The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-08

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!. !. LADY M.ARY'S SECRET. |,
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To-. i
With the engagement OF Lady Mary
hpplcgateto Sir Robert Black WAS an
iounced. most OF the young lady's
friends asked one smother how on earth
she managed 10 catch him.
For Sir Robert Black, Bart, OF HAD
rot, owner Of great fortune an, man OF
good family. was NOT only amlabIc.
agreeable and accomplished, but Mt the
tsc OF thirty-fve was looked upon us
,nc OF the lights or the Liberal party
Ind likely TO reach great position In the
ftate Il and when that hapinss party
:ame into power again: while Lady
Mary was the almost penniless sister Of
Tho Earl of Potter Helgham. whose
poverty caused him TO spend most Of
bis time outside OF his native country.
How on earth did she manage to
latch him?" they asked one another.
7She's twenty-sevcn, only passably
good looking, and everyone knows that
for years she has been ursuccessfully
striving to- find desirable husband
II wonder" said her dear friend, Lady
Fielding, whether poor Sir Robert
Knows that dear Mary had a shot at
bali tho eligibles in London: that she
became a Roman Catholic in the hope
ofcatchirs Lord Thurslc, that she turn
ed Protestant agaln when pursuing Sir
William Mundesey. that gclfed at
poor Francis Slapton. fished at the
Duke of TorcrosS, Summed at, Lord
Fantle, acted at Freddy FarInsdon. and,
In fact, has been all things to,all eHxi.
bles except wife"
c LADY Hickling does not know-lndecd,
no one save Lady Mary Black and the
chronicler 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 big house
party. When she arrived she found
that two girls, prcttier and younger
than herself. and helped by mothers,
were counting Sir Robert. The outlook
seemed bad, and the poor orphan was
in despair until she perceived that she
had mere bunglers to compete with
girls. one Of whom thought tina: a pref
ty face an exaggerated occurrences
would would win the day, whilst the
other relied upon good looks AMI slangy
liveliness OF manner.
A chat with her old friend, the Hon.
Charley Wrlothrsiey, showed Lady
+ Mary that tho way to win Sir Robert S
: .gnod looks lay through Blue Books
and that she must pose as serious, in
,.s1'elligent young woman in order TO have
any chance. The butler was surprised
TO find her at 6 o'clock one morning in
Z! the library gravely studying Eansard;
ehe housemaid was amazed to discover
political books in her bedroom. and
whenever the Times was missing the
hostess said: II expect dear Mary has
It,"
Sir Robert soon took an interest in
the Intelligent, wni, dressed, pleasant
looking, II hardly handsome. girl, who
listened eagerly TO his most serious con-
,iversation and surprised him With the
;range;of her knowledge and soundgess
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 promi-
nenca and her hes:tating. avowal that
she had studied his career BECAUSE he
seemed TO her the most picturesque fig
ure in modern politics caused him one
of the kecnest pleasures OF his life Yet
after fortnight, Lady Mary felt that
she was making no progress. She
guessed correctlP, that the other girls
or. a. least their mothers-wcre at the
bottom Of the matter. Sir Robert was
far too busy With politics TO know much
! about society or It's gossips, and Mary
was right In her assumption that he at
first would be ignorant OF everything
about her or her history; but the poor
girl Gould not prevent her rivals and
their allies from telling him tales con-
earning her and her search for u hus-
band, and although, relying upon what
he assumed to be his judgment OF human
character. Sir Robert dIsbclievcd nearly
all thatwa told to him. there Remained
In his mind an unpleasant feeling that
Lady Mary Applesate might be a
charming, intelligent young lady. but
was also dangerous hIrt and a
schemer
When Lady Mary guessed the diff
Guilty there were many frowns won the
white forehead which she displayed
more lavlshly to Sir Robert. than TO any
previous object Of her pursuit, and her
well cut, rather large mouth, her best
feature, pursed Itself up time after time
while she wondered ard planned. a
week went by. Lady Mary was In de-
SPAR. She recognized with pain the
fact that not only was she unlikely to
succeed, but also that for the first time
In her life che was trying to win some,
thing more than o wealthy husband;
she was trying 10 win man.
ITO think" She said TO herself, ito
think am caught in my own trap and
that would gladly marry him II he lost
his fortune and position! To think am
in love at last. and have no hope! How
am TO convince him that am not 'hnlt
20 bad as those girls pretend. and that