The Odessa herald. (Odessa, Del.) 1888-1892, 1888-11-03
BARREN HoNoRs.

My mother was left early a widow,
with five children, all girls. We iuher-
tied nothing from our we'll born an cea-
tors save well formed noses, white
hands end low, cultivated voices. Ny
mother was a proud and courageous
woman. So scarce was money with US
that we early learned to rise from a
daiutily served dinner cruelty hungry,
and darn and redarn our spotlessly clean
though simple dresses. Poor mother,
hers was stern rulo, but l think of the
long hours during which she played tine
part of housekeeper govorness and
seamstress, and marvel at her strength
of mind apd body.
When Iiwas II I was invited to spend
few months with our fathers cousin,
a Mrs. Beaumont, who lived in great
, - -'-Ann,, She was that most
'te'eese y y 'owii u hypochondriac. That
1 might do her some credit, Mrs. Beau
mont ordered suitable outfit for me.
and fine clothes and good food soon
transformed me, from pale, stopping,
dark eyed strip Of a girl, into tall, up
right haudsoqo yoang woman. She
Na-Eas livp5tsssly sunk ia so.f 70 OBJ
scrvo the change, and it was not until
her favorite nephew came on his annual
visit that tho admiration which his
young face too plainly showed, opened
her eyes to tho fact that / was penni-
less beauty, the most dangerous being
in England, wherq men and women are
seldom given In marriage but often
bought and sold.
A sccno was troublesome, therefore
my hostess contented herself with de-
claring herself worse, and ordering her
doctor to prescribe sea air. Jack Beau
mont was requested to accompany her
to the Isle OF Wight, and was packed
of home. shall never forget my
mothers start of surprise when she saw
the change in my appearance. All that
evening she remained very thoughtful,
and I began to fear that my unexpected
return was hardly welcome, until two
days LATER when with her sweetest
smile she Informed mo that was to put
on one of my most becoming dresses
and behave my prettiest, as sho expect
ed an old friend to luncheon. My
younger sisters were ordered off to par
take of cold dinner in the school
room, and my mother and / awaited
Lord Silurian in the drawing room. 1
knew him to be ono of the oldest, as to
title, of Englaud's peers, and had
heard a whisper that mamma might
have been his countess had hsr youthful
beauty been made moro attractive by
tho hundred thousands of pounds stor-
ling which the lady that he eventually
married had brought him.
He came, grim-faced, stiff old gen.
tleman, who put double cyeglass aud
scanned mo closely. A glance of mu-
tual intelligence passed between NAM
ma and his lordship. which did not
tend to put me at my ease. However,
i smiled aud talked as we'll as / could,
with a beating heart. After luncheon
Twas ordered off for a walk with the
Others, and that evening my mother
kissed me, saying: 'Lord Silurian will
bring his son, Lord Trenton, to call on
Wednesday," There was something in
her look and tone that sent mo to my
bed with sudden sinking" of heart.
What need to dwell on the wretched
details of tho next fcw weeks. Lord
Trenton came, saw, and as it eventually
proved, conquered. I thought him
most vacant youth, but my mother ex-
planned that he was very much struck
with me, and 'tsuch a dear, simple,
shy boy, Notwithstanding his great
wealth and high position"
The wedding day came and had
seen my bridegroom but twice. On
these occasions his father had been IN
the room. Lady Silurian had not
seen at all; her husband brought me
magnificent tiara, necklace, earrings
and bracelets of diamonds---the Silurian
diamonds were famed---and regretted
that his wifo was too great an invalid to
present them in person.
have small recollection of the cere-
monyi but I remember that my father
in-law bent over and guided his sons
hand when he signed the registry,
laughing, and calling him nervous
follow. I wrote my maiden name,
Olive Chase, for the last time, and i'm
mediately after ], accompanied by my
father-in-law and husband, drove to
Limestone Towers, the home Of the
silurian family.