Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-11-19
from the London Truth.
the S0MERSC0URT APPARiTION.


Miss Anners1eigh, of Somerscourt
Sussex, was old, rich, benevolent and
crotchety, and the sole surviving repre-
sentative of an ancient line of more OF
less remarkable characters" AMONG
the more pronounced of her eccentric.
tiles were an infatuation for patronizing
new and out-of-the-way charitable
schemes and projects, and the demon
stration of keen interest in the welfare
Of the Rev. Amos Hartley, the curate OF
the parish. 1t was mooted point as tC
which peculiarly was the moro marked
and certainly, while the one laid bel
open to numberless and perpetual i'm.
postures, the other excited in certain
local circles an amount of "talk" and
tea-table scandal that her age and char.
lty scarcely availed to avert.
The gossipers declared their utter in.
ability to discover the bond of sympa.
thy apparently existing between the
cUrate and his patroness, He was, as
they rightly observed, about the most
commonplace curate of 45 that ever
prosed through sermon, and but for a
certain spirituelle dreaminess occasion
ally apparent in his plain face, he would
have been an exceedingly uninteresting
person.
But despite these obvious drawbacks,
Mr.. Hartley had succeeded in securing
the friendship of the mistress of Somers-
court, and was apparently firmly estab-
hshed alike IN her good graces and her
household. His position there was
somewhat anomalous. He acted as Miss
Annersleigh'S amanuensis in all matters
appertaining to the lavish distribution
OF her charity, and, if report spoke
truly, was her confidential adviser in
mundane and spiritual matters alike.
In spite Of occasional outbursts of
scandal, Mr.. Hartley continued to en-
JOY the sweets and emoluments OF his
office; and Judging by the frequent
marks of regard and confidence con-
ferred upon him by his patroness, the
mutual understanding and sympathy
increased with time. The curate spent
the greater portion of his days at Som
erscourt, where a suite of apartments
was always at his disposal. For up
ward of five years had this state of
things continued, when, to the con-
sternation of the parish, and to the
inestimable grief OF Miss Annersleigh,
Mr.. Hartley was suddenly attacked by
a severe illness, to which he succumbed
within a week, breathing his last in the
room he was wont to occupy in the
house of his friend.
The demonstration of grief INDUCED
IN by Miss Annersleigh gave rise to
further, though somewhat qualified,
talk, until the sorrow of the old lady
began TO manifest itself in the shape OF
handsome In memoriam" donations to
local institutions. Then the tongues of
the "talkers" ceased to wag, and the
critics were prepared to see in the
friendship of the old lady for the de-
C>.~sed curate proof of her characteristic
goodness of heart.
Nearly a year had elapsed since the
death of Mr.. Hartley, when one cheer
less October afternoon a card was
brought in 80 Miss Annersleigh, who
was finding surcease of sorrow III audit
ing the local blanket-fund accounts.
The visitor proved to be the bearer Of a
letter of introduction to the mistress of
Somerscourt. He was well dressed
man of thirty-fve or thereabouts, and
decidedly gentlemanlike, though an ex-
perienced eye might have detected some
of those indescribable outward and visi-
BILE signs that are indelibly impressed
upon the countenance of the man who
has been much occupied in living by
his wits. The letter was apparently in
the handwriting, and bore the signature
of an ecclesiastical dig1itary attached to
the diocese, who had twice honored
Miss Annersleigh by dining with her on
the occasion Of his preaching a sermon
on behalf of one of her pet charities
He introduced the bearer, Mr.. Edmund
Barstead, as the pious protector of
scheme for training the daughters of
the INDECENT to qualify as wives to mis-
sionaries of the Madagascar Eucharistic
society. The letter concluded with a
ford compliment to the religious zeal
of the old lady, and to the earnestness
and ability of Mr.. Barstead, whom the
writer warmly commended to her friend
ship and hospitality.
She read the letter through twice very
deliberately, and then proceeded to
elict information as TO the aims, objects,
and past achievements of Mr.. Barstead,
all of which he seemed very well able to
provide; in fact, he proved himself an
exceedingly well-informed and enter
tanning man. He recounted modestly
and inferentially sundry romantic and
starting adventures incurred by him in
the prosecution of his good work in be-
nighted Madagascar, and he seemed so
pious and enthusiastic, and possessed SO
extensive an acquaintance with people
and places sacred to Miss Annersleigh
nv their association with all that was
good and interesting, that she began to
feel deep liking and admiration for