The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-04-16
"My dear Fate, would not name it

was scarcely II years old, my father
sent Tor me 70 his study. l knew for
months that he was dying. He was the
only creature that had to love, and I
loved him very tenderly. must men,
ton this also, for 1t partly explains my
conduct, that the idea OF disobeying
him in anything had never presented it.
self to me rs a possibility. This night
found with him his lifelong friend, the
late Lord Talbot, and tine present lord,
my husband. was a shy, shrinking
girl, without any knowledge OF dress or
society, and very timid and embarrassed
in my manners. Then my father told
mo it was necessary for the good Of both
houses that Richard and / should marry,
that Richard had consented and that l
must meet few friends in our private
chapel at o'clock in the morning
week later. OF course these things
we're told me in very gentle manner,
and my dear father, with many loving
kisses, begged me as n last favor to him
to make no objection"
"And what did Lord Richard say?"
81 glanced up at him. He stood near
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--and
pleasure exclaimed Lord Talbot, and
he kissed me and led me toward the I'M
willing bridegroom.
"Of course / ought to have hated
him, Selma, but did not. On the con.
trary, fell in love with him. Perhaps it
would have been better for me il had
not. Richard read my heart in my face,
and desplsed his conquest. AS for me,
suffered in that week the torturing
suspense Of n schoolgirl in love. |
dressed myself in the best Of my plain,
unbecoming childish toilets, and watched
YEARLY every day for my promised hus.
band but saw no more of him until
our wedding morning. BY this time
some very rich clothing had arrived for
me and also n London maid, and l
think, even then, my appearance was
fair enough to have somewhat conciliated
Richard Talbot. But he scarcely looked
ut Inc. The ceremony was scrupu.
lousy and coldly performed, my father,
aunt and governess being present on my
side, and on Richards his father and his
three maiden sisters.
81 never saw my father alive again ;
he died tho following week, and the
mockcry of our wedding festivities at
Talbot Castle was suspended at once in
Difference to my grief. Then we came tc
London, and my lord selected for hi
own use tho left wing OF this house, ant
politely placed at my disposal oil the re
naming apartments. considered thii
an intimation that / was not expected t.
intrude upon his quarters, and l scru
pulously avoided every approach tc
them. / knew from the first that all at
temps to win him would be useless, ant
indeed felt too sorrowiul and Inundated
to try. During the few weeks that W.
remained under the same roof we seldom
met, and ] am afraid | did not make
these rare interviews Mt all pleasant.
face and heavy eyes were only reproacl
to him."
"Oh, what monster, Kate
"Not quite that, Selma. There wert
many excuses for him. One day | saw
paragraph in the Times saying tina
Lord Richard Talbot intended to accom-
pany n scientific exploring party who's,
destination was Central Asia. | in
stantly sent and asked my husband To-
an interview. / had intended dressing
myself with care for the meeting, ant
making ono Inst effort to win the kindl,
regard, at least, of one whom l could 10
help loving. But some unfortunate
fatality always attended our meeting, an,
Inevcr could do myself justice in hi
presence. He answered my request n
once. suppose he did 30 out of re
,pect and kindness, but the consequence,
was he found me in nm unbecominl
1ishabille, and with my face and eye
red and swollen with weeping.
al felt mortified at prompt attention
so malapropos, and my manner, instea'
of being winning and conciliatiDg, wa
cold and unprepossessing. l did no
rise from the sofa on which had bee
sobbing, aud he made no attempt to 81
! down beside me or to comfort mo.
81 pointed to the paragraph and asko'
II it was true.
, eyes, Lady Talbot" he said, it'll
sadly and proudly. 81 shall relieve YOU
, of my presence in few days. in
tended Writwell to call on You to-day
vita draft of the provisions l have
ma 10 for your comfort.
| ~ could make no answer. | had
thought of many good things to say, but
net in his presence. was almost fret
full and dumb. He looked at me almost
with pity, and said in low voice
Jlate, We have both been sacrificed to Il
necessity involving many beside our
selves. / am trying to make what
rcparaton is possible. shall leave you
unrestricted use Of three-fourths Of
my time. desire you to make your
life rs gay and as pleasant as you pos.
sibly can. l have no fear for the honol
of our name in your hands. and l trus
( that and MI else to you without doubt
III you WOulu Wy huu lehru w unhe hoh
= excuse for my position I shall be CRATE
full. Perhaps when you are not in con
J. slant fear of meeting me this lesson ma
not be 30 hard
r "And could not say a word in reply
d I just lay sobbing like child anon
the cushions. Then he lifted my han
and kissed it, and / knew he was gone.
"And now, Kate, that you have b'
come the most brilliant woman in Eng
land. what do you intend to dor
"Who kDows2 / have such col
trary streak in my nature. always d
the thing l do not want to do"
Certainly it seemed like it; for, j
spite of her confession, when Lord Ia
bot sent the next morning to request n
interview, Kate regretted that she had
prior engagement, but hoped to NEE
Lord Talbot at the Duchess Of Clifford
that night.
My lord bit his lips angrily, but never