Morris tribune., 1905-02-04
of the Talbots, known as Fairview

On the evening of the raid at the Will
ton place Madam Talbot and her sol
were having a very important CONVEX
sation. Madam Talbot was a widow
| who had remained unwedded agar
| from choice Rumor had it that many
| gentlemen cavaliers of the neighbour
hood had been anxious to take to theil
own hearthstones the person of the
fair young widow, so early bereft, anC
| incidentally were willing to assume
the responsibility of the management
; Of the magnificent estate which had
been left to her by her most consider:
ate husband.
Among the many suitOrs gossip held
that Colonel Wilton was the chief, and
1t was thought at one time that his
chances of success were of the best
but so far at least nothing had come
of all the agitation. and Madam Talbot
lived her life alone, managing her plan
tation. the object of the friendly adj
miration Of all the old bachelors and
widowers of the neighborhood. She
had devoted herself to the successful
development of her property with all
the energy and capacity of a nature
eminently calculated for success and
was now one Of the richest women in
the colony. One son only had blessed
her union with Henry Talbot, and Hill
airy Talbot was young man just turn
ed twenty-five years of age and the
idol Of her soul. Too self contained
nH nrn1I1 fn ~
her feelings except in rare instances.
and too sensible to allow them to in
terfere in the training of the child, she
had spared neither her heart nor her
purse in his education, with such hap
py results that he was regarded by all
who knew him as one Of the finest
specimens of young Virginia that il
were possible to meet. Of medium
height, active handsome, dark eyed.
dark haired, fiery and impetuous in
temperament, generous and frank in
disposition, he was a model among
men. Trained from his boyhood in
every manly sport and art and educat-
ed in the best institutions of learning
In the colonies. his natural grace per-
fected ~ tour Of two years in Eng
land end abroad, from which he had
only a year Or so since returned, he
perfectly represented all that was best
in the young manhood Of Virginia. For
many years there had been hopes in the
minds Of Colonel Wilton and Madam
Talbot that the affection between the
two young people, who had played to-
gether from childhood with all the
frankness and simplicity permitted by
country life, would develop into some
thing nearer and dearer and that by
their marriage at the proper time the
two great estates might be united
The two children, early informed of
this desire. had grown up under the
influence of the idea. AS they reached
years of discretion they had taken it
for granted. considering the arrange
ment as fact accomplished by tacit
and habit rather than
by formal promise. Personally at
tached to each other-nay. even fondly
indefinite tie seemed
substantial to bring about
-uC GU Ad lllC uuIl. cS-
oecially during TaIbot's absence in Eu- =
rope, resisted all the opportunities and
rejected all the proposals made to her.
and on this account refused all the
hearts laid at her feet. Since Talbots
return. however, and especially since
he refused. or hesitated, rather, to cast
ais lot in with her own people, his
leighbors and friends, in the RevOlu-
ion. the affair had on her part at least
assumed new phase. Still there had
,een nothing said or done to prevent
his contamination 50 devoutly to be
Then. too, Talbot, calm and confident
n the situation. had not noticed Sey-
hours infatuation and was entirely
gnorant that the coveted prize had
Tipped from his grasp. The insight of
he confident lover was not so keen as
hat Of the Watchful father.
1t was believed by the principal men
f Virginia that Talbots sympathies
we're with the revolted colonies, but
he influence of his mother. to whom
e had been accustomed to defer, had
itherto proved sufficient to prevent
i'm from openly declaring himself.
lis visit to England and the delight
I'll reception he had met with there
ad weakened somewhat the ties
Thich bound him to his native country,
nd he found himself in a state of in
ecision as humiliating as it was pain
I'll. Lord Dunmore and Colonel Will
III had each made great efforts to en- !
st his support on account of his
-ealth and position and high personal
ualities. 1t was limited by one that
le ancient barony of the Talbots -
'ould be revived by the king. and the
latitude of free and grateful coun- !
y, with the consciousness of having
laterially aided in acquiring that in
apendence which should be the birth
ght OF every Englishman. was elo-
uently portrayed by the other. When
} the last plea was added the personal
reference Of Katharine Wilton the
alance was overcome, and the hopes ,
the mother were doomed to disap-
ointment ,