The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-25
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
By Albert Pa~Son Terhune
WELLINGTON AND
LADY CATHERINE
By Albert Payson Terhune
Copyright, By the Author-A

arthur wellesley ny udiAc. OdIeO 10
fall in love with Lady Catherine
Pakenham, court beauty and daughter
of the earl of Langford. This was in
1896. The young man was as we'll
born as she, for he was fourth son
of the earl of Mornington. Also, he
had already won military and parlia-
mentary honors. But he had almost
no money. Lady Catherine could read
lily hope to marry man OF wealth and
title. So her family frowned on the
youthful soldiers suit.
Yet he proposed to Lady Catherine
and received her assurance that her
heart was his. This mutual avowal
was gratifying enough for both the
lovers: but it had no effect whatever
on the earl Of Langfords determina
ton that his daughter should not wed
a penniless soldier. In spite of her
family's opposition, Catherine told
Wellesley that she should always con-
slider herself betrothed to him. With
this solitary crumb of comfort the
man went with his regiment to
India to carve with his sword a fame
that should atone
for his lack of
engagement wealth. He was
successful beyond his widest hopes
His military genius quickly became ap-
parent to all. He won victory after
victory, rose steadily in rank, and at
the end OF nine years returned to
England as a popular hero. He was
now Gen. Sir Arthur Wellesley. and as
famous as he had once been OBJ
scure.
Nine years is a long time. espe-
cially when lovers are young and are
Yet Wellesley and Catherine had re-
manned true to that early vow o.
theirs. Soon after Wellesley had left
for India Catherine had been smitten
with smallpox. Her life was spared,
but her beauty was utterly gone. In
stead of the exquisite young girl of
nine years before, Wellesley found
himself confronting a plain, mature
woman, whose once fair face was hid
eously pitted and SCARED.
Perhaps something of the mans hor.
ror and amazement showed in his
eyes. for Catherine bravely admitted
that she was no longer beautiful. and
offered to release him from the en-
gagement. But Wellesley had the
chivalry of a medieval knight. II the
lovely girl of earlier days was now
an ugly woman, he was none the less
bound by his promise to marry her
took place on April 10, 1906, a few
months after the bridegroom's return
to England. The tale of his knightly
sacrifice was everywhere told Wher
his wife was presented to court the
queen of England warmly praised hel
devotion, and added:
You are bright example Of con
stancy. II anybody deserves to b.
happy it is you. But is it true yol
obeyed your father and never wrote
one letter to Sir Arthur during hi.
nine-year absence?"
"Not single letter, your majesty.
answered Catherine. "But-but
thought of him very, very often
The marriage was not especially
happy. Wellesley was a dutiful, kline
husband. and Catherine a devoted
wife. who eagerly applauded her hus
bands continued rise in the militar,
world. Nevertheless the two gradual
ly drew apart. To Judge by the hus
| bands letters to Miss Jenkins {;
clever Englishwoman Of the time), h,
| his affection, to the exclusion of every
one else. His home life grew less ant
.. less pleasant. H.
rose to the high
est command II
the British army, was created duke O
Wellington, led the British forces a
the battle Of Waterloo. became late
prime minister of England Yet hi
discomfort increased with his hon
ors. A friend quotes him as exclain
| ing:
There is nothing in this worl
worth living for!''
Sir Edward Pakenham, who led tn
British forces against Andrew jackson
at the battle of New Orleans, and VIII
was defeated and slain in that fgh,
was GATHERINGS brother. and ha
fought. as Wellington's subordinate
against Napoleon.
During the last years of Catherine
life she and the duke were seldom tt
gether. Yet Wellington faithful
watched over his wife in her last i'll
ness. in 1881, and mourned her sir
cerely. To his children he was a jus
if distant father, and to his wife b
had been a considerate. rather than
loving husband. What secret, If an,
lay behind the couples final estrange
! ment will never be divulged A hin
of it is contained in the following al
ecdote:
Il suppose" questioner once sal
to Wellington, that you have arouse
! much admiration among women"
Plenty Of admiration" snapped tn
old duke. Plenty of admiration. Blu
in all my life no woman has eve
loved me-"
An Attractive Idea.
'If I'll the money Dustin Stax ha