The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14

| great pleasure These igayeties are indeed
Unexpected 1 look forward. gentlemen
to making the acduaintance before many
days of your ladies as well"
So she rose and dropped courtesy
while her man threw open the door, anC
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 theseveniDg by dancing
| a minuet. He presented a gentleman, the
son of a Norfolk squire, who. with many
bushes, being still young, led out this
lady, all jewels, silk. ribbons. and patches
and with such grace as he could com
mand performed the stately dance of the
| fashionable assembly.
This done the master of the ceremonies
presented another gentleman, and her la
| dyship cOndescended to a second dance,
| after which she retired and sat down. The
| first gentleman then danced with another
| lady. The second gentleman succeeded
him. and dance followed dance. Mr.. Prap-
pet presented to Lady Anastasia those OF
! the ladies who belonged TO the gentry.
! and she was presently surrounded by a
| court or company. with whom she dis
coursed pleasantly and graciously. The
! spa had found a leader.
| The next arrival from London was Sir
| Harry Malyns, a baronet and country
| gentleman whose life was wholly devoted
| to the pleasures of town. Those who had
seen the withered old anatomy carried out
of his carriage laughed at the thought of
this ancient person still devoted TO the
/ pleasures of the town. NAY" said the
Varlet, grinning. But wait till you see
him dressed. Wait till he has passed
! through my hands. You think he is at
his last gasp. Indeed | thought so my
self when | gave him his sack posset and
put him to bed, but he viii recover. Sir
Harry is not so old but he can still bear
some fatigueS.
There was another whose arrival caused
no ringing of bells or salutations by the
/ horns This was certain Colonel Ian
von. who wore the Kings scarlet, having
! served and received promotion i'm the
| Kings armies. He drank the hardest. he
| played the deepest. he swore the loudest
and he was always ready to take offence.
| Yet he was tolerated and even liked, be-
! cause he was good company. He sang
! songs: he told anecdotes; he had seen
! service in the West Indies and in many
other places; he had passed through many
adventures; he assumed, and successfully,
the manner of a good sportsman, free
with his money, who played deep paid
his debts of honor at once and expected
to be paid in like manner.
Last of all came the prince of this
company, Lord Fylingdale himself.
Sir Harry MaiynS being asked if he
knew his lordship. shook his head. we
of the gay world he said, speaking as a
young man, do not commonly include
Lord Fylingdale among the beaus and
bucks. There is In him certain haught-
mess which forbids the familiarities com
mon among ourselves
lis he, then saint?
Why sir, | know nothing about saints.
There are none"
Sam Semple showed good sense in going
around TO visit his old friends. Among
others he called upon Captain Crowle
to whom he behaved with singular dis
cernment. in such q way rs would please
the old man. for on board ship we ike
cheerful sailor one who takes punish
ment without sniveling and bears no NAL
ice thereafter. A ship is like a boys
school, where a fogging wipes out the
offence and master and boy become good
friends after it, whatever the heinous-
M nf no
Sir said SAM, standing before the
captain modestly, you will understand.
first of all. that am reminded in coming
here of the last time that | saw you,
Aye. my lad. i have not forgotten"
The captain did not rise from his arm
chair. nor did he offer Sam his hand.
He waited to learn IN what spirit the
young man approached him.
Believe me. sir" said Sam. II am
not unmindful of a certain lesson. rough
perhaps, but deserved. The presump
ignorance of the prize, to which / as
pired. may be my excuse, If any were
needed. / was then both young and igno-
rant" 1t must be admitted that Sam
possessed the gift of words. Indeed. L
was too young to understand the humble
nature of my origin and my position and
sumption. Therefore, sir. before / say
ANYTHING more. | beg your forgiveness.
That presumption, sir, can never, ! as
sure YOU be repeated ! know at least my
own place and the distance between a
certain young lady and myself
why. my lad. said the captain, since
you talk in that modest way bear no
maiice-none- wherefore here IS my hand
in token of forgiveness. And so on that
head we viii speak no more.
He extended his hand. which sam TOOK,
still In humble attitude.
Il am deeply grateful, captain, he said.
You win perhaps before long find out
how grateful l can be. Time, in fact,
did show the depth of his gratitude.
Well sir, / am now in high favor with
my Lord Fylingdale, on whom you waited
this morning"
II hope his favor will end in a snug
place. Sam. Forget not the main point.
Well your patron is a goodly and a prop
er man to look at. Sit down. Sam. Take
a glass of home brewed. You must want
it after the ale of London, which is. so far
as / remember, but poor stuff. Well, now,
about your noble lord. He is married
man, | SUPPOSE
''Ahi And I suppose, like most young
nobiegnen. something of a profigate. Ell,
Sam? Or a gambler, likely? One who
has injured many innocents? Eh?'' The
captain looked nightly cunning.
''Sir-sir'-Sam spread out his hands in
expostulation-.'you distress me. Lord Fly
gambler? Lord Fylingdale libertine? Sir
Captain CroWle-' He spoke very
earnestly The tears came into his eyes
He laid his hand upon the captains knee
the best OF men. There is no more virtu-
Gus nobleman In the country My tongue
Is tied as his lordship's secretary. else
could / tell of good deeds. Truly, mis-
right hand knoweth not what his left hand
doeth. My lord is all goodness"
Aye. aye. This is good hearing in
deed"
Lord Fylingdale a gambler? Why, he
may take part at table, but not gam
bier No man is less a gambler What
doth it matter TO him if he wins or loses
little? He neither desires to win nor
does he fear to lose. You will, ] dare
say, see him in the cardroom just to en-
courage the spirit of the company
"A very noble gentleman, indeed. The
captain drank glass of his home brew
ed. "A very noble gentleman, truly Go
on, Samuel Sempe"
Also he is one who Captain, ii
there is one thing in the world that my
patron abhors 1t is the man who ruins in
nocency and leaves his victim to starve.
No sir; his lordship is a man OF the MIC
est honor and the highest principle
He has "A secretary who Is grateful, at
least" observed the captain.
His sword is ever ready to defend the
helpless and to uphold the Virtuous.
Would to heaven there were more like the
right honorable the Earl of Fylingdale,"
Look you. Master Sam said thee cap
tain. Your good opinion of your patron
does you credit. / honor you for your
words. l have never so far, and
/ am now past seventy, encountered any
man who was either saint or angel, but
in every man have / always found some
flaw. whether of temper or Of conduct
SO that | do not pretend TO believe all
that you make out
Sam Semple sighed and rose. Il ask
not for your entire belief, sir Ii will be
sufficient II you learn. as | have learned.
the great worth of this exalted and in
nObleman. AS for flaws. we