The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-04


and that must meet few friends il
our private chapel at 7 o'clock in th
morning week later. OF course
these things were told me in YER
gentle manner, and my dear father
with many loving kisses, begged me a
a last favor to him to make no obiec
ton"
"And what did Lord Richard say 7
81 glanced up at him He stoot
near window looking out over ou
fine old park, and when he felt m,
glance he colored deeply and bowed
Lord Talbot said, rather angrily
'Richard, Miss Esher waits for yo,
to speak Then Lord Richard turne,
toward me and said something, but il
such low voice that / did not catcl
its meaning My son says you dc
him great honor and pleasure ex
claimed Lord Talbot, and kissed m,
and led me toward the unwilling bride
groom"
"Of course | ought to have hated
him, Selma, but did not. On th,
contrary, fell desperately in love will
him. Perhaps it would have been far
better for me if l had not Richard
read my heart in my face, and despised
his easy conquest. AS for me, | suf-
fered in that weak and tortured sus
pense of timid school girl in love
dressed myself in the best of nv
plain, unbecoming childish toilet, and
watched wearily every day for visit
from my promised husband but saw
no more of him until our wedding
morning. BY this time some very
rich clothing had arrived for me, and
also a London maid, and l think even
then my appearance was fair enough to
have somewhat conciliated Richard
Talbot. But he scarcely looked at me.
The cermony was scrupulously and cold
" performed, my father, aunt and gov
erness being present on my side, and
on Richards his father and his three
| maiden sisters.
81 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 he
came to London, and my lord selected
for his own use the left wing of the
house, aud politely placed at my dis
posal all the remaining apartments.
considered this an intimation that |
was not expected to intrude upon his
quarters, and | scrupulously avoided
every approach to them. / knew from
the first that all attempts to win him
would be useless, and indeed l felt too
sorrowful and humiliated to try. Dur
ing the few weeks that we remained
under the same roof we seldom met,
and | am afraid l did not make these
rare interviews at all pleasant. felt
wronged and miserable, and my wan
face and heavy eyes were only a re-
proach to him"
"Oh, what monster, Kate y
"Not quite that, Selma. There were
many excuses for him. One day |
saw a paragraph in the Times saving
that Lord Richard Talbot Intended to
accompany scientific exploring party
whose destination was Central Asia.
! instantly sent and asked my husband
TOR an interview | had intended
dressing myself with care for the
meeting and making one last effort to
win the kindly regard, at least, of one
whom | could not help loving. But
some unfortunate fatality always at
tended our meeting, and | never could |
do myself justice in his presnce. He
answered my request at once. | sup
pose he did so out of respect and kind
ness; but the consequence was be found
me IN an unbecoming dishabille, and
with my face and eyes red and swollen
with weeping.
81 felt mortified at prompt atten-
ion so malapropos, and my manner,
instead OF being winning and conci-
lating, was cold, unplepossessing.
did not rise from the sofa on which |
lad been sobbing, and he made no at
empt to sit down beside me or to COM
ort me.
81 pointed to the paragraph and ask
d if it was true
eyes, Lady Talbot he said, little
adIy and proudly Il shall relieve you
It my presence in few days. l in
ended Writwell to call on you TODAY
With draft of the provisions have
nade for your comfort
81 could make no answer Ihad
bought of good many things to say,
nut now in his presence l was almost
retful and dumb, He looked at me
lmost with pity, and said in low
oice Kate, we have both been sac
lhced to a necessity involving many
esides ourselves. am trying to
lake what reparation is possible l
hall leave you unrestricted use of three
ourths OF my income. | desire you to
lake your life as gay and pleasant as
on possibly can, have no fear for
ne honor of our name in your hands,
nd trust that and all else to you with
ut doubt. If you would try and
'arn to make some excuse for my DO
tion, l shall be grateful Perhaps,
hen you are not in constant fear of
leetlng me, this lesson may not be so
ard.
"And | could not say word in re-
ly, | just lay sobbing like a child
nong the cushions. Then he lifted
" hand and kissed it, and / knew he
as gone
" 'And now, Kate, that you have be-
ome the most brilliant woman in Eng
md, what do you intend to do 2"
"Who knows =? have such a con-
AIRY streak in my nature. l always
the thing | do not want to do.
Certainly it seemed like it, for, in
bite OF her confession, when Lord Tai
OF sent the next morning to request
a interview, Kate regretted that she
ad prior engagement, but hoped TO !:
eet Lord Talbot at the Duchess Cliff
'rds that night. u
My lord bit his lips angrilly, but,
evertheless, he had been so struck
ith his wife's brilliant beauty that !
determined to keep the engage :
ent.
She did not meet him with sobs this ;
me, The ceutre of an admiring
lrong, she spoke to him with au ease i