Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-22

just lOur years l0Stoiu"J'
Three years, eight months and eigh-
teen DAYS, as far as | know
well, this is a most extraordinary
thing, and very, very sad, l must say
1T might easily have been much sad
der. [ am gong to tell you the exact
truth and rely upon your honor and
discretion to keep the secret invlolable.'
MY dear Kate, l would not name 1t
for worlds.'
Listen, then. One night, when
was scarcely seventeen years old, my
father sent for me to his study. l had
known for months that he was dying
He was the only creature that had to
love and loved him very tenderly. l
must add. also. for it partly explains my
conduct. that the idea Of disobeying him
in anything had never presented itsell
TO me as a possibility. This night |
found with him his life long friend, the
late Lord Talbot, and also the present
lord, my husband. was a shy, shrink
inc Girl. without any knowledge Of dress
or society. and very timld and embar
rassed in nv manners. Then my faith o.
or told me that it was necessary Tor the
GOOD Of both horses that Richard Tai
ho, and | should marry that Richard
had consented and that must meet a
few friends in our private chapel at sew
en- O'Clock in tie morning. a week al
forward. OF course these things were
told me in a very gentle and consider
ate manner, and my dear father with
MANY loving kisses, begged me- as
last favor TO him, to make no obJec
tons
And what dia Lord Richard say"
Il Glanced up at HIM. lie stoodnear
q window looking ont over our hne Ola
oorl, and when he felt my glance he
colored deeply and bowed. Lord Tat
ho. said. rather angrily, Richard. MISS
Esther waits for you 70 speak, y Then
lord Richard turned toward me and
said something, but in such low voice
that 7 did not catch lts meaning. MY
son SAYS you do him a great honor-a"o
DleQsure.' 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 ioI
ne ifI had not. Richard read my heart
in my face. and despised his easy con-
ouest. AS for me, | suffered in thai
week all the torluring suspense oi
timid SCHOOLGIRL in love. | dressee
mvself in the best of nv plain, un0e'
coming. childish toilets. and watched
YEARLY every day for visit from my
rrom,sed husband but saw no more
Of him until our wedding morning. BJ
tb,s fine some very rich clothing ha(
arrived for ne, and also London maid
and think, even then, my appearance
was fair enough to have somewhat con
ciliated Richard Talbot. But he scarce
" looked at me. The ceremony wa'
scrupulousy and coldly performed, m.
father aunt and governess being pres
ont on nv side, and on Richards hi
father and his three maiden sisters.
never saw my father alive again
no died the following week, and th
mockery of our marriage festivities a
Talbot castle was suspended at once il
Difference to my grief. Then we cam
London. and my lord selected Tor HI
own use the left wing Of this house. AM
politely placed at my entire disposal al
the remaining apartments. cohsiuer
oil this as an intimation that L was no
exnecled to intrude upon his quarters
and I scrupulously avoided every ap
proach to them. knew from the hrs
that all attempts to win him would b
useless. and indeed felt too sorrowlr
. and Inundated to try. During the LEI
weeks we remained under one ROOT W
seldom met. and am afraid l did nc
make those rare interviews at all pleas
ant. I felt wronged and miserable, an
r my wan face and heavy eyes were onl
a reproach to him.
! ooh. what a monster, Kate'
Not quite that, Selma. There wei
MANY excuses for him. One day sa
f a paragraph in the Times saying tia
Lord Rlcard Talbot intended to accom-
nanv a scientific exploring party who's
destination was Central Asia. L IL
stan,ly sent and asked my husband f'
On interview. had intended dressln
myself with care for the meeting an
= making one last effort to win the kind
d regard. at least, of one whom st
could not help loving. But some III
fortunate fatality always attended o.
meetings. and I never could do mysf
/, iustice in his presence. He answers
'f my request at once. l suppose he a
so out of respect and kindness; but Il
I consequence was, he found me III
1t unbecoming dishablllc, and with n
face and eyes red and swollen WI
weeping. .
is Il felt mortified at prompt attcnti
is so mal.apropos, and my manner
t. stead of beng winning and concillatir
was cold and unprepossessing. L
= not rise from the sofa on which l
Ir, been sobblng, and he made no atten
TO sill down beside me or to conf
'e- me-
al Ipointed to the paragraph and a
lie ed ifit was true