The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-09-01


with the simple, innocent girl. He
came again and again, at first inventing
all sorts of excuses, finally without any
excuse at all.
1t required, indeed, small persuasion
to obtain the deans full permission to
WOO his daughter. Then stormy scenes
ensucd; uncle and nephew came to bit
tercst strife, while Mary's defense of
Bernard only brought on her such an
ger from her father as filled her with
grief and fear.
Poor Bernard! The end his heart
had prophesicd came soon enough In
the presence of the dean there was a
cruel, formal parting; under the silent
stars. amid the thick shubbery Of the
garden, there was another parting.
Mary would have promised constan-
cy, but Bernard would not let her do it.
"You shall never have to rcproach
yourself with broken promises for nv
sake, DARING" he said. "What could
you, you poor timid little dove, do be-
tween your father and that lordy earl?
But whatever they make you do, re-
member, Mary, shall never blame you,
and will love you until my last con-
scious breath"
Then he kissed her pale face over
and over, tenderly, clingingly, as we
kiss the dead, and left her. And Mary,
almost heart-brol>en with grief, and
faint with terror lest she should be
discovered, coMld only wave her hands
in mute farewell, for she knew now
that love and she must walk apart for
ever.
Bernard went to Oxford and Mary
became Countess Grey, and went whith-
ersoevcr it pleased her husband to
take her. She was naturally affection
ate, and would doubtless have become
a loving and gentle wife if she had re-
ccivcd any cncourag cmcnt. But she
soon outlived the earl's short liking,
and then he only seemed to find pleas
ure in those petty cruclties which un-
loving husbands above all others under.
stand.
One OF these was to affect the most
unboundcd chagrin at the sex of her
hrst child, to sneer at all daughters, and
to send it from it's mothers breast to
the care Of a strange nurse. Another
was to pretend she needed exercise
and change of air, and remove her
from London to the continent before
she was able to bear the fatigue. He
gave her no rest until she reached
Rome, and h ere she became SO seriously
i'll that even her servants demonstrated
against the cruelty of moving her
further.
In Rome she remained six months,
nearly alone. The earl travelled hither
and thither as his fancy led him, MAX
ing his wife only occasional short visits
OF cruelty ceremOnious character. His
life OF eXtravagant dissipation was q
contrast to the lone illness and
absolute seclusion which her Italian
ordered, while her separa-
tion from all who loved or cared for
her and her longing for her native land
and home told fearfully upon her fail
ing health.
But one day far more cruel sorrow
faced her A letter without signature
was placed in her hands, not only accus-
ing her husband Of the most fragrant
disregard for her, but also intimating
that her physician was in the employ
of her enemies, and not safe person
to be intruStcd with her life.
She had long felt sure that she was
dying, but the dread of dying away
from her child, her father and her home
ovcrcamc all other fears. This terror
made her prudent. She arranged for
an immediate return home, and took
Of her husbands first absence
to commence it.
For him she left mos
pathetic letter, cnt-"
follow her, for
negative
DC p