Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-05

2on"d OH the door of her carriage, with
coronet and supporters. Her man
was dressed in noble livery of pale
green, with scarlet cpaulets. A little
crowd gathered round the door of the
! Crown 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
II have been directed to ask for thy
good offices in procuring a lodging.
am simple person, but body must
have cleanliness and room to turn
about"
MADAM" said the landlord, 1here
Is but one lodging in the town which
is worthy Of your ladyship. I have
myself across the market place a
house which contains three or four
rooms. These l would submit to your
ladyship's consideration"
This was an excellent beginning
The lady took the rooms Mt the rent
proposed and without hagglng There
were two bedrooms for herself and her
maid and one room in which she could
sit. The man found lodgings else
where. 1t appeared from his state
mcnt that his mistress was none other
than the Lady Anastasia, widow Of
the late Lord Langston and sister of
the living Earl of Sclscy. 1t was there
fore quite true, as Sam Semplc had an.
nounced that persons of quality were
coming to the spa.
The Lady Anastasia ut 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
we'll as her manner proclaimed the
woman of fashion. l confess that as
a simple sailor, one who could not pre-
tend to be a gentleman and had never
before seen woman Of rank, much
less conversed with one. l 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 liarity.
But, while she could freeze with a
frown and humilate 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.
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
honored by this visit of your lady
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, / want moth
ing more. believe me, but to drink your
sovereign waters, of which my ply
stefan speaks most highly, and, when
my health allows me- to attend your
! church."
we hope to offer your ladyship more
than the pumproom," the mayor con-
| tnucd. We have devised in our hum
bic way rooms for the entertain ment
Of the company with music ana ger.
dcns. 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
4 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 ladyships &C
quaintance."
"Sir, I 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 we'll"
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 a minuet. He presented gentle
man, the son of Norfolk squire, who,
/ with many bushes, being still young,
led out this lady, all Jewels, silk. rib
bons and patches. and with such grace
as he could command performed tho
stately dance OF the fashionable Assem-,
/ bly,.
| This done, the master of the ceremo.
MES presented another gentleman, and
her ladyship condescended TO a second
! dance, after which she retired and sat
down. The first gentleman then dane
ed with another lady. The second gen.
| tleman succeeded him, and dance fol-
lowed dance. Mr.. Prnppet presented
to Lady Anastasia those Of the ladies
who belonged to the gentry, and she
was presently surrounded by court or
company, with whom she discoursed
/ pleasantly and graciously. The spa
had found leader,
The next arrival from London was
! Sir Harry Malyns, n baronet and coun-
try gentleman whose life was wholly
devoted to the pleasures OF town.
fThISn 10 hNl tI,n suit Al