The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09
Family and
A Deed That Ruined One Fa
Blighted Another.
A STORY OF HATE, LOVE AMI. REMORSE
The Restoration Of Stately Home in Loudoun Recals
Grim Tragedy That Clouded Famous Negh-
borhood for More Than Half Century

preparations were made IN q oindins
snow-storm. and as the two stood for one
brief moment facing each otter, Inc
muzzles of their n1usketS almost touched.
Mason wore his overcoat, while McCaI-
thy appeared in his shirt sleeves, with
arms barred to the shoulder AT the fatal
signal both fired. and though McCarthy
escaped without scratch. Mason zen
with his antagonists ball piercing his
heart
He was carried TO his mothers at Rasp-
berry plain, and the news broken to his
stricken wife. So owe. whelming was her
grief that months; passed before she re-
gained control OF her reason. The grlef
of the dead senator's fond old mother
was scarcely less heart-rending.
Meanwhile. John Mccarthy had frankly
written to his sweetheart, MISS Luclnda
Lee, making clean breast OF the analr
and leaving her g. week IN "hlch 10 oe-
eide whether in the face Of the tragedy.
she would keep her engagement unbroken.
The conflicting emotions Of That one
short week would complete the expert
ences of a lifetime We have 1t from
the young girls own lips the agony she
suffered, how she knelt in despair at her
mothers feet, and how the old lady could
give no better advice than the dictates OF
her daughters own heart. AT the enc
of the week her lover received letter
telling him to come
FAITHFUL TO HER LOVER.
Their meeting on that occasion remains
a pleasant task for the imagination. but
we are told that Miss Lee was seated at
the piano. and as her lover entered, she
softly sang these words:
Come rest in this bosom, my own
stricken dear;
Though the herd has flown from thee
thy home is still here;
know not, I ask not, If guile's in thai
heart
1 but know that love thee whatever
thou art!"
They were married shortly afterward
and settled In I.oudoun country not fal
from Leesburg.
Upon her recovery the young WIDOW OF
Mason decided to go back to Selma, the
Gene of her short but blissful wedoed NE
she was carried into the wide hall. when
.ais+nc her eyes they fell upon the coat
md hat of her dead husband hanging just
as he had left til EN-. With " Id Shrek
,he fell into the arms Of her attendants,
VINO bore her to the rear of the mansion
there she remained for twenty long
ears, until the lisping boy had become
1 man
The front rooms were kept in order and
guests occupied them as usual. but not
once in that time did their mistress cross
the threshold. On the occasion OF her
sons twenty-first birthday dinner party
was given to the blood relations of the
family.
A SPELL BROKEN.
Says one who was then present: we
were all sitting in the library towards
the rear Of the house. when the door
was thrown open and the gray old butler
bowed his acknowledgment Without an
intimation of breaking the habit of TWEEN
tv wears. Mrs Mason promptly arose-a
frail, fair woman Of forty-and taking t.
arm Of her son walked directly into the
front of the hall and thence to the din
ine-room as of old" AT last the spell
being broken, she Stunned the hall no
more, although from the day of the duel
even TO her death bed. the name of her
husband never passed her lips; nor wou
she even consent to be buried beside MIN
in LeeSourS.
According to her own strange dying re-