The Press., 1894-11-22

may feel hurt They will think you are not showing them proper respect unless you go ill to them now. They have been up expecting you since 7 o'clcck and have put on their best gowns They have seen you come from the window. "
 Hapgood looked as if the proposal were bore. ''If you say I must go, will," he returned. 'And, by the way, do you know what they intend to do?"
 '"To do?' repeated Elsie, looking startled. "They are too old and helpless to do much of anything"
 ''I mean what plans they have formed for the future, where they intend to live''
 ''They have no plans, Mir. Hapgood, and they expect to live here to the end of their days. I cannot make them un- derstand that everything is changed, now that Uncle Si is dead"
 ''That is deuced unpleasant, said Arthur, drowning slightly, but we must try to let them down easy," and he turned on his heel and entered the house.
 Aunt Prissy and Aunt Hetty had put on their best black silks, with muslin inside, handkerchiefs and caps trimmed with purple satin bows and their false puffs made out of the combings of their own hair," as they took pains to explain to their friends. They stood in the hall now to receive him with their best company manners, a courtesy such as had graced General Lafayette's ball.
 "We are so glad to welcome you here," said Miss Prissy, holding out her refined, withered old hand. I've do hope you will feel quite at home. Broth CT Simon would have wished it, for he was very hospitable. You will remain for long time and will make yourself entirely one of us. Brother Simon would have wished it. we are quite sure''
 They rshered him into their own large, pleasant room, the farmhouse par Tor Uncle Si had so long given up to their use, with it's two high beds, it's braided rugs and quaint furniture, and installed him ill their best chair oppo- site the governors portrait.
 ''I hope your father, Job Hapgood. was in good health when you left homo, y said Miss Hetty, taking out her snuff box and tapping on it with two fingers.
 Don't you remember, sister, ' said Prissy in her good ear, "that Job Hap good is dead?"
 ''It must have slipped my mind," said Hetty placidly. 'Sister is losing her eyesight, and am losing my memory, and so things are made even. But you know" she continued, turning courte- ously toward Arthur, i've never knew your father Poor Sister Nancy was married to Simon Hapgood after your father moved west. We occupied a very different social position when we were young, and Sister Nancy we al ways thought, though you will excuse us for saying so, married out of he1 sphere. She was very different from sister and me and seemed devoid of 8 proper family pride. But 1 think Brother Simon appreciated the sacrifices she made in coming here. y
 ''l am sure he did," put ill Miss Prissy briskly. "He felt it all honor tc be allied with the Hinghams. It is a fine thing to have ancestors, Mir. Ar thur '
 This was point that touched young Hapgood rather keenly. He had long felt himself that it is fine thing tc have ancestors and was conscious of his own deficiency ill that important par ticular. It had just occurred to him that he might possibly adopt the Hing ham escutcheon for his own.
 ''Of course you have heard of Gov. ernor Hingham," continued Miss Prissy, pointing to the portrait of the old gentleman in shirt frills and tie wig over the chimney piece ''He was 8 very distinguished man and our great grandfather.
 "A colonial governor?" ventured Ar thur, who had forgotten all about the history of the great Governor Hingham.
 ''Yes, a colonial governor and a Revo- lutionary governor as well. From be- ing one of the most loyal servants ot the crown he became one of the bitter est enemies of King George III i'll these colonies. He fitted out regiment fo1 General Wash1ngton's army at Cam bridge, sir; armed and equipped it at his own cost, and from that day the Hinghams have been poor in worldly goods But we are proud of our pov- erty, MT. Hapgood. Our ancestor never asked the government to return penny of what he had done to establish it, no1 would we. Sister and I know that most of the rich people of this time are parvenus, and we are content to remain as we are, with our memories and ou1 birth and breeding"
 "You ought to tell Mir. Arthur how, i'll the good providence of God, the gov, ernor's life was spared to his country, J said Miss Hetty.
 "You tell him, sister. I know it is such a pleasure to you to relate the story, and if you make mistake I am here to set you right. ''
 Well, you see," began Miss Hetty after taking ladylike pinch of snuff and offering her box to Arthur, 'some 10 years before the war the governor was very rich man in land and owned large property in slaves. It was ther legal, as you may know, in all the colo nies to hold the blacks in bondage, but he was a kind, just master and hac abolished the use of the paddle on his estate, wooden instrument perforated with holes, with which the overseers were in the habit of chastising slaves He had large farms in New Jersey"
 "New York, sister," put in Miss Prissy. "Sister, your memory fails you.
 Well, it was either New York o1 New Jersey. What does it signify? AnC after he had lived there some years Inc made arrangements to dispose of his land in that state and remove to New England, bringing his slaves with him. But the black people were avcrse te leaving their old homes and tho spirit of discontent among them rose to the point of rebellion, and while the gov. ernor was engaged in disposing of his property and preparing to move east bis 30 slaves formed Q conspiracy and de termined to kill him and his entire family"
 '"There were 40 slaves, sister. re member perfectly that there were 40. "
 Well 30 or 40 PriSSv What diff.