The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-02-07

blaze on the hearth. she scarcel,'
stirred as Selma took large chai
beside her, and scarcely smile'
when she lifted one Of her loosenet
curls, and said, "What exquisite
hair you have, Kate! True golden.
"Yes, it is beautiful. | know
that, of course
"Of what are you thinking so in
tently 2"
sOf the gentleman on our left to
night
ssAh, who is he? He seemed te
know YOU
Gle ought to know me mucl
better than he does. He is my
husband. Lord Richard Talbot
'Katew
"It is true"
Il thought he was in Africa, OF
Asia, or Europe, or somewhere al
the end of the world
':He is now in England, it seems
I suppose he just arrived. have
not seem him before"
s'Where is lie staying, then ?"
~ presume in the left wing OF
this mansion. l notice there are
more lights than usual in it tonight,
His apartments are there
''Now, Kate, do tell me all, dear,
You know | love 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. I thought that
as you were staying here this week,
and might probably see or meet
nay lord, it was better to make all
clear to you. People are apt to as.
sociate wrong with things they do
not understand"
"To be sure, dear. / suppose
Lord Richard and you have little
disagreement. Now, if I could on
ly do anything toward a reconcilia.
tion, I should be so happy, you
know
"No, Selma. there has been no
quarrel, and you can do nothing at
all between lis. / don't want you
to try. Just be kind enough to ig.
more the whole circumstance. Lord
Richard and I 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
s'Three years, eight months and
eighteen days, so far as l know
"Well, this is most extraordina'
ry thing, and very, very bad, ]
must say"
"It might easily have been much
sadder. | am going to tell you
the exact truth, and I rely upon
your honor and discretion to keep
the secret inviolable.'
"My dear Kate, I would not
name it for the world"
Listen, then. One night, when
I was scarcely II years old. my
father sent for m to his study. II
bad been known ior months that he
was dying. He was the only
creature that l Lad to love, and
loved him very tenderly. must
mention this also, for it partly ex
plains my conduct that the idea ot
disobeying him in anything had
never presented itself to me as 6
possibility. This night I-found
with him his life long friend, the
late Lord Talbot, and the present
lord, my hu band. I was shy
shrinking girl, without any know
ledge of dress or society, and very
timid and embarrassed in my man
ners. Then my father told me tina
it was necessary for the good o
both houses that Richard and
should marry, that Richard hat
consented, and that / must meet
few friends in our private chapel a
Z o'clock in the morning a weel
later. Of course these things wer
told me in very gentle manner ant
my dear father, with many lovin!
kisses, begged NE as a last favor t.
him to make no objection
':And what did Lord Richar'
say?"
Il glanced at him. He stoo
near a window looking out over on
fine old park, and when he felt m
glance he colored deeply and bowed
Lord Talbot said rather angrily
"Richard, Miss Esher waits for 70
TO speak. Then Lord Richar
turned toward me and said some
7 thing, but in such a low voice ths
4 / did not catch its meaning. IN
r son says you do him a great homo
and pleasure exclaimed Lor
4 Talbot, and he kissed me and le
| me toward the unwilling bride
: groom.
, "Of course l ought to have hate
him, Selma, but / did not. On th
contrary, I fell desperately in loy
with him. Perhaps it would hav
! been far better for me if ! had no
D Richard read my heart in my fac
7 and despised his easy conques
AS for me, l suffered in that wea
e and torturing suspense of timi
: school girl in love. I dressed my
g self in the best Of my plain, VI
t becoming, childish.t toilet, and watcl
: ed YEARLY every day for Wis
+ from my promised husband; but
f saw no more of him until our wee
. ii u -.