Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1901 — LADY MARY’S STRATAGEM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LADY MARY’S STRATAGEM

WHEN the engagement of Lady Mary Applegate to Sir Robert Black was announced, most of th© young lady’s friends asked one another how on earth she managed to catch him. For Sir Robert Black, Bart, of Rodcot, owner of a great fortune and man of good family, was not only amiable, agreeable and accomplished, but, at the age of 35, was looked upon as one of the lights of the Liberal party and likely to reach great position in the state if •nd when that hapless party came Into power again; whilst Lady Mary was th© almost penniless sister of the Earl of Potter Helglmm, whose poverty caused him to spend most of his time outside his native country. “How on earth did she manage to catch him?” they asked one another. “She’s 27, only passably good-looking, snd everyone knows that for years she Xias been unsuccessfully striving to Hud • desirable husband.,, “I wonder,” said her dear friend, I.ady Hickling, “whether poor Sir Rob-

ert knows that dear Mary has had a •hot at half the in London; that she became Homan Catholic in the hope of catching Lord Thursle; that she turned Protestant again when pursuing Sir William Muudesley; that she golfed at poor Francis Slapton, fished at the Duke of Toreross, ‘slummed' at Lord Cantie, acted at Freddy Farlngdon, and, has been all things to nil ellglbles except wife.” Intoy H Inkling does not know—indeed, no one save Lady Mary Black and this chronicler knows -by what means Lady Mary caught her husband. Here is the plain and rather ugly true tale. I.ady Mary met Sir Robert In August at the Leehlades’, where there was a big house party. When she arrived she found that two girls, prettier and younger titan herself, and helped by mothers, were courting Sir Robert. The lookout seemed bad, and the poor orphan was In despair until she per eelved that she had mere bunglers to compete with—girls, one of whom thought that a pretty face and exaggerated demureness would win the day, while the other relied upon good looks and slangy liveliness of manner. The butler was surprised to find her at 0 o’clock one morning in the library gravely studying Hansard; the housemaid was amazed to discover political books in her bedroom; and whenever tlte Times was missing, the hostess •aid, “I expect dear Mary has it.” Sir Robert soon took an Interest In the intelligent, well-dressed, pleasant looking, if hardly handsome, girl who listened eagerly to his most serious conversation and surprised him with the range of her knowledge and soundness of her judgment in agreeing with all bis views after thoughtful discussion. Yet, after a fortnight, Irndy Mary felt that she was making no progress. She guessed, and guessed correctly, that the ether girls—or, at least, their motherswere at the bottom of the matter. Sir Robert was far too busy with politics to know much about society or its gossip, and Mary was right in her assump tion that he at first would be ignorant •f everything about her or her history; but the poor girl could not prevent her rivals and their allies from telling him tales concerning her and her search for a busband. Although, relying upon what be assumed to be his judgment of human character, Sir Robert disbelieved nearly all that was told to him, there remained in bls mind an unpleasant finding that Lady Mary Applegate might be a •harming. Intelligent young lady, but was also a dangerous flirt and a schemer. A week went by. Lady Mary was In despair. She recognised with pain the fact that not only was she unlikely to succeed, but also, that for the first time In her life she was trying to win a man. “To think,” she said to herself, “to think I am caught In my own trap, and that I would gladly marry him if he lost bls fortune and position! To think I am Id love at last, and have no hope! How am I to convince him that 1 am ■ot half so bad as those glrU pretend, •nd that I really care for him, and not for his money and |>osltlon?” Two sleepless nights aggravated the position since, as she grimly told herself, she had no margin of beauty to play with and hollow eyes and pale cheeks were n terrible discount to a girl never more than passably goodlooking. Suddenly Sir Robert was called to town on business, but made a promise to return In two days, and poor Nary added another to her collection of sleepless nights. Next morning Mary ate no iH-eakfast, •nd, on plea of headache, went up early to her room. At midday she Jumped off the sofa od which she bad been lying

with a look of excitement In her eyes. “I’ll do it,” she said to herself ; “l.t’s a desperate trick, it’s a wicked trick, It’s shameful, but they say ‘all’s fair in love or war,’ though I’m sure that's quite untrue.” She sat down and began to wHte. Iler first letter was addressed to Sir Robert. It was short and simple. She ventured to remind him that he had promised to bring from his town house two or three books on the Indian frontier question, in which he took a great interest. The next letter was addressed to her friend, Charlotte Clairvillo. The four pages of (lie first Sheet were mere gossip and friendly chatter, the rest of the letter must be set out verbatim: “And now I must tell you of a more serious matter, of one concerning which I can hardly speak, ami, indeed, could not unbosom myself except to you alone In tJils wide world. “The position in society of a poor girl of good family la very hard and diflicult, particularly when she has no relatives of influence to help her. The more fortunate, somehow, seem to band themselves against her, like wolves against a weakly member of the pack. I have never felt this till now, never knowingly suffered from It; and now, oh, it’s too cruel! “Since I have been here, all the Ideas of my life have changed. 1 have been a frivolous girl, very thoughtless of the real matters of life, and suddenly all fids has changed. I have found that life is very serious and very beautiful; very beautiful for those who are fortunate, very serious for those like myself. “I want to leave this place, where 1 am very, very unhappy, and come and help you in the noble work you are doing for your fellow creatures. You will have me, won’t you? You may wonder why, and I must tell you. For the first time in my life I have come to know the meaning of the word ‘love.’ “You have often accused me, not quite unjustly, of flirting. I feel so sad to think now that, perhaps, I have caused pain to some who may have taken seriously what was merely a pastime, for I am in love, and hopelessly. I thought there was some hope at one time. He seemed to take an Interest in me—the interest appeared to be growing Into friendship— and O! my dear, he is such a splendid man. He is full of great ideas, and yet sinople and unaffected, and his nature is as kindly and unself Ish as is possible. “But I don't suppose it Is that; there’s something else which I do not understand that causes him to fill my waking and sleeping thoughts; and it’s hopeless. I know it’s hopeless. Probably he never would have looked upon me under any circumstances as more than a mere friend, but even his friendship

would have been very sweet as well as very bitter. “I feel that the other girls in the house and their mothers have been telling tak*s against me—exaggerated tales of little follies, and, although probably he iH'lievea little, I can tell that something has crept between us, and that, perhaps not knowingly, he believes 1 am merely a schemer. “1 can’t write any more, dear. The last few nights I haven’t slept, and I am becoming a wreck. I must get away. For a moment I feel more tranquil, since he’s away in Ix>ndon; but 1 have a sort of duty to myself, to prevent myself from suffering needlessly, so I’ll come, if I may, and help to tend your poor sick people, aud be thankful that In working for the happiness of others there is hope I may forget my own misery. Your unhappy old friend, , “Mary.”

Mary dropped one or two real tears over the letter—she was very sorry for herself aud far from confident about her plana; then she carefully put the first sheet of the long letter Into an envelope aud addressed it to “Miss Charlotte Clalrville. 3 William street, Bet final Green,” and she took the rest of the letter, and also the letter to Sir RolH*rt, and put them together luto an envelope, which she addressed to him at his club. On his return to the Leehlades’ Sir Robert Black found lauiy Mary sitting under a tree In the garden, looking very picturesque. Her cheeks flushed when he came toward her. He did not guess that this was in consequence of guilt. "Lady Mary,” lie said, speaking with difficulty, “you have done a clumsy a ml I an uugontft-manly thing.” “What It is?” dbe asked. "In your letter to me. by accident you inclosed part of • letter written to some one else.” She gave ■ little cry, a most artistic little cry, and guilt flushed her cheeks

•gain most becomingly; he did not ascribe the bldsb to guilt. "0, give it me—give it me!” she called out. “Give it back! You haven’t—?" She paused. His powerful, well-cut face changed rapidly from white to red and from red to white. “I must tell you the truth,” he said, “I read part of It Innocently. I was puzzled, but there was nothing’to tell me I was acting wrongly. When I discovered the secret I tried to but something, to Iny shame, forced me to go on reading. It was an unmanly thing to do; it was the meanest act of my life.” Lady Mary showed very violent emo-tion-real, honest emotion; she was at the great moment of her life and had not the least idea what was going to happen. “Give me my letter,” she said, In a broken voice. “I know I can trust In your honor. Sir Robert.” “In my honor, after I have acted so dishonorably?” “I am sure,” she replied, “you were so taken by surprise as to be acting half-unconsclously. Give me my letter.” The girl looked beautiful; the shadow of the tree softened the lines of her face, her eyes were flashing with excitement, her cheeks burned. “I will give you your letter only on one condition,” he answered. “A condition?” “Yes, that you give me the writer.” She uttered a little cry, then was dumb, and turned pale. “And if you give me the writer,” he continued, “I may as well keep tl.e letter, which will be my greatest treasure save one.” He put the letter to his lips and then stretched out his hands toward her. Lady Mary Black, no doubt, caught her husband by a trick, but he has an intelligent, loving woman as a wife, and she devotes her brains and her heart to the task of making the politician prosperous and the man happy.— Utica Globe.

THE FIRST LETTER WAS SHORT AND SIMPLE.

LADY MARY BLACK MANAGED To CATCH HIM.