The Sunday herald., 1886-08-15
THE MASON AND MCCARTHY FAM
LIES


THE MASON AND MCCARTHY FAMI-
LIES.
SORROWS That Followed an Unfortunate
Duel.
A correspondent Of the Mcdowell Buqle, Of
| Marion, N. c., writes as follows:
In 1915, Armistsad Y. Mason, of Loudoun
County, Va, entered the Senats Of the
United States--young, handsome, gifted,
wealthy, with all his family prestige about
him. He was also quick 10 anger and rather
overbearing. When IN the Senate believe
he was the youngest member of that body.
His father had been United States Senator
before him. and was nephew Of the Illus
trious George Mason just mentioned.
The McCartys were related, remotely In
blood and closely in marriage, TO the
Masons, the sister Of this Armistead r. Mason
having married William McCarty, afterward
a member of the House of Representatives.
In 1920 when Mason had been about four
years in the Senate, there arose between
him and John NJ. MoCarty, the brother Of
William, some difficulty OF a political
nature, which became more and more embit-
tered by the influence Of injudical friends,
until the usual result Of such "dificnlties"
in those days was reached.
Mason had young and devoted wife with
one child, a pretty little boy but few
months old. Their home was called Selma,
In the county Of Loudoun. John M.
same county, and he was soon TO be- married
| to the lovely Lucinda Lee. When about to
start for the field Of honor Mason persuaded
his unsuspecting wife to 60 on visit to his
mother, who lived at the old Mason home.
stead, Raspberry Plain, few miles distant.
All were in total ignorance Of his intentions.
lie left with his physician letter directed
TO my mother, asking her, in case of his
death, 10 go to his wife aud comfort her
They fought at Bladsnsburg. Mason fell
at the first flre, and never spoke again.
The old physician and my mother hastened
to his yOung widow and darling boy, and
had the hard task Of telling first the dread
ful news, and Transforming world which
held nothing but beauty and happiness for
them into dreary desert, scarce better than
the grave. Weeks passed, so Overw helm
ing was her grief, before IL bscams certain
that sha wOud regain her senses. Scarcely
less heartrending was the sorrow that bowed
down the dead Senator's fond mother.
In the meantime McCarty had written to
Miss Lee, relating what he had dons giving
her week for reflection and asking her to
tell him at the end of that time
whether she would marry him after
what had happened. She related to
wssk-how she knelt in despair at her
mothers feet and asked her to decide; how
the old lady could only advise her TO follow
her own heart; how at last she ssnt note
to her lover inviting him to call.
Their meeting she did not describe, but 1t
was said that, sitting at the instrument as
he entered, she sang the words
"Come rest in this bosom, my own stricken dear;
Though the herd has hownfrom thee, thy home is
I know not, ask not, IL gulles in that heart;
| but know that love thee, whatever thou rt!"
After their marriage they settled in Lees.
burg, near Selma.
The young widow of Mason at lenth asked
to go back to Selma, the scene of her short
welded life. Not anticipating what was to
| follow her attendants carIied her into the
wide hall. There, raising her eyes, thry
fell upon tue coat and hat, hanging Just as
he had left them. which her husband had
on when she saw him last. She covered her
face, and with a Shrek, begged to bs taken
to the rear rooms Of the house.
There she remained. For twenty years
she did not enter the front part Of the build
ing. The rooms there, opening from the
dreaded hall, were kept in perfect order,
the day when her boy--,he linping infant when
his father ditd-becams twenty one years
of age, she invited all his blood relations to
dinner. was one of the number. We we're
all sitting iu the library, toward the rear of
the house, when the door was thrown open
ana the gray old butler bowed his announce
msnt. Without any intimation of break ing
the habit of twenty years, Mrs. Mason
promptly arose-a frail, fair woman of forty
and, taking the arm of her son, walked di
reclly into the front hall aud thence to the
dining-rOOm, as of old. Our surprise was
great, but no word indicating that this was
unusual escaped her or any of the party.
The spell was broken, aud she Stunned the
hall NO more.
From the date Of the duel, even ON her
dsathbed, she never mentioned the name of
her dead husband. Her boy grew up with
the knowledge and feeling that sn unspeak-
able shadow rested on the house, concerning
which, however heavily 1t might press upon
their souls, he must forbear to question even
his mother. was the arst to tell him, after
he had reached manhood, all he wished to
know concerning hisfather's death.
This son, Stevens Mason, was trns- hearted
young man, with but little knowledge of the
world. With q private tutor, with servants Ia
anticipate every wish, with stricken mother
to idOiize him, he missed till too late certain
necessary lessons In life which these could
never give him. He could not refuse to in-
dorss note for q friend, aud his mother
could not refuse to join him In Whatever he
put his name to. For one moment the
shadows on his pathway seemed to lift, hui
only to settle more heavily about his way.
Hs married young lady who seemed
worthy of him, who was bslls aud q beauty.
He brought her to Selma, where, as they
| hrfu nd
we're to reign once more. But his mother
while ontwaIdly fulfilling every obligation,
did not receive her AZ mother should, greet
ing her with but q formal Offering Of the
hand, instead OF the expected embrace aud
j, kiss Of welcome as she crossed the threshold
II was doubtless because her shattered life
has made her own affection for him too ssl
. fish, and she did not wish him to marry any
one. Following closely the first shock oI
disappointment TO her Young heart came q
, sudden fever, and In three months from hp,
arrival poor Stevens laid his bride bssid.
his murdered father.
Their fine estate, with all that psrtained
, to lit, already melting from their hand; was
, soon possessed by strangers. Mrs. Mason
did not long survive the loss Of Selma. Al
though wife had never loved her husba nd
better, yet shs not only refused to speak h,s
name from the day of the deed, but request I'd
that her own rsmains should pot be buried
|, at Lessburg and that no mark should be
!, placed above her grave wherever II might be
She lies in the Congressional Cemetery a
: : Washington, with only the earth and gras.
j above her. Then came the war with Mexico
a Her son for a little time had the opportunity
a to forget his troubles under military excite
: msnt. lie was mortally wounded by . can
non shot--l think II was At Monterey--an
died, can't ain of rifles In tina arms of hi,
lieutenant, one Of tho Rhetts of south Caro-
i, lima. II was an impressive day In Londor
when ths body Of young Mason was received
from Mexico and laid in the shade of the old
church beside his father aud his bride. Al
. ths people assembled aud lnsds puhli,
funeral for him. tine Of the arrangements wal
that only the blood relations shonld pasl