The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03

am David Ross's wife. I was mar,
ried to him a month ago. ] have lived
through the peril and escaped the dan
ger. What l have lived through, how II
happened. and why il happened, this story
tells
My maiden name was Flower Dalrym-
pie. I spent my early days on the CONT
nent. travelling about from place to pace
and learning much OF bohemian ne anu
Bohemian ways. When l was eighteen
years of age my father got an appoint
meut in London We went 10 live there
my father. my mother, two brothers, n
sister and myself Before | was twenty
/ was engaged to David Ross. David was
a landed proprietor. He had good means,
and was in my eyes the finest feiiGw IN me
world. In appearance he was sta lwart ara
broad-shouldered. with a complexion as
dark as a GYPSY. He had a passionate and
almost wild look in his eyes, and his WOO
ing OF me was very determined. and
might almost say stormy.
When first he proposed for me i refused
him from a curious and Unaccountable
sense of fear, but shat night I was miser-
able. and when two days after he repeat
ed his offer. / accepted him, for l discov-
cred that. whatever his character. he was
the man l could alone love in all the
world.
He told me something of his history. His
father had died when he was a baby. and
he had spent all the intervening years, ex-
cept when at school and the University.
with his mother. His mothers name was
Lady Sarah Ross. On her own mother s
side she was of Spanish extraction, but
she was the daughter of Earl Reighley.
She was great recluse. and David gave
me to understand that her character and
ways of life were peculiar.
You must be prepared for eccentric
tiles in connection with my mother" he
said. Il see her, perhaps through rose
colored spectacles. for she is to the
finest and most Interesting woman. with
the exception of yourself in the world.
Her love for me is very strange and
very deep passion. She has always op-
posed the idea of my marrying. Until L
met you. l have yielded to her very mark
ed wishes in this respect. l can do no
longer All the same, / am almost afraid
to tell her that we are engaged"
Your account of your mother is rath-
er alarming ! could not help saying.
Must l live with her after we are mar
ried. David?'
Certainly not" he answered, with some
abruptness. You and ! I've at my place.
Iongmore; she goes to the Dover House"
''She will feel being deposed from her
throne very acutely.'' / said.
1T will be our object in life, Flower. not
to let her feel it, he answered. Il look
forward with the deepest interest to your
conquering her, to your winning her love.
When you once win 1t, It is yours for
ever"
All the time David was speaking l felt
that he was hiding something. He was.
holding himself in check. With all his
pluck and dash and daring. there was a
caused him. although he would not al-
nit it, curious sensation Of uneasiness-
We had been engaged for fortnight
when he wrote to Lady Sarah apprising
her of the fact. His letter received no an
swer. After a week. by his request, 1
wrote TO her, but neither did she notice
my letter.
At last. month after our letters were
written. l received a very cordial invita-
ton from Lady Sarah. She invited me to
spend Christmas with David and herself
at Longmore- She apologized for her ap-
parent rudeness in not writing sooner,
but said she had not been well. She would
give me, she said, very hearty welcome
and hoped l would visit the old place in
the second week in December and remain
over Christmas.
you Will have quiet time she wrote
mot dull. for you viii be with David: but if
you are accustomed to London and the
ways of society, you must not expect to
find them at Longmore-"
OF course | accepted her invita- ton. Our
wedding was to take place on the 10Th of
January. My trousseau was well under
way, and l started for Longmore on GER
tain snowy afternoon. determined to en-
Joy myself and to ike Lady Sarah in spite
of her eccentricities.
Longmore was a rambling old place stu
ated on the borders of Salisbury Plain.
The house was built in the form of a
cross. The roof was turreted. and there
was a tower at one end. The new rooms
were in a distant wing. The centre of the
cross. forming the body OF the house. was
very old, dating back many hundreds of
years.
David came to meet me at Salisbury. He
drove mail phaeton. and / clambered up
to my seat by his side. pair of thor
ougflbr ed black horses were harnessed to
the carriage. David touched the arched
neck OF one of his favorites with a whip.
and we flew through the air.
1t was moonlight night, and | looked
at David cnce OF twice ] had never re-
garded him as faultless, but I now saw
something in his appearance which sur
prfsed me. 1t was arbitrary and naughty.
He had a fierce way of speaking to the
man who sat behind. / could guess that
his temper was overbearing. Never mind |
No girl could care for David Ross a lit |
tie. She must love him with all her heart. |
cared for him all the more for his faultS. |
He was human, interesting. very tender |
when he chose, and he loved me with |
great love.
We arrived at Longmore. within an hour |
and found Lady Sarah standing on the |
steps of the old house to welcome us. She (
was a tail and very stately woman, with
black eyes and a swarthy complexion-a
complexion unnaturally dark. Notwith-
standing the grace of her appearance
noticed from the very first that there was
something wild ard uncanny about her.
Her eyes were long and almond-shaped. |
Their usual expression was somewhat IAN
guild but they had a habit of lighting up
at the smallest provocation with
a fierce and almost unholy fire. Her hair
was abundant and white as snow. and her
very black eyes. narrow-arched brows.
and dark complexion were brought out
into sharper contrast by this wealth of
siivery hair
She wore black velvet and some very
fine Brussels lace, and as she came to meet
me I saw the diamonds giit:ering on her
fingers. Whatever her faults. few girls
could desire a more picturesque mother
in-law-
Without uttering a word she held out
both her hands and drew me into the
round and looked me all over in the fire
7'Fair and petite she said. Blue eyes.
lips Indifferent red. rest OF the features
ordinary. An English girl by descent. by
education 10y appearance. Look me fail /
In the face Flower:
I did what ] was bid. She gazed from
her superior height into my eyes. As my
eyes met hers / was suddenly overpow
cred bv the most extraordinary feeling |
lny frame there ran thrill of CHASTITY and
fear. / shrank away from Z
her and I believe my face turned white. !
She drew ne 10 her side again. stopped, (
and Kissed me. Then she said, abruptly:
Don't be neTvous"-and then she turned
You have had a cold drive" she said
II hope you have not taken a chilli"
Dear me- no. mother. Why should r.
he replied. somewhat testify. Flower and
enjoyed our rush through the air.
He We rubbing his hands and warming
himself by the log fire as he spolte-now
he cane 10 me and drew me toward its
genial blaze. Lady Sarah glanced at us
both. 1 saw her Hips CULVER and her black
Drows meet across her forehead. A very
strange expression narrowed her eyes. a
iindictlve look from which | turned away.
She swept, rather than walked. across