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

very rich clothing had arrived fol
me, and also a London maid, and
think, even then. my appearance
was fair enough to have somewhat
conciliated Richard Talbot. But
he scarcely looked at me. The
ceremony was scrupulously and
coldly performed, my father, aunt
and governess being present on my
side, and on Richards his father
and his three maiden sisters.
u 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 Lon.
don, and my lord selected for his
own use the left wing of the house,
and politely placed at my disposal
all the remaining apartments. l
considered this an intimation that I
was not expected to intrude upon
his quarters, and | scrupulously
avoided approach to them. l knew
from the first that attempts to win
him would be useless, and indeed I
felt too sorrowful and humiliated to
try. During the few weeks that
we remainded under the same roof
we seldom met, and l 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 reproach to
him.
''Oh, what a monster, Kate !"
"Not quite that, Selma. One
day saw paragraph in the Times
saying that Lord Richard Talbot
intended to accompany scientific
exploring party whose destination
was central Asia. I instantly sent
and asked my husband for an inter-
view. I had intended dressing my
self with care for the meeting, and
making one last effort to win the
kindly regard, at least, Of one whom
I could not help loving. But some
unfortunate fatality always attend
ed our meeting and I never could
do myself justice in his presence.
He answered my request at once.
l suppose he did SO out of respect
and kindness; but the consequence
was, he found me in an unbecoming
dishabille, and with my face and
eyes red and swollen with weep
ing.
q felt mortified at prompt at
tention SO malapropos, and my man
ner instead of being winning and
conciiating, was cold, unprepos-
sessing. I did not rise from the
sofa on which I had been sobbing,
and ne made no attempt to sit
down beside me or to comfort
me.
Il pointed to the paragraph and
asked if it was true.
Yes, Lady Talbot ne said, &
little sadly and proudly; 4 shall
relieve you of my presence in few
days. 1 intended Writwell to call
on you to-day with draft of the
provisions I have made for your
comfort
q could make no answer. ] had
thought of a good many things to
say, but now in his presence l was
almost fretful and dumb. He look
ed at me almost with pity, and said
in a low voice, Kate, we have both
been sacrificed to a necessity in
volving many besides ourselves. 1
am trying to make what reparation
is possible. l shall leave you un-
restricted use ofthree -fourths of my
income. Idesire you to make your
life as gay and pleasant as you
possibly can. l have no fear for
the honor of our name in your
hands, and I trust that and all else
to you without a doubt. If you
would try and learn to make some
excuse for my position, I shall be
grateful. Perhaps when you are
not in constant fear of meeting me,
this lesson may not be so hard"
sAnd / could not say a word in
reply. I just lay sobbing like a
child among the cushions. Then
he lifted my hand and kissed it.
and I knew he was gone
"And now, Kate, that you have
become the most brilliant woman in
England, what do you intend to
do ?"
"Who knows? I have such 8
contrary streak in my nature.
always do the thing I do not want
to do"
Certainly it seemed like it, for
in spite Of her confession, wher
Lord Talbot sent the next morning
to request an interview, Kate re
gretted that she had a prior engage
ment, but hoped to meet Lord Tai
bot at the duchess of Clif1ord's tha
night.
My lord bit his lips angrily, bu
nevertheless he had been so STRUCK
with his wife's brilliant beauty tina
he determined to keep the engage
ment.
She did not meet him with sob'
this time. The centre, of an ad
miring throng, she spoke to him will
an ease and nonchalance that would
have indicated to a stranger th'
most nsua1 and commonnlace of &C