John Lothrop Motley - "The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1564 65"

Marie Corelli - "The Master Christian"

Annie Payson Call - "Power Through Repose"

Alfred Lord Tennyson - "Queen Mary and Harold"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: My Lady of the North

R >> Randall Parrish >> My Lady of the North




"No! no!" I protested warmly, forgetting all I lacked and recalling
only my deep love for her. "It was never that. Not one word or act
between us has ever lowered you an iota in my esteem. You have always
been my lady of the North, and from the first night of our meeting--out
yonder, amid the black mountains--I have respected and honored you as
one worthy of all sacrifice, all love."

Her eyes were drooping now, and hidden from me behind their long dark
lashes.

"I am going to tell you my story, Captain Wayne," she said quietly. "It
is not a pleasant task under these circumstances, yet one I owe you as
well as myself. This may prove our last meeting, and we must not part
under the shadow of a mistake, however innocently it may have
originated. I am the only child of Edwin Adams, a manufacturer, of
Stonington. Connecticut. My father was also for several terms a member
of Congress from that State. As the death of my mother occurred when I
was but five years old, all my father's love was lavished upon me, and
I grew up surrounded by every advantage which abundant means and high
social position could supply. During all those earlier years my
playmate and most intimate companion was Charles Brennan, a younger
brother of the Major, and the son of Judge David Brennan of the State
Supreme Court."

She had been speaking slowly, her eyes turned aside, as though
recalling carefully each fact before utterance. Now her glance met
mine, and a deeper color sprang into her clear cheeks.

"As we grew older his friendship for me ripened into love, a feeling
which I found it impossible to return. I liked him greatly, valued him
most highly, continued his constant companion, yet experienced no
desire for closer relationship. My position was rendered the more
difficult as it had long been the dream of the heads of both houses
that our two families, with their contingent estates, should be thus
united, and constant urging tried my decision severely. Nor would
Charles Brennan give up hope. When he was twenty and I barely seventeen
a most serious accident occurred,--a runaway,--in which Charles
heroically preserved my life, but himself received injuries, from which
death in a short time was inevitable. In those last lingering days of
suffering, but one hope, one ambition, seemed to possess his mind,--the
desire to make me his wife, and leave me the fortune which was his
through the will of his mother. I cannot explain to you, Captain Wayne,
the struggle I passed through, seeking to do what was right and best;
but finally, moved by my sympathy, eager to soothe his final hours of
suffering, and urged by my father, I consented to gratify his wish, and
we were united in marriage while he was on his deathbed. Two days later
he passed away."

She paused, her voice faltering, her eyes moist with unshed tears.
Scarce knowing it, my hand sought hers, where it rested against the
saddle pommel.

"His brother" she resumed slowly, "now Major Brennan, but at that time
a prosperous banker in Hartford, a man nearly double the age of
Charles, was named as administrator of the estate, to retain its
management until I should attain the age of twenty-one. Less than a
year later my father also died. The final settlement of his estate was
likewise entrusted to Frank Brennan, and he was made my guardian. Quite
naturally I became a resident of the Brennan household, upon the same
standing as a daughter, being legally a ward of my husband's brother.
Major Brennan's age, and his thoughtful kindness to me, won my respect,
and I gradually came to look upon him almost as an elder brother,
turning to him in every time of trouble for encouragement and help. It
was the necessity of our business relation which first compelled me to
come South and join Major Brennan in camp: as he was unable to obtain
leave of absence, I was obliged to make the trip. Not until that time,
Captain Wayne,--indeed, not until after our experience at Mountain
View,--did I fully realize that Major Brennan looked upon me otherwise
than as a guardian upon his ward. The awakening pained me greatly,
especially as I was obliged to disappoint him deeply; yet I seek to
retain his friendship, for my memory of his long kindness must ever
abide. I am sure you will understand, and not consider me unwomanly in
thus making you a confidant."

"I can never be sufficiently grateful that you have thus trusted me," I
said with an earnestness that caused her to lower her questioning eyes.
"It has been a strange misunderstanding between us, Mrs. Brennan, but
your words have brought a new hope to one disheartened Confederate
soldier."

She did not answer, and with a rush there came before me the barrier of
poverty existing between us. I glanced from my ragged, faded clothing
to her immaculate attire, and my heart failed.

"I must be content with hope," I said at last; "yet I am rich compared
with thousands of others; infinitely rich in comparison with what I
dreamed myself an hour ago." I held out my hand. "There will come a day
when I shall answer your invitation to the North."

"You are on your way home?"

"Yes; to take a fresh hold upon life, trusting that sometime in the
early future I may feel worthy to come to you."

"Worthy?" she echoed the word, a touch of scorn in her voice, her eyes
dark with feeling. "Worthy? Captain Wayne, I sometimes think you the
most unselfish man I ever knew. Must the sacrifices, then, always be
made by you? Can you not conceive it possible that I also might like to
yield up something? Is it possible you deem me a woman to whom money is
a god?"

"No," I said, my heart bounding to the scarce hidden meaning of her
impetuous words, "nor have the sacrifices always been mine: you were
once my prisoner."

She bent down, her very soul in her eyes, and rested one white hand
upon my shoulder. For an instant we read each other's heart in silence,
then shyly she said, "I am still your prisoner."

THE END