The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-09-05

HurQen naQ Onere0 to take the services
at st. Nicholas for few weeks in or
der to enable the curate to attend the
bedside of 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 q carriage and four con-
tanning a very fine lady indeed, with
her maid and her man. She drove to
the Grown, the people all looking after
her. A large coat of arms was emilia
zoned on the door of her carriage, with
coronet and supporters. Her man
was dressed in a noble livery of pale
green, with scarlet epaulets. A little
crowd gathered round the door of the
Grown while the footman held the door
open and the lady spoke with the land
lord.
"Sir," she said, inclining her head
graciously and smiling upon the crowd.
Il have been directed to ask for thy
good Offices in procuring lodging. I
am a simple person, but body must
have cleanliness and room to turn
about"
Madam" said the landlord, 'there
is but one lodging in the town which
is worthy of your ladyship. I have
myself across the market place q
house Which contains three or four
rooms. These I would submit to your
ladyship's consideration
This was an excellent beginning.
The lady took the rooms at the rent
proposed and without haggling There
were two bedrooms for herself and her
maid and one room in which she could
sit. The man found lodgings else
where. It appeared from his state
ment that his mistress was none other
than the Lady Anastasia, widow of
the late Lord Langston and sister of
the living Earl of Selsey. It was there
fore quite true, as Sam Semple had an
nounced, that persons of quality were
coming to the spa.
The Lady Anastasia at this time was
about 26 years of age, a handsome
woman still, though no longer in the
first flush Of her beauty. Her dress as
well as her manner proclaimed the
woman Of fashion. I confess that as
a simple sailor, one who could not pre-
tend to be gentleman and had never
before seen a woman of rank, much
less conversed with one, I was quite
ready, after she had honored me with
few words of condescension and
kindness, to become her slave. She
could bear herself with the greatest
dignity and even severity. as certain
ladies discovered who presumed upon
her Kindness and assumed familiarity.
But, while she could freeze with 4
frown and humiliate with look, she
could and did the next moment sub
due the most obdurate and disarm the
most resentful with her gracious smile
and with her voice, which was the
softest, the most musical and the most
moving that you can imagine. She
had been a widow for two years, and,
having now put off the weeds, she was
rejoicing at the freedom which the
world allows to young widows of for
tune and rank. ....z...-..,..-.-
The mayor babe her welcome to the
spa. Madam" he said, "this town
until yesterday was but seaport and
we ourselves for the most part mer-
chants and sailors. We are not people
Of fashion. We do not call ourselves
courtiers, but you will find us honest,
and we hope that you will believe in
our honesty when we venture, with all
respect, to declare ourselves greatly
nv -icif 81 II
Ship
Indeed, worshipful sir and reverend
sir, and you, gentlemen, am grateful
for your kind words. I am here only
in the pursuit Of health. l want moth
ing more, believe me, but to drink your
sovereign waters, of which my ply
sician speaks most highly, and, when
my health allows me, to attend your
church,
eve hope to offer your ladyship more
than the pumproom,' the mayor con-
tinued. 1--WE have devised in our hum
BILE way rooms for the entertainment
of the company with music and gar
dens and we hope to have assemblies
for dancing in the town hall. They
are not such entertainments as your
ladyship is accustomed to adorn, but
such as they are we shall be deeply
honored if you will condescend to join
them. You will find the gentry and
their ladies of the county and others
not unworthy Of your ladyship's ac-
quaintance.''
"Sir, accept your invitation with
great pleasure. These gayeties are in
deed unexpected. look forward, gen.
tlemen, to making the acquaintance be-
fore many days of your ladies as WELL"
So she rose and dropped a courtesy
while her man threw open the door,
and the deputation withdrew.
In the evening the lady came, to the
long room soon after the music COM
menced. Mr.. Prappet, bowling low, in
vited her to honor the evening by dane
Ing minuet. He presented a gentle
man, the son of Norfolk squire, who,
with many bushes. being still young,
led out this lady, all jewels, silk, rib
hons and matches and with c11ch orc IN