The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-13
Tssassd By Special Arasgemeas Nth he AssAor.
KATE NAXOyTS LOVER.
A s r O r Y.
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
Copyrighted 1885, by 8. s. McClure-An
Rights Reserved.l


became well acquainted, while in England.
with young fellow, an artist by the name of
John Seyton. In spite of his fine name, he came
from the lower middle class; his elder brother
was gardener. But his genius compensated,
TO some extent, for this mistake in rank. Though
not more than twentysx years old when knew
him. he painted several remarkable landscapes,
which were prominently placed in the Royal
Academy exhibitions, and one of which (''The
Three Beeches") was bought by Lord Picadilly
for e., 500 He was slender and not Unlocking,
with nervous distraught manner, and singu-
larly delicate complexion; his features were
prominent, and his abundant hair of bright
faxen hue. In temperament he was extremely
emotional and the lack of regular education
had left his infrmity unmodihed. In sober,
self possessed England, such man is like to get
into difficulties, and John Seyton was no excep-
ton to the rule.
The poor fellow fell desperately in love with
the niece of one of his patrons-a Miss Kate
Naxon. The family was wealthy and aristo-
cratic, and the match was out Of the question.
Miss Naxon was tail, dark beauty, of a cast of
mind specifically romantic but, according to
those who knew her, sufficiently cool and sensi-
bic at bottom. The result of this contrariety
was that she got the reputation of being dan
gerous firt. John was fattered and caressed by
great personages on account of his genius. and
il thus happened that he not only met Miss
Naxon but was thrown good deal with her.
They spent a part of one autumn together at
old Colonel Naxon's country-seat in Devon
shire. 1t was there that the mischief was done.
One afternoon, late in October John burst
unannounced in my library in London threw
down his hat, grasped my hand, and, with an
air of almost hysteric excitement, cried out:
''What do you think9 What do you thinka
We're engaged Kate Naxon and I! The
golden age has come, my dear fellow. We're
to be married."
He told me the whole story at great length,
and with wonderful color and vividness, walk
ing about the ROOM sitting down, standing up,
gesticulating, laughing and crying 1t was an
extraordinary and touching exhibition quite at
variance with the usual amiable self-control of
English civilized society. When l remembered
the immitigable laws of English caste, thought
he must be mad, but when I pictured the in
tensity Of his wooing, could see how he might
And yet-would she really marry him? I could
not believe it. She might have been hurried
out of herself for moment, and would recon
slider the matter later: or she might be taking a
leaf out of the book of LADY Clara We're de
Vere." At all events, strongly doubted my
friends ultimate happiness, hut in his present
humor it would have been useless to warn him.
He described the spot where he had offered
himself to her. 1t was in a small chalet on her
uncle's estate. about 400 yards from the house;
they sat in bay-window commanding beauti
full view of the park. There had been splendid,
sunset, and the moon, few days old, was shin
iEg in the still luminous west. They had been
speaking of indifferent matters but, all at once,
as he sat looking at her, and the lovely light
slowly fading on her eloquent face, the fancy
seized him that now--now never-while the
reflected glow still fingered on her cheeks, was
the time for him to declare his heart and to pre-
vail. So, without more ado, he spoke; and, when
the torrent of his passionate appeal was over,
and he held her hand in his, and gazed up at her
with his soul in his ewes, behold, she yielded
and bent toward him. and their lips met
SIT was worth a lifetime Il was worth life'
exclaimed John, as he stood on my matterof-
fact hearthrug. and clasped his hands with all
the ardor of youth, faith and poetry. I admired
him. could not help smiling at him, and was
unaffectedly sorry for him. 'Forit will be as
much as your life is worth. said to myself, 'if
she plays you false"
The Colonel, meanwhile had not yet been
consulted in the matter--a fact which did not
diminish my mistrust of his niece, who must
have known what he would say. 1t was at her
request that the affair was kept quiet for a
while. 1t is impossible to say how it might
have turned out, mad things been allowed to take
their natural course. But an event happened
which disarranged all calculations. John Seyton
was suddenly stricken down with severe
hemorrhage of the lungs. His doctor told him
that, if he wanted to save his life, he must
spend the winter in Madeira To make matters
worse Miss Kate had just started on trip to
Dresden and would not return before Christ
mas 1t was impossible for John to see her be-
fore his departure: but he wrote to her, and re-
ceived what presume was a satisfactory answer
day or two previous to his sailing. From my
own point of view, however-which in this in
stance, was pessimistic--the only satisfactory
letter she could have written him would have
been frank confession that she had Tilted HIM,
for was sure she would do it, if he lived long
enough to get back. But destiny has other ways
than one.
He went to Madeira, and wrote me thence,
once or twice, to the effect that he was i'm
proving in health, and was as happy as could
be expected. Then, for long time he was
silent, and must confess that partly forgot
ahont him He was first recalled to nv mind
in very distressing manner. | heard the
engagement announced of Miss.kate Naxon to
her cousin, the Hon. Percy Tremayne, cap.
tain in the Guards. They We're to be married
Immediately after Lent
Somewhat to my surprise, became aware of
feeling almost personal luminosity against this
young woman. Finding myself one evening at
a reception where she was present. took pains
to be introduced to her. She was certainly very
beautifully nor was her beauty of the truly cor