The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-16


one another how on earth she managed
10 catch him.
For Sir Robert Black, Bart. of Radcot
owner CT n great fortune and man of good
family, was not only amiable, agreeable
and accomplished, but, nj the age of !hir-
,y-fivc. was looked upon as one of the
lights OF the Liberal party and likely to
reach great position in the State if and
when that hapless party came into power
again; while Lady Mary was the almost
penniless sister of the Earl of Potter
Heigham, whose poverty caused him to
spend most of his time outside his ratiye
country.
How on earth did she manage to catch
him?" they asked one another. She
twenty-seven, only passably good looking
and every one knows that for years she
has been unsGccessfuily striving TO find a
desirable husband"
Il wonder SAID her dear friend. Lady
HickliGg "whetner poor sir Robert knows
that dear Mary has had a shot at half the
eligibles in London; that she became a
Roman Catholic in the hope of catching
Lord fhursie that she turned Protestant
again when pursuing Sir William Mum
desley: that she golfed at poor Francis
Slapton, fished at the Duke of ToTcross.
summed at Lord Camille. acted at Fred
dy Harrington, and, in fact, has been all
things to all eli5ibles except wife.
LADY Kicking does not know-indeed, no
one save Lady Mary Black and this chroni-
cler knows-by what means Lady Mary
caught her husband. Here is the plain and
rather ugly true tale. Lady Mary met Sir
Robert in August at the Lechlades'. where
there was a big house party. When she ar
rived she found that two girls, prettier
and younger than herself, ard helped by
mothers. were counting Sir Robert. The
lookout seemed bad, and the poor orphan
was In despair until she perceived that she
had mere buuglers to compete with-girls.
one O; whom thought that pretty face
and exaggerated occurrences would win the
tay whilst the other relied upon good
looks ard slangy liveliness of manner.
A chat with her old friend. the Hon.
Charlie Wrio:hesley. showed Lady Mary
that the way 10 Sir Roberts good books
lay through Blue Books, and that she must
pose as a serious, intelligent young wom-
an. in order TO have any chance. The but
Ter was surprised to find her at 6 o'clock
one morning in the library gravely study
ing Hansard; the housemaid was amazed
TO discover political books in her bedroom.
and whenever the Times" was missing
the hostess said: Il expect dear Mary has
it."
Sir Robert soon took an interest in the
intelligent, weIl-drcssed, pleasant-looking.
if hardly handsome, girl, who listered ca
serly TO his most serious conversation and
surprised him with the range OF her
knowIetge and soundness Of her judgment
in agreeing with all his views after
thoughtful discussion. On one occasion
she amazed him by quoting some sentences
from the speech which first brought him
into prominence, and her hesitating avowal
that she had studied his career because he
seemed TO her the most picturesque figure
in modern politics caused hm one OF the
keenest pleasures OF his life.
Yet after a fortnight, Lady Mary felt
that she was making no progress. She
guessed. and guessed correctly. that the
other girls-or, at least, their mothers
were at the bottom Of the matter. Sir
Robert was far too busy with politics TO
know much about society or its gossip,
and Mary was right in her assumption
that he al first would be ignorant of every
thing about her or her history; but the
poor girl could not prevent her rivals and
their allies from telling him tales concern
ing her and her search for a husband, and
although relying upon what he assumed to
be his Judgment of human character. Sir
Robert disbelieved nearly all that was
told to him, there remained in his mind
an unpleasant feeling that Lady Mary
Applegate might be charming, intelli-
gent youn, lady, but was also a dangerous
1irt and n schemer.
When Lady Mary guessed the difficulty
there we're many frowns upon the white
forehead which she displayed more lavish
ly to Sir Roebrt than TO any previous OBJ
ject of her pursuit, and her well cut, rath-
er large mouth, her best feature. pursed
itself up time after time while she won
dered and planned. week went by. La
dy Mary was in despair. She recognized
wiki pain the fact that not only was she
unlikely to succeed but also that for the
first time in her life she was trying to win
something mere than wealthy husband.
she was trying TO win a man.
ITO think she said TO herself, ito
think ] am caught in my own trap, and
that l would gladly marry him If he lost
his fortune and posi;ioni To think / am
in love at last. and have no hspei How
am 10 convince him tina, ! am not half
30 bad as those girls pretend, and that
really care for him, and not for his money
snd pnsitioD?"
Two sieeple5s nights aggravated the po-
sition. since, as she grimly told herself.
she had no margin of beauty to play
with and hollow eyes and pale cheeks
were terrible discount 10 a girl never
more than passably good-looking.
Suddenly Sir Robert was called to town
on business. but made promise TO re-
turn in two days, and poor Mary added
another 10 her collection of sleepless
nights.
Next morning Mary ate no breakfast
and. on plea Of headache went up early
10 her room. At midday she jumped off
the sofa on which she had been lying
with look Of excitement in her eyes.
I'll do it," she said to herself: Its |
desperate trick. It's a wicked trick, it's |
shameful: but they say 'ali's fair in love |
sr war though I'm sure that's quite I'M
true.''
She sat down and began to write. Her |
FIRST letter was addressed to Sir Robert |
II was short and simple. She ventured |
10 remind him that he had promised to |
bring from his town house two or three |
books on the Indian frontier question. In |
which he took a great interest.
The next letter was addressed to her |
friend. Charlotte Claireville. The four |
pages OF the FIRST sheet were mere gossip |
and friendly chatter: the rest of the let |
ter must be set out verbatim:
And now ] must tell you of more
serious matter. Of one concerning which
can hardly speak, and, indeed. could not
unbosom myself except to you alone in
this wide world You know very well
what my life has been and what little
truth there is in the stories about any
unprotected girl who has always been
popular with men.
THE position in society of poor girl
OF good family is very hard and difIicul..
particularly when she has no relatives
of influence TO help her. The more for
tunate somehow seem to bard themselves
again her, like wolves against a weak
Iy member OF the pack. / have never
felt this till now, never knowingly suf-
iereG from it; and now, oh, it's too cruel,