our private chapel at sew
en- o'clock IN the morning, week after
ward. OF course these things were told
me in very gentle ard considerate
manner, and my dear father, with many
loving kisses, begged me, as last favor
to him, to make no objections
"And what did Lord Richard say ?"
II glanced up at him. He stood near
a window looking out over our fine old
park, and when he felt my glance he
colored deeply and bowed. Lord Tai
bot said, rather angrily, Richard, Miss
Esther waits for you to.speak.'" Then
Lord Richard turned toward me and
said something, but in such low voice
that did not catch its meaning. "My
son says you do him great honor-ond
pleasure" explained Lord Talbot, and
he kissed me and led me toward the un-
willing bridegroom.
"Of course ought to have hated him,
Selma, but did not. On the contrary,
fell desperately in love with him.
Perhaps it would have been better for
me if had not. Richard read my heart
in my face, and despised his easy con-
quest. AS for me, suffered in that
week all the torturing suspense of a
timid schoolgirl in love. Idressed my
self in the best of my plain, unbecoming,
childish toilets, and watched wearily
every day for visit from my promised
husband; but 1 saw no more of him un-
til our wedding morning. By this time
some very rich clothing had arrived for
me, and also London maid; and I
think, even then, my appearance was
fair enough to nave somewhat cOncilfat-
ed Richard Talbot. But he scarcely
looked at me. The ceremony was scru-
pulously and coldly performed, my faith
er, aunt and governess being present on
my 81 .iae-aad on Ricaaru y nta fssSliS Sf stlia
his three maIuen sisters.
81 never saw my father alive again;
he died the following week, and the
Talbot castle was suspended at once in
y
to London, and my lord selected for his
own use the left wing of this house, and
politely placed at my entire disposal all
the remaining apartments. I consider.
ed this as au intimation that was not
expected TO intrude upon his quarters,
and I scrupulously avoided every ap-
proach to them. knew from the first
that all attempts to win him would be
useless, and indeed I felt too sorrowful
and Inundated to try. During the few
weeks we remained under one roof we
seldom met, and am afaid did not
make those rare interviews at all pleas
ant. I felt wronged and miserable, and
my wan face and heavy eyes were only
reproach to him."
"Oh, what a monster, Kate!'
"Not quite that, Selma. There were
many excuses for him. One day saw
paragraph in the Times saying that
Lord Richard Talbot intended to accom-
pany scientific exploring party whose
destination was Central Asia. instant
lv sent and asked my husband for an
interview. I had intended dressing my
self with care for the meeting, and MAX
ing one last effort to win the kindly re-
gard, at least, of one whom still could
not help loving. But some unfortunate
fatality always attended our meetings,
and I never could do myself justice in
his presence. He answered my request
at once. 1 suppose he did so out of re-
spect and kindness but the consequence
was, he found me in an unbecoming
dishabille, and with my face and eyes
red and swollen with weeping.
II felt mortified at a prompt attention
so mal-apropos, and my manner, instead
of being winning and conciliating, was
cold and unprepossessing. I did not
rise from the sofa on which I had been
sobbing. and he made no attempt to sit
down beside me or to comfort me-"
II pointed to the paragraph and ask
ed if it was true"
"Yes, Lady Talbot" he said, little
sadly and proudly; "I shall relieve you
of my presence in few days. Intend
ed Writwell to call on you to day with
draft of the provisions I have made for
your comfort"
II could make no answer I had
thought of many kind things to say, but
now, in his presence, was only fretful
with pity, and said in low voice, Kate,
we have both been sacrificed to neces
sity involving many besides ourselves:
am trying to make what reparation is
possible. I shall leave you unrestricted
used of three fourths of my income. /
desire you to make your life as gay and
pleasant as you possibly can. Ihave no
fear for the honor of our name in your
hands, and trust it and all else to you
without doubt. If you would try and
learn to make some excuse for my hard
position l shall be grateful; perhaps
when Won are not in oopstont foar of
meeting me, this lesson may not be so
hard.'"
"And I could not say word in reply,