Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-18


and pleased, yet the company was dull.
There was little noise Of conversation
and no mirth or laughter; the family
groups We're not broken up; the people
looked Mt each other and walked round
and round in silence. After the first
round or so, when they had seen all the
dresses, the girls yawned and wanted
to sit down.
To me it was amusing only to see the
people in their fine dresses marching
round and round while the music play
ed, trailing their skirts on the floor,
swinging their hoops and handling
their fans; for the lack of young men
talking to the clergy from the cathe-
drals and the colleges, and casting at
each other glances of envy If one was
better dressed or of scorn when one
was worse dressed than themselves.
AS for the men-"Jack," said Cap
tain Crowle, II keep looking about me.
/ try the pumproom in the morning,
the ordinary at dinner, the taverns
after dinner. My lad, there is not one
among them all who is fit to be mated
with our Molly. Gentlemen, are they
I like not the manner Of these gentle
men. They are mostly young, but
drink hard already. Their faces are
red and swollen at %. What will they
be at 40? My girl shall marry none of
them, nor shall she dance with them.
She shall stay at home"
In fact, during the first week or two
after the opening of the spa Molly re-
manned at home and was not seen in
the long room or in the gardens.
The town was nearly full, many of
the visitors having to put up with
mean lodgings in the crazy old courts,
of which there are so many in Lynn,
when the first arrival from London
took place. 1t was that Of clergyman
named Benjamin Purden, Arthur Ma.
gister, formerly of Trinity college,
Cambridge. He was n man of insig-
nificant presence, his figure being small
and thin, but finely dressed. His head
was almost hidden by o full ecclesias-
teal wig. Apparently he was between
40 and so years of age. He looked
about him and surveyed the company
with an air Of superiority, as If he had
been a person of rank.
He came to us down the river by q
tilt boat from Cambridge and accepted
contentedly quite a humble lodging,
barely furnished with chair and a
flock bed. Humility becomes divine
he said in high authoritative voice
"The room will serve. A coal fire and
an open window will remove the musti
ness" He was perhaps, though we
must allow a good deal to his profes,
sion, too fond Of preaching. He preach
ed in the morning at the pumproom.
1t was presently learned that Mr..
Purden had offered to take the services
at st. Nicholas for few weeks in or.
der to enable the curate to attend the
bedside of a dying parent. He under.
took this duty without asking for any
fee or pay, fact which greatly in.
creased his reputation.
A day or two after Mr.. Purden's ar
rival came a carriage and four con
tanning n very fine lady indeed, witt
her maid and her man. She drove tc
the Crown, the people all looking after
her. a large coat of arms was emilia
zoned OH the door of her carriage, will
n coronet and supporters. Her mar
was dressed in noble livery of pale
green, with scarlet epaulets. A little
crowd gathered round the door Of the
Grown while the footman held the dool
open and the lady spoke with the land
lord.
Sir" she said, incllning her heat
graciously and smiling upon the crowd
Il have been directed to ask for til,
good offices in procuring a lodging.
am a simple person, but body mus
have cleanliness and room to turf
about"
MADAM" said the landlord, ether,
Is but one lodging in the town which
is worthy of your ladyshlp. I have
myself across the market place {
house which contains three or foul
rooms. These I would submit to you
ladyship's consideration"
This was an excellent beginning
The lady took the rooms at the rem
proposed and without haggling. Their,
We're two bedrooms for herself and he
maid and one room in which she coult
sit. The man found lodgings else
| where. 1t appeared from his state
ment that his mistress was none othe
than the Lady Anastasia, widow o
the late Lord Langston and sister o
the living Earl of Selsey. 1t was there
fore quite true, as Sam Semple had IN
nounced, that persons of quality wer
coming to the spa.
The Lady Anastasia at this time wa
about 26 years of age, a handsom
woman still. though no longer in tn
first flush of her beauty. Her dress q
well as her manner proclaimed tn
woman Of fashion. confess that q
a simple sailor, one who could not pre-
tend to be gentleman and had neve
before seen Il woman Of rank, mucl
less conversed with one, l was quit
ready. after she had honored me wit
few words of condescension an
kindness, to become her slave. Sh
could bear herself with the creates
dignity and even severity, as certai
ladies' discovered who presumed upo
her Kindness and assumed familiarity
But, while she could freeze with
frown and humillate with look, sh
could and did the next moment sui
due the most obdurate and disarm tn
most resentful with her gracious smll
and with her voice, Which was til
softest, the most musical and the mos
moving that you can imagine. Sh
had been widow for two years, ant
having now put off the weeds, she wa
rejoicing al the freedom which th
world allows to young widows Of fol
tune and rank.
The mayor babe her welcome to til
spa. Madam" he said, this tow
until yesterday was but seaport an
we ourselves for the most part me-
chants and sailors. We are not peopl
of fashion. We do not call ourselve
courtiers, but you will find us homes
and we hope that you will believe
our honesty when we venture, with n
respect, to declare ourselves great
honored by this visit Of your lad,