St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-07

4
to his study. / had known for months that
ne was dying. He was the only creature
that l had to love, and / loved him very
tenderly. must mention this. also. for 1t
partly explains my conduct. that the idea of
uiSooeying him in anything had never pre-
sented Itself to me as a possibility. This
night l found with him his lifelong friend.
the late Lord Talbot. and the present lord,
my husband was shy. shrinking girl
without any knowledge Of dress or society.
ano very timid and embarrassed in my man
ners Then my father told me it was nee
essary for the good of both houses that
Richard and [ should marry. that Richard
had consented. and that must meet a few
friends in our private chapel in the morn
ing, week later. Of course these things
were told me in very gentle manner. and
my dear father, with many loving kisses.
begged me As last favor to him to make no
objection"
''And what did Lord Richard saw.
Il glanced up at him. He stood near
a window looking out over our fine old
park. and when he felt my glance he COL
ored deeply and bowed. Lord Talbot 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 l could not catch its
meaning. My son says you do him a
great honOr-and pleasure exclaimed Lord
Talbot and he kissed me and led me to-
ward the unwilling bridegroom.
''Of course / ought to have hated him,
Selma. but did not. On the contrary. l
fell IN love with him. Perhaps it would
have been better for me if | had not.
Richard read my heart in my face and de-
spised his conquest. AS for me- | suffered
In that week the torturing suspense of a
schoolgirl in love. l dressed myself in
the best OF my plain, unbecOming. childish
toilets and watched YEARLY every day for nv
promised husband, but saw no more of
him until the wedding morning. By this
time some very rich clothing had arrived
for me and also a London maid, and
think, even then my appearance was fair
enough to have somewhat conciliated Rich
ard Talbot. But he scarcely looked at me.
The ceremony was scrupulously and eoldly
performed. my father, aunt and gOverness
being present on may side, and on Richards
his father and three maiden sisters.
Il 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
or this 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 afIAid did not make these rare
fNafn - aln fa1N
miserable, and my wan face and heavy
eyes were only reproach to him."
"Oh. what monster. Katel"
mot quite that, Selma. There were
many excuses for him. One day / saw a
paragraph In the Times saying that Lord
Richard Talbot intended TO accompany q
scientific exploring party whose destination
was Central Asia. l 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 unfOrtun-
ate fatality always attended our meeting,
and l 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 unbecoming deshabille and
my face and eyes red and swollen from
weeping.
Il felt mortified at the prompt. attention
so malaprOpOs and my manner, instead of
being willing and c0nciliating, was cold and
unprepOsSeSsing. did not rise from the
| sofa on which | had been sobbing. and he
made no attempt to sit down beside me OF
| to comfort me.
Il pointed TO the paragraph and asked Il
| il was true.
." Yes, Lady Talbot he said, little
sadly and proudly. Il shall relieve you OF
my presence in a few days. | intended
Writwell to call on you to-day with draft
of the provisions have made for your COM
fort
II could make no answer. had thought
! of many good things TO say, but not in his
presence. was almost fretful and dumb.
He looked at me almost with pity. and said
in low voice: Kate, we have both been
| sacrificed 10 necessity involving many be-
sides ourselves. l am trying to make
what reparation is possible. / shall leave
you unrestricted use Of ree-fourths OF
your time. | desire you to make your life
as gay and happy as you possibly can.
have no fear for the honor OF our name In
your hands. and l trust that and all else to
you without doubt. If you would try and
learn to make some excuse for my position
| shall be grateful. Perhaps when you are
not in constant fear of meeting me this les
son may not be so hard
''And | could not say word In reply;
| just lay sObbing like 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 in England, what
do you intend to dO?"
who knows? l have such a contrary
streak in my nature. l always do the
thing do 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 prior engage
ment but hoped TO meet Lord Talbot at
the Duchess of Cliffords that night.
My lord bit his lips angrily, but neverthe-
less had been so struck with his wife'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. shG
| spoke to HIM with an ease and nOnchalance
| that would have indicated to the stranger
| the most usual and commonplace ac-
| craftsmanship. He tried to draw her into
a confidential mood, but she said, smil-
ingly: my lord. the world suppOses us to
have already congratulated each other.
| We need not undeceive it."
He was dreadfully piqued. and the
| pique kept the cause of it continually II
his mind. Indeed. ulesS he left Lon
don, he could hardly avoid constant
meetings which were constant aggraya-
tons. My lady went everywhere. Hel
| beauty, her wit, her splendid toilets. her
| fine manners, were the universal theme
He had to endure extravagant comments
on them. Friends told him that Lady
Talbot had never been so brilliant or be-