The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-22

sure IL concerned tne ScllllcLldH Oh
the left Lady Talbot sat in dream
like stiffness, looking into the bright
blaze on the hearth. She scarcely
stirred as Selma took a large chair be-
side her, and scarcely smiled when
she lifted one of her loosened curls,
and said, ''what exquisite hair you have
Kate True golden"
eyes, it is beautiful. | know that of
course"
':Of what are you thinking SO in
tently :"
"Of the gentleman, on our left to
night?"
"Ah, who is heo He seemed to
know YOU"
"He ought to know me much better
than he does. He is my husband,
Lord Richard Talbot"
"kate ~
at is true"
81 thought he was in Africa, or Asia,
or Europe, or somewhere at the end OF
the world"
"He is now in England, it seems. |
suppose he has just arrived. | have
not seen him before"
where is he staying, then?'
Il presume in the left wing of his
mansion. | notice there are more
lights than usual in it tonight, His
apartments are there"
"Now, Kate, do tell me all, dear.
You know | love a romantic love affair,
and | am sure this is one"
you were never more mistaken,
Selma. There is no love at all in the
affair. That is the secret of the whole
position. thought as you were stay
ing here this week, and might prob
ably see or meet my lord, it was better
to make all clear to you. People are
so apt to associate wrong with things
they do not understand
10 be sure, dear. | suppose Lord
Richard and you have had a little
disagreement. Nov, if | could only
do anything toward reconciliation,
should be SO happy, you know"
mo, Selma, there has been no
quarrel and you can do nothing at all
between us. l don't want you to try.
Just be kind enough to ignore the
whole circumstance. Lord Richard
and | understood each other nearly
four years ago"
"But it is not four years since YOU
married?"
''Just four years-yesterday."
''And my lord has been away
"Three years, eight months and eigh-
teen days, so far as | know"
"Well, this is a most extraordinary
thing and very, very sad, | must saw"
at might easily have been much
sadder. | am going to tell you the
exact truth, and rely upon your honor
and discretion to keep the secret in
violable."
My dear Kate, would not name
it for the world"
Listen, then. One night, when
was scarcely seventeen years old, my
father sent for me to his study. | had
known for months that he was dying.
This night | found with him his life
long friend, the late Lord Talbot. and
the present lord, my husband. | was
a shy, shrinking girl, without any know
ledge 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 and | should marry, that
Richard had consented. and that
must meet a few friends in our private
chapel at 7 O'Clock in the morning a
week later. OF course these things
were told me in a very gentle manner,
and my dear father, with many loving
kisses, begged me as last favor to him
to make no objection"
"And what did Lord Richard say?'
Il glanced up at him. He stood
near window looking out over the
fine old park, and when he felt my
glance he colored deeply and bowed.
Lord Talbot said rather angrily, Rich
ard, Miss Esher 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
great honor-and PLEASURE exclaimed
Lord Talbot, and he kissed me and
led me toward the unwilling bride
groom.
"Of course, l ought to have hated
him, Selma, but | did not. On the
contrary, | fell desperately in love
with him. The ceremony was scrupu-
ously and coldly performed, my father,
aunt and governess being present on
my side, and on Richards, his father
and his three maiden sisters.
Il never saw my father alive again !;
he died the following week, and the
mockery of our wedding festivities at
Talbot Castle was suspended at once
in difference to my grief. Then we
came to London, and my lord selected
for his own use the left wing of this
house and politely placed at my dis
posal all the remaining apartments.
considered this an intimation that |
was not to intrude upon his quarters,
and scrupuously avoided every APP
proach to them. | knew from the
first that all attempts to win him would