St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-23
SOMERSC0URT APPARITION.
IFrom the London 1,rn,h

her eccentricities were an infatuation for
patronizing out-of-the-way charitable schemes
and projects, and the demonstration of a
keen interest in the welfare of the Rev.
Amos Hartley, the curate Of the parish. II
was moot point as TO which popularity was
the most marked, aud certainly, while the
one laid her open to numberless and per-
petual impostures: the other excited in GER
tain circles an amount of ''talk'' and tea
table scandal that her age and charity
scarcely failed to avert.
The gossipers declared their utter inability
to discover the bond Of mpathy apparently
existing between the curate and his patroness.
He was, as they rightly observed, about the
most commonp place curate Of forty-fve that
ever prosed through semon, and but for a
SpirittteVe dreaminess, occasionally apparent
in his plain face. he would have been an ex-
ceediugly unIntercsting person.
But despite these obvious drawbacks, Mr..
Hartley had succeeded in securing the friend
ship of the mistress of Somcrscourt, and was
apparently firmly established alike in her
good graces and her household. His posi-
ton was somewhat anomalous. He acted as
Miss Annersleigh's amanuensis in all mat
tiers 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 enjoy the sweets
and emoluments Of his office; and judging
by the frequent marks Of regard and conf
dence conferred upon him by his patroness,
the mutual understanding and sympathy in
creased with time. The curate spent the
greater portion Of his days at Somerscourt,
where suite Of apartments was always at
bis disposal. For upward of five years had
thls state of things continued, when, to the
CONSERVATION Of the parish, and to the in
estimable grief of Miss Annersleigh, Mr..
Hartley was suddenly attacked by severe
illness, to which he succumbed within
week, breathing his last in the room be was
wont to occupy in the house Of his friend.
The demonstrations 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 it
self in the shape of handsome SIN mem
oriam'' 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 deceased
curate proof of her characteristic goodness of
heart.
Nearly year had elapsed since the death
of Mr. Hartley, when one cherries October
afternoon card was brought into Miss An
nersleigh, who was finding surcease of sor-
row in auditing the local blanket-fund
accounts. The visitor proved TO be the bearer
of letter of introduction to the mistress of
SomerscOurt. He was a well-dressed man
of thirty-hye or Whereabouts, and decidedly
gentlemanlike, though an experienced eye
might have detected some of those indescrib-
abl,Teutward and visible signs that are in
deliby impressed upon the countenance of
the man who has been much occupied in liv-
ing by his wits. The letter was apparently
in the handwriting, and bore the signature.
of an ecclesiastical dignitary attached to the
dicese, who had twice honored Miss An
nersleigh 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 Barsteaj, as the pious
protector of scheme for training the daugh-
tiers of the INDECENT to qualify as wives to
missionaries Of the Madagascar Eucharistic
society. The letter concluded with ford
compliment to the religious zeal of the old
lady, and to the earnestness and ability of
Mr.. Barstead, when the writer warmly COM
mended to her friendship and hospitality.
She read the letter through twice very de-
liberately, and then proceeded to elicit in
formation 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 as exceedingly well in
formed and entertaining man. He re-
counted modestly and inferentialy sundry,
romantic and startling adventures incurred
by him in the prosecution of his good work
in benighted Madagascar, and he seemed so
pious and enthusiastic, and possessed so ex-
tensive an acquaintance with people and
places sacred to Miss Annersleigh by their
association with all that was good
and interesting, that she began to feel deep
liking and admiration for this intrepid, good
looking missionary propagandist. When he
recognized with joyful surprise little
pamphlet written by herself, on "The Mis-
sionary Duties and Privileges of Married
Women" the bond of sympathy was COM
plete. He was the first person who owned to
having read her little book without being
pressed to do so by the authoress, and she
felt grateful to him and happy-so happy, in
fact, that she failed to detect the slight
acquaintance with the book which his
comments and criticisms implied, until
he had rapidly glanced over a few pages
of it.
Miss Annersleigh would not hear of her
visitor returning to the post town that night,
as he proposed, especially as he wished to see
the vicar of the parish early next morning.
Besides, the return involved a walk of several
miles, and it was now dark and threatening
rain. So Mr.. Barstead reluctantly allowed
himself to be persuaded to occupy the spare
bedroom, which Brewer, the man of all work,
was directed to see prepared.
Brewer, who had caught the last of
the protests of the guest, thought
it somewhat odd that yisi-
tor who came with no intention of staying
should bring a large Gladstone bag with
him. But surprises were common in that
house, and he held his tongue.
Several times during the evening the
hostess casually introduced the name of the
late curate; and she recalled afterward that
her visitor invariably politely averted any
further remarks on that subject.
The evening passed very agreeably, the
advent OF the entertaining stranger proving
apleasant break in the monotony that had
pervaded Somerscourt since Mr.. HartIey's
death, and the old lady lay awake some time
evolving schemes for prolonging the stay of