Smyrna times., 1886-12-01
A Romance From Alaska.
THE DESCENDANT OF An OLD PHILA-
DELPHIA FAMILY DISCOVERED IN
AN INDIAN VILLAGE.

An odd story of woman who. in
the society of twenty-five years ago.
was a prominent figure, aud whose rel
auves are conspicuous in society to-
day, was brought out By letter re-
celved IN town "a few days ago. The
writer was an Englishwoman Of rank
who may be spoken Of as Lady Y.
In her letter she said Last summer
l was travelling in Alaska. I straved
away from my party 70 visit a little
Indian village. l came upon = dIlapi-
dated hut on the outskirts aud making
a desire for drink Of water, an excuse
tor admission, l knocked at the door.
In reply to my summons, u feeble
voice answered in excellent English.
bidding me enter. was surprised 10
hear English so we'll spoken and with
such distinct refinement expressed in
the tone in 50 out Of the way place.
Hesitatingly, l pushed open the door
and went in. The interior was 50 dark
and gloomy that for moment l could
not see. When my eyes had become
accustomed to the change from day-
light TO something more weird than
natural darkness, the wretchedness.
dirt and greasiness Ofthe room all came
gradually out upon me. ! looked
about me then to ascertain from whom
the call to enter had proceeded, and I
saw lying on a miserable couch on the
floor the form of An elderly gray haired
woman, whose eyes were full Of =
strange wild light. Piled up round
her were many books, which / could
already clearly determine had been
used.
The woman greeted me kindly, and
presently picked up some OF the vol
umes and looked into them. The
leaves were crumpled and many pas
sages marked, and l was amazed 70 see
that the books were all by Greek and
Latin authors. The woman seemed 10
enjoy my expression Of surprise and
rather somehow to take it as a compli.
ment to herself and said that the books
make up almost Eer sole cOmpanion-
ship. She took up one and read il
aloud lin voice and with a manner
that showed she was clearly acquainted
with the whole subject As for myself
i say it frankly, had 50 nearly for
gotten all my classical learning that
understood only sentence here and
there. The woman went on 70 say
that she was a connection Of the late
Chief Justice Gilpin of Delaware, and
had made a recluse of herself in the icy
land of Alaska because she loved seclu-
sion more than the highest charms Of
civilization. When, after q time, I
turned to leave her aud said good bye
she answered adieu in a gentle voice
and instantly was absorbed in one Of
/ her volumes. She made a great i'm
/ preston upon my imagination, and I
/ have been wandering ever since wheth-
er the story she told of her family rela-
tiOnship could be exactly true"
Further inquiry in town disclOses
| the fact that the picturesque recluse
was Miss Mary Gilpin, whom many old
/ Philadel lphians will recall She was =
cousin of the late Chief Justice Gilpin
/ and a sister to Henry ID. Gilpin Of
! Philadelphia, whose wife became 50
| celebrated for her beauty and sweet
ness of manner. She lived q great deal
/ in the South and was one Of the most
/ extreme in her secessionist predilec-
/ tiOns of that cOterie of Southern women
/ partisans which made an interesting
| figure during the period of the war
/ She became quite poor by reason Of the
/ to live in moderate comfort.
( She seemed to be possessed with an
/ irresistible impulse TO wander, and she
has lived in all quarters of the globe,
/ in the far Orient as we'll As in the West
Some years ago she adopted pretty
girl of Wilmington, aud took up resi-
dence with her in Naples. The child
was afterwards put into a Protestant
institution in Italy by the American
Consul, aud, growing up, she married
an Italian clergyman, and the two are
now living in Wilmington. Miss Gil
| pin continued her strange travels, and
at last disappeared altogether, until her
! whereabouts were thus strangely made
known by the letter of Lady Y. Since
/ the letter was received one Of her rela-
tives in this city has been informed
/ that she has moved down to Seattle,
Washington Territory, and taken up
her residence ethere.-PhiiGdelDhid Press.