Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-04
aNCiMA'" tsEsTDisN IN MASS
AE.itI&:-ivl1..

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Wc passed Giuttock II;l. whn.c once
,aj@e, stood in all its glory of Gothic
}rcl, and E.HoilSh timber. with the $50
ices sent trun~ hgyoushire 70 Madanc
Oliver co,vTii,g lis poTtlcoes. The OH
yers We're Il famous family 1T that time.
The Judge was known TO be Il stanch
add loyal servant OF the English king.
and he entertained right royalty in the
old mansion on Muttock Hill. There
was y hanqcling hall said to be well
worth the name. An CID family SER
want who lived far into this century
used to tell OF It's shining floor and
oakcn seats, and the glitter OF its waNen
lights. The chairs Were of English
oak, with crowns cared upon them;
The table, Il splendid piece of the same
Wood, with feet like claws grasping a
bail. SO noted were Madam Divers
gatherings that the leading ladies in
The land thought it no hardship to
:on.o thirty miles TO atread one. In
Vulnerable are the stories told of the
guests at those rollicksomc banquets.
d one beauty from Boston it is said
that icr two nights previous TO a ball
at The Ollvers, she slept with her hands
lied above her head to whilen them,
and another colonial belle sat upright
III an armchair instead OF taking her
beau,y-sleep, that her couture might
not be disturbed, the hair-dresser hay
ing been compelled to DO his work over
night. IhitAer, riding on a pillion or
n Il chariot. came frequently charming
Miss Dolly Mash, for whose favor so
many suiiors sighed vainly, and who
dispensed her smiles judiciously. and
made the honor OF a dance almost like
81 royal GIFT. Miss Dolly was a wit as
well as Il beauty, and had been at the
English court SIX months, so that her
ton vas considered perfect. She
though she might have been far pref
tier but for paint and powder, the
sparkle OF her eyes and the light OF her
smile We're said to be SO enhancing that
Two English officers fought a duel over
the question rs to which one had re-
ceived the sottest glance of the eve
ming.
Al Oliver House charming Mistress
Nash was always led out by the host,
and as the !loor OF the ballroom was
noted for its waxen polish (three maids
having charge OF i1), we can fancy that
the Old Judge, a trilie equity, and not
very keen III his vision, had to be very
careful how he stepped, for to blunder,
with Miss Polly dainty hand III his,
would have been objectionable indeed.
We can fancy the scene very readily:
the hoops and towering coit1tres OF the
fine danes OF Massachusetts, the wigs
and satin rutfles OF the Steiner sex, the
wax lights, the darkly shining floor,
and the figure OF the judge leading
forth lovely, imperious Dolly, while
every eye was turned upon them; even
the musicians, who scraped away at
the upper end Of the room, Were 10. in
sensible to SO much feminine charm,
and down upon the scene m the
shout OF 4 horscman who had ridden
from Boston, and was %galloping up
Muttock Hill, swinging his hat and
shouting loudly, Long life to the
royal heir OF Great Britain!' for that
LAY o ship had brought the news of the
birth of George the Fourth.
As we went down the hill we seemed
10 have q vision OF that glowing period.
and then to see the lights OF Oliver
Aouse go out, the fair faces and SPLEEN
did figures vanish, the laughter, the
signs, the love-making, and The with
cisms OF that gallant day die away for
ever.
When the revolution broke out,
Judge Oliver did not hesitate to avow
MS Tory principles, which 50 cnraged
the people OF marlborough that they
determined to set fire to his stately
dwelling. Some one-whom it is not
lnown-conycycd the news secretly to
the judge, who WAS in Boston, and he
rode out under cover Of the night, and
entering his own home like a thief,
stole into the great banUueting hail
and the library, and carried away with
him whatever Of papers and money
and jewels he could %sccrcte about his
person. He was only just in time.
Early the next morning 4 mob came
up the hill, headed by Il patriotic young
carpenter, aud the fine mansion was
ransacked and burned to the ground,
the Judge and his Immediate family es-
Gaping to England. While there twas
SAID that although he frequently enter
.ained American guests, he never re-
serrcd in any way to his life among the
@olonists .-LucY G. LI!ic, IN Uotpcr'S
Magaaine for AosemJe%.