The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14
The Lady Of Lynn.
BY
Copyrighted 1900 by sir Walter Bezant.)
BY SIR WALTER BESANT.

d
to my former patrons He tells me that
other persons of distinction are also go
. ing TO the same place. with the same OBJ
jcct. during the coming summer.
You hear. gentlemen" said the doctor,
looking round. What did ] say? Wealth
I, for all-for all So. Let me continue:
Sir. | would with the greatest submission
venture TO point out the Importance OF
this event to the town. The nobility and
gentry Of the neighborhood should be ina
mediately made acquainted with this
great discovery. 1t may be expected that
there will be such concourse docking to
Lynn as viii bring an accession of wealth
as well as fame to the borough OF which
am an humble native. | would also sub
NIT that the visitors should find Lynn
provided with the amusements necessary
for spa. / mean music. the assembly, a
pumprO0m, garden, the ball and the
masquerade, and the Card-rOOm, clean
1 lodgings. good wine and fish. flesh and
fowl in abundance. ] humbiy ask forgive
ness for these suggestions. and have the
honor To remain, honored sir, your most
obedtent humble servant with my CRATE
ful service to all the gentlemen who sub
ScTihed to my verses and thereby pro-
Vided me with a ladder up which to rise.
SAMUEL SEMPLE -
At this moment the bowl OF punch was
brought in and placed before the captain,
with a tray Of glasses. The doctor folded
his letter. replaced it in his pocketbook,
and took off his spectacles.
Gentlemen, you have heard my news.
Captain CTowle. may | request that you
permit the society to drink with me to
the prosperity of the spa-the prosperity
of the Spa-the spa of Lynn
Let Us drink it,. said the captain, to
the newly discovered spa But this Sam
uel; the name sticks.
We must have committee to prepare
for the accommodation of the visitors -
We must put up a pBmproom."
We must engage a dipper."
We must make walks across the
There must be an assembly. with mu-
sic and dancing.
There must be a cardroom."
There must he a longroom for those
who wish TO walk about and to converse,
with an orchestra.
I will put up the pumpToom." said the
doctor, in my garden over the well.
The captain looked on meanwhile, whis-
pering in my ear from time to time.
SAMUEL is liar" he said. Il know him
to be liar. he said. Yet why should
he lie about a thing of so much impor-
lance? If he tells the truth, jack know
not. ! misdoubt the fellow, yet again he
may tell the truth. And why should he
lie. / say? Then-one knows not-among
the company We may find a husband for
the girl
1T only remains, gentlemen" said
the doctor that l myself should
submit the water of my well 10 an exam
nation lie did not think it necessary
to inform the company that he had re-
ceived from Samuel Semple an analysis
OF the water stating the ingredients and
nous physicians of London. Should it
prove, of which | have little doubt that
the water is such as has been described
by my learned brother in medicine, |
shall inform you of the fact
1t was a curious coincidence. though
the committee of reception were not in
formed of the fact. that the doctors anal
ySis exactly agreed with that sent to him
II
own part ! know not why during the
reading OF the letter my heart sank lower
and lower. 1t was the fOreboding OF evil.
Perhaps II was caused by my knowledge
of Samuel, of whom / will speak present
~. Perhaps it was the thought Of seeing
the girl whom | loved, while yet l I'D
no hope OF winning her, carried off by
some spTig of quality who would teach
her 10 despise her homely friends. the
master mariners, young and old. | know
not the reason. But it was foreboding
OF evil, and II was with a heavy heart
that J repaired to the quay and rowed
myself back 10 the ship in the NOON
light.
They were going to drink to the next
voyage of the Lady Of Lynn. Why, the |
lady herself, not her ship, was about 10 /
embark on a voyage more perilous, more !
disastrous. than that which awaited any |
of her ships Cruel as is the ocean / !
would rather trust myself and her to |
the mercies of the Bay of Biscay at its |
widest than 10 the tenderness of the !
crew who were to take charge OF that |
Innocent and ignorant lady.
It pleases me to recall the tan form of
my father, his bent shoulders his wig. /
for the most part awry. his round spec /
tacles his thin face. In school he was a 1
nSure OF fear. always terrible welding
the rod of office with justice rhadaman-
thlne ana demanding. with that unrelent- /
ing alternative. things impossible i'm ]
grammar. In school hours he was a very
i dnrfFa
was an ancient hall, with an open timber /
ROOF, III which his voice rolled and echoed |
backward and forward
As TO Molly, she had the misfortune TO !
lose her father in infancy. He was car /
rled OFF believe, by smallpox He was
a ShlpOWner and general merchant of the I
town ana was commonly reputed 10 be a /
man OF considerable means. AT his death /
he bequeathed the care Of his widow and
his child 10 his old servant Capt John
CroWie, who had been in the service of
boy. lie directed further that Captain
CroWle should conduct the business for
the child, who by his will was to inherit
the Whoie OF his fortune. whatever that
might prove to be, on coming of age after
widow.
1t was most fortunate for the child that
her guardian was-the most honest nerson
n the world. He was q bachelor; be was
bound by ties Of gratitude to the house
which he had served; he had nothing to
10 and nothing TO think about except the
welfare OF The child At nineteen Molly
was a hne. tail girl, as strong as any
man, her arms stout and muscular like (
mine; her face rosy and rUddy with the
Dioom OF health, her eyes blue and
neither too large nor too small, but fear
less her head and face large her hair
fair and blowing about her head with
loose curls her figure full her neck as
" hite as snow, her hands large rather
than small by reason of the rowing and
the handling % the ropes and by no
means white. Her features were regular
and straight. her mouth not too small !
but to my eyes the most beautiful mouth
IN the world, the lips full and ALWAYS
ready for smile. the teeth white and
regular, in word, to look at as fine a
woman, not of the delicate and dainty
Kind, but strong. tall, and fun of figure !
IS one may wish for. AS to her DISPOSE
ion, she was the most tender. affection
ate, sweet soul that could be imagined
She was always thinking of something |
% please those who loved her She spared
Ter mother and worked for her guardian
she was always working at something.
She was always happy. She was always
singing. And never. until the captain
old her, did she have the least suspicion
hat she was richer than all her friends
md neighbors-nay than the whole town
II Lynn. with its merchants and shippers
md traders adj together.
! recall one day when Molly and !
we're children. 1t was in the month OF
in the afternoon and close
Don sunset. The little maid WAS .,hout
$ usual we had been on the river. but
was cold. and 50 we came ashore ard
we're walking hand in hand along the |
trCct they call Pudding Lane which
he market place. In this lane there
lands sailors tipping house. which !
5, dare say, in all respects such a |
Ouse AS sailors desire. provided and !
Inc