Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-05-20
MI s c Ell A N Y.
A BRITISH EXILE.

bOtn clNH anu mlIllhry' H 'no coluHg w
New South Wales. Many anecdotes che
told mc of celebrated characters who had in
the word. Of one OF them "leit their eoun.
try for their country'sgooi." With most,
II not with all these celebrities tho old la
dy had come In personal contact.
"Onc morning." she began. Z" I was sit
ting in my drawins-room with my two lii.
tie children, who are now middle.aged men
with large families. when gentleman was
announced. Ig,ve the order for his al.
mission; and on hi. entering tho door OF
the apartment. I rose from my chair and
greeted him with bow, which he returned
in the mos, graceful ani courtly manner
imaginable. IlIs dress was that Of man
OF fashion, and his bcarin; that Of person
whc had moved in the highest circles Of 80.
ciety. 4 vessel hnd arrived from Engand u
few day' previously with passengers, and
| f,ncied that this gentleman was one oi
them. asked him 90 be seated. lie took
chair opposite TO me, and ai once entered
into conversation, making the first topic the
extreme warmth OF tho day, and the second
the h"al,hful appearance Of my charming
children-,s he vas pleased TO speak Of
them Apart from mother liking to hear
her children praised, thero was such 70.
flnemeni In the strangers manner. such n
seeming sincerity in all he siid, added to
such marvellous neatness OF expression. +.
that ! could not help thinking he would
form a very valuable acquisition to our list
Of acquaintance, provided no intended to
remain in Sydney instead Of settling in the
interior Of the colony.
81 expressed my re ret tha, the Major
(my husband) was from home but | mon
toned tha, expected hin at one o'clock,
az which hour W, took luncheon aad |
further expressed hope that our visitor
woulI remain and p,rtako Of tho meal.
With very pretty smile (Which | alter
ward. discovered h,d moro manin; in il:
than was at that tims aware o0 he fear
ed no could not have the pleasure OF pirtl.
king OF tho ho'pi,alItis' OF my table. but
with my permission, he would wait ill the
appointed hour. which w. then near AZ
hand. Our conversation was resumed (; and
presently he asked my little onrs to 90 to
him. They obeyeL at once albeit they were
rather shy children. This satisfied me that
the stranger was man of kind and gem
de disposition. H. took ths children on
hi. knees. and began to tell them a fairy
story evidently OF his own invention aud
eItcmporrcd) u which they listened with
profound attgntion Indeed, could not
help being interested in the story. 50 lanei-
ful were the ii,rs, and 81 pDo,icil the Ian.
guas- in which they were expressed.
"Thc story enisl. the stranger replaced
the children on the carpet, and approached
the table on which stood in porcelain vase,
a boquet Of aowers. These h, admired and
began discourse on l1rieulture. | listen
ed with intense clrnestnes, 80 profound
were all his observations. We were stand
ing at III, table at least eight or ten min.
utes my boys hanging on to the Skirt OF
my dress. aud every now and then compel
ling me to beg OF them to be silent.
Zone o'clock came bu, not the Major
received note from him, written In PEN
ell on a slip Of paper lie would DO de-
tainei at Government House until half.p,si
two.
Again requested tho fascinating stran-
ger to partake Of luncheon. which was now
on the table in the next room and again,
with the sane winning smile, no declined
As he was about, as I tb,nsht, to depart,
ex,encei my hand, but u my astonlsh'
men, he stepped back, mad, low bow,
and declined takins it.
For a gentleman to have his hand refused
when he extends il to another, is embarras-
sing enough but for lady Who can pos
sibly describe what were my fceling.' Had
he been heir to the British throne, visited
that penal settlement in disguise land
from his manner and conversation he nigh;
have been that Illustrious persOna:e.) he
could scarcely have, under the circumsian'
ces treated me in such an extraordinary
manner. scarcely knew what TO think,
Observing, as the stranger mus, have done,
the blood rush to my cheeks and being cog
infant, evidently, Of what was passing
through my mind, he spoke as follows:
Madam, am afraid you viii never for
give mo for the liberty have taken alrea'
dy. But the truth is, the passion suddenly
stole over me. and could not rcsis. the
temptation OF satisfying myself that the
skull which made INC so conspicuous in the
mother country, still remained to me il
this convict land"
| stared at him but did not speak.
"Madam, he continued. tho " penalty Of
sitting at the table with you, or taking the
hand you paid me the compliment to Proiler
me-yourelf in ignorance Of the fact an
about 10 disclOse-wculd have been the Tor