Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-16

sisters. ssAi Sc
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 we came to London. and my
! lord selected for his own use the left wing
of his house. and politely placed at my
disposal 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 at
tempts to win him would be useless, and
| indeed felt too sorrowful and Inundated
to try During the few weeks that we re-
NAMED under the same roof We seldom
met, and am afraid did not make these
rare interviews at all pleasant. | felt
wronged and miserable, and my wan face
/ and heavy eyes were only reproach to
| him.
"Oh, what a monster, Katem
| 1" Not quite that, Selma There were
many excuses for him. One day | saw
paragraph in the 1a1,e8, saying that Lord
| Richard Talbot intended to accompany
scientific exploring party whose destination
was Central Asia. instantly sent and
asked my husband for 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 unfortu-
nate fatality always attended our meeting,
and | never could do myself Justice 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 unbecsming dishabille, and
with my face and eyes red and swollen
with 'weeping
" felt mortified at prompt attention
50 malapropos, and my manner, instead Of
being winning and conciiiating was cold,
unpreposessing. | did not rise from the
sofa on which | had been sobbing, and he
made no attempt to sit down beside me or
comfort me.
Al pointed to the paragraph and asked
| If it was true.
YES, Lady Talbot he said, little
sadly and proudly; I shall relieve you of
my presence in few days. l intended
W7itwell to call on you to-day with draft
of the provisions | have made for your
comfort
81 could made no answer. | had thought
Of many good things to say, bat now in HIS
presence, | was almost fretlul and dumb.
lie looked at me almost with pity, and
said in a low voice, Kate we have both
been sacrificed to necessity involving
many besides ourselves. | am trying to
make what re aration is possible. ] shall
leave you unrestricted use Of three-fourths
of my income. desire you to make your
life Is gay and pleasant as you possibly can.
have no fear for the honor of our name
in your hands, and | trust that and all else
to YOU without doubt If You would try
and learn To make some excuse for my pO-
sition, ! shall be grateful; perhaps when
YOU are not in constant fear Of meeting me,
this lesson may not be 50 hard
"And | could not say a word in reply.
l Just lay sobbing ike a child among the
cushions Then he lifted my hand and
kissed it, and knew he was gone"
And now, Kate, that you have become
the most brilliant woman III England, what
do you intend to doY'
"Who knows? | have such contrary
streak in my nature. l always do the thing
I 40 not want to do
Certainly it seemed like it; for, in spite
OF her confession, when Lord Talbot sent
the next morning to request an interview
Kate regretted that she had a prior en-
gagement, bat hoped to meet Lord Talbot
at the Duchess Of Clitford'5 that night.
NJ lord bit his lips angrily, but never
theless he had been 50 struck with his wifc's
brilliant beauty that he determined to keep
the engagement.
She did not meet him with sobs this
time. The center Of an admiring throng
she spoke to him with an ease and noncha-
lance that would have indicated to a
stranger the most usual and commonplace
of acQuaintanceships. He tried to draw
her into a confidential mood, but she said,
smiiingly, My lord, the world supposes Us
to have already congratulated each other
He need not undeceiye it
Ilewas dreadfully piqued, and the pique
kept the cause Of it continually in his
mind. Indeed, unless he left London he
could hardly avoid constant meetings.
which were constant aggravations. Ny
lady went everywhere. Her beauty, her
wit, her splendid toilets, her fine manners,
were the universal theme. He had to en-
dure extravagaut comments on them.
Friends told him that Lady Talbot had
never been 50 brilliant and so bewitcling
l
on his influence over her.
In the meantime she kept strictly at the
distance he himself had arranged four
years ago. 1t Was evident that if he APP
preached any nearer his beautiful but
Iong-ncglected wife, he must humble him
self 70 do 50. Why should he not? In
Lord Talbot's mind the reasons against it
had dwindlcd down 10 one; but this was a
formidable one. 1t vas his valet This
man mad known all his masters matrimo-
NAL troubles, and in his own way sympa-
thized with them He was bitterly averse
to lord Talbot making any concessions to
| my lady. One night, however, he received
! a profound shock.
"Simmons' said Lord Talbot, very de-
cidedly, 90 and ask Lady Talbot if she
viii do me the honor 10 receive a visit
from me"
! My lady would be delighted. She was
in an exquisite costume and condcscended
to exhibit Tor his pleasure all her most
| bcwilderine moods. It was with great re-
luctmcc he left her after a two hours visit.
The next night he stayed still longer. My
lady had no other engagement and he quite
forgot the one he had made to be present
at the Marquis Of Stairs wine party.
The following week my lady received
every morning basket Of wonderful flowers,
and little note with them containing a
hope that she was in good health.
One morning she was compelled to say
thai she was not very well, and Lord
Talbot was so concerned that he sent SIN
mons to ask if he might be permitted 20
eat breakfast with her. nv lady was
L, !
quite excited by the permission. lie
changed his morning gown and crayat
| several times, quite regardless Of Simmons
peculiar face, and, With many misgivings
as 10 his appearance, sat down opposite the
lovely little lady in pale blue satin and
cashmere and white lace.
It was a charming breakfast, and during
ii the infatuated husband could not help
/ aging a great many sweet and hattering
| things Kate parried them very prettily.
. 9 90