Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-10-04
it partly explains nv conduct, that

IL pdTtIy 0AplbluS lily COuuuCV, Uiit'
the idea of disobeying him in any
thing had never presented itself to
me as possibility. This night
found with him his lifelong friend
the late Lord Talbot, and also the
present lord, my husband. l was a
shy, shrinking girl, without any
knowledge of dress or society, and
very timid and embarrassed in my
manners. Then my father told me
that it was necessary for the good OF
both houses that Richard Talbot and
l should marry, that Richard had
consented, and that / must meet a
few friends in our private chapel at
seven o'clock in the morning q week
afterwards. Of course these things
were told mo in a very gentle and
considerate manner, and my dear
father, with many loving kisses, beg
ged me as a last favor to him to make
no objections
And what did Lord Richard say Z
i glanced up at him. He stood
near a window looking out over the
old park, and when he felt my glance
he colored deeply and bowed. Lord
Talbot said, rather angrily, Richard,
Miss Esther waits for you to speak,
Then Lord Richard turned toward
me and said something, but in such a
low voice that did not catch its
meaning. MY son says you do him
a great honor-and pleasure ex-
planned Lord Talbot, and he kissed
me and led me toward the unwilling
bridegroom. T.
of course I ought to have hated
him, Selma, but l 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 conquest. As
for me, l suffered in that week all the
tort,lring suspense Of timid school
girl in love. / dressed myself in the
best of my plain, unbecoming, child
ish toilets, and watched YEARLY every
day for a visit from my promised
husband but saw no more Of him
until our wedding morning. By this
time some very rich clothing had ar
rived for me, and also q London
maid, and !. think, even then, my ap-
,pearance was fair. enough to have
somewhat conciliated Richard Talbot.
But he scarcely looked at me. The
ceremony was scrupulously and cold
ly performed, my father, aunt and
governess being present on my side,
and on Richards his father and his
three mi iden sisters.
~ nd Yer saw my father alive
again; lie died the following week,
and the mockery Of our marriage fes-
tivities at Talbot Castle was suspend
ed at once in Difference to my grief.
Then we came to London, and my
lord selected for his own use the left
wing of lis house, and placed at my
disposal all the remaining apart
ments. l considered this. as an in
timation that l was not to intrude
upon his quarters, and l scrupulous-
ly avoided every approach to them.
i knew from the first that all at
tempts to win him would be useless,
and indeed l felt too sorrowful and
Inundated to try. During the few
weeks we remained under the same
roof we seldom met, and am afraid
l did not make these rare interviews
at all pleasant. l felt wronged and
miserable, and my wan face and
heavy eyes were only reproach to
him. -.
ooh, what a monster, Katen
Not quite that, Selma. There
were many excuses for him. One day
l saw a paragraph in the times say
ing that Lord Richard Talbot intend
ed to accompany a scientific explor-
ing party whose destination was Cen
trail Asia. instantly sent and asked
my husband for an interview. l had
intended dressing myself with care
for the meeting, and making one last
effort to win the kindly regard, at
least, of one whom l still could not
help loving. But some unfortunate
fatality always attended our meet
ing, and l never could do myself JUS
tice in his presence. He answered
my request at once. suppose he
did SO out of respect and kindness
but the consequence was he found me
in an unbecoming deshabille, and
with my face and eyes red and eyes
swollen with weeping.
Il felt mortified at a prompt attcn-
ton so malapropos, and my manner,
instead of being winning and con-
ciliating, was cold and unpreposessing,
l did not rise from the sofa on which
l had been sobbing, and he made no
attempt to sit down beside or to COM
fort me.
4 pointed to the paragraph, and
asked if it was true.
"'Yes, Lady Talbot he said, a lit
tie sadly and proudly; 4 shall re-
lieve you of my presence in a few
days. l intend Writwell to call on
you to-day with draft of the pro-
visions l have made for your COM
fort t
4 could make no answer. I had
thought of many kind things to say,
but now, in his presence, l was only
fretful and dumb. He looked at me
almost with pity, and said, in u low
voice:
"'Kate, we have both been sacri.
feed to necessity, involving many
besides ourselves. I am trying t.
make what reparation is possible. ]
shall leave you unrestricted use O
three-fourths of my income. l desire
you to make your life as gay ant
pleasant as you possibly can. have
no fear for the honor Of our name il
your hands, and l trust it and all elst
IN Won without u donht r. WI,