The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-08-13
THE RRAss-RoUND BOX.

mont, 81 do verify believe that you
are really fond of me now"
aof course am fond of you, Hct-
ty."
"But you wouldn't have been
fond of me, Jack, if Casterlon hadn't
been born. / cant think why the
peer married the parsons daughter.
Jack, why did you marry me?-me
of all people in the world? hpdu't
money, and you might have marri-
ed in your own set il you'd wanted
to. Tell me dear, why did King
Cophetua we'd with the Beggar
Maid?'
"IS's funny thing, Hetty," said
his lordship with smile of affec-
tion; "that Bluebeard's wife is al
always hankering after the key of
the blue closet, and, as the adver-
tisement says, won't be happy till
she gets it. I'll tell you why mar
ried you, little Hetty; 1 married
you as duty, dear; and because /
was proud and miserable man.
hopeless and childless, the last of
my line, [ didn't want the Barge
mont title to die out; and / married
you, Hetty, because You were the
p,etIiest, whoIesomcst, beaItbiest,
honestest little maid l had clapped
eyes upon, aad because thele was
no nonsense aud nothing morbid
about you. l wasn't in love with
you, Hetty, when / married you;
/ don't mind confessing that did it
as duty; but I've learned to love
you: you healed my wounds, and =
well, you're Casterton's mother.
And you agreed to marry me out of
pity; / know you did,"
"But | wasin love with you, Jack,
all the same; for pity, we know, is
akin to love; and 1 know you do
love me, Jack, and dearly; and it's
because you do love me that your
going to tell me all about hor.''
And then Lord Bargemont sigh
ed. "IfI must tell you, l must, :"
he said; "and when / have told you,
Hetty, you will pity me all the
more. L came into the Bargcmont
title when 1 was boy of 10; the
court of chancery took care of me,
and hadn't a real friend in the
wide world. l went to Oxford; /
was toadied, caressed and fiat;ered.
because l was lord and rich.
Then | went into the gauards, and
/ sa" life.
81 drained the cup of pleasure to
the dregs, and was blase man of
the world at five and twenty. Peo-
kple looked upon mo just as big fish
that had to be caught at any price.
Willy mothers and chaperons threw
their flies iu vain. / was absolute
ly beart-whole; and though they
tried their most killing bats
though husbands and uncles stood
by with gait or landing net ready to
do their. duty-yet the skillfuI fish
ers, men and women failed to hook
me. But 1 met my fate at last.
"She was very beautiful to all
mems eyes-clever, accomplished
and ambitious, well-born aud we'll
bred, an only daughter, ready to do
her duty, and to sell herself to the
highest bider. She was magnifi-
cent animal. 1 don't. believe she
had heart; but her imperial beau
ty attracted me; she was the cyno-
sure of every eye. / proposed to
Lady Blanche Middleton, was ac-
cepted, and we were married. For
a month | was happy-happy as a
child in the possession of a new and
expensive toy; then 1 discovered that
my handsome wife did not love me
But she gave me no cause for jeal.
ousiy, though became very anxi-
Gus on her account.
"She took no interest in anything
she was subject to severe headaches
so she told me; she heexhibited great
dislike to society, aud was accus
toned to shut herself up with hel
maid in her private apartments fol
hours together. She grew moros.
and melancholy, strange in hel
! manner, and more. and more inclin