The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-10-17

Then I left Acton, telling him-mufe
shame be it to me-that / was going
to sup in order that I might get word
of Arnold's habits. And yet what came
Of that dinner would have made me
stop a bit, had I foreseen it. And so I
was ushered into the drawing room in
the finest coat n breeks I could buy
In the shops and a tie and lace front
thai made me feel like a gaudy popin-
Jay from some sickly European court.
The baroness came in q and
kindly babe me sit, saying the others
would be there in a few moments. In
deed l found the custom prevailed to
arrive half an hour late, which seemed
10 me then, and does still, to be a fool
ish bit Of inane fashion.
DO you KNOW said she, with genu-
Inc tears in her eyes, that we have
just heard of our friend Major An
dre's horrible sentences. Do you know
him, Mr.. Merton?'
Il never saw him, but he was a good
and true gentleman" I answered.
These are terrible days. 1 cannot
sleep O nights for thinking. thai my
little daughters may catch this terrible
plague. Only this afternoon my hus-
band told me that twenty-seven of the
poor prisoners died of it yesterday on
the prison ships in the harbor. I wish
| might 10 something to aid them, but,
beautiful as our house is, we have
hard labor to get wood and food, such is
the price of all necessaries."
My better self warmed to the lady
and l told her she had a good heart,
and that I, too, could not keep my
thoughts from the .wretched prisoners.
governor Tryon and General Pat
terson, the comnlandant Of the town,
are goodness itself to me-" said she.
But t is a terrible time and often I
yearn and long for my w dear
Brunswick"
1T is indeed a terrible time, ma'am,
but If all the women had such hearts
as yours the suffering would be infn-
itely less"
She gave me a smile, though there
were tears In her eyes, and held out
her hand to me.
I'VE can do so little, and dare not at
tempt an opinion" she said.
l stopped over her white fingers and
Kissed them, just as some one entered
the room. Looking up, I caught a
glance from q pair Of dark eyes that
sent a thrill of joy through my body,
and made me laugh in spite Of myself;
Tor there stood Mistress Philipse with
as surprised a pout on her pretty lips
as ever was seen. Did she think I was
paying court to another? God be
thanked, If she did!
But there was no time for more thar
a greeting and a friendly kiss from the
hostess, when in came the governor of
the town, Tryon, with his wife and
daughter, Major Sproat, a Lieutenant
Purdy, General Patterson, and a mar
the called Captain Atherton, who
seemed to me at the moment to look
strangely familiar. Then, as we sat
about the room, 1 made note that every
one rose, and turning to the door saw
a young a hardly more than a boy,
enter, talking easily with his COM
panion and nodding here and there a;
he walked over to the baroness, and
l guessed rightly that twas the young
Prince Henry, whose coming had
reached even our Connecticut ears.
Finally with much fuss of chariot and
horses outside. up drove the decrepit
old peacock, Madam De Lancy.
And why should I not be out? cried
she IN a venemous voice to the host.
VINO had but congratulated himself on
her being there. DO you think I am
too old to get out Of my bed?"
"Gott verbar, ma'am," cried the
baron. You grow younger. every day."
""Tis a wonder I live at all. Can YOU
not give us a stick of wood to cook bv.
major" cried she, turning on Sproat.
who stood near. Here have I today
paid 9S for a pltiful cord"
"Ma'am," said the major, with apol-
ogy in his tone, 1--WE are eyery hour
sending parties to Long island to get
1T as best they cam"
Stuff and nonsense" cried the old
dame, her face t%witching like a play
actors. why do we not cut down
the trees out here in the street? I wish
the rebels were all gon to the DEVIL"
and she hobbled off on the arm of an
officer to a beautiful mahogany chair
thai never was made in our land.
we were now a goodly of
twenty at least, and, supper being an
nounced by a factotum all powdered
Tx the rest, I stood at one side till
the baroness passing me said, go aaa
take IN Deborah" Then, looking at
me with a friendly smile, but a sad
face, BE good and kind to her tonight.
for she is in a great trouble" ,
Trouble? What could be the trouble;
I thought, as I passed over to her and
gave her my ARM.
There was some difficulty in getting
the proper place in line, for each OFF,
Ger must go Ill as his rank dictates. and
so, led by the young prince and the
baroness, we marched into the ban
quet room with swish Of silken gowns
and tinkle of Spurred boots,
After the saying Of a grace, all were
talking at the long table at once. and
the murmur of voices kept me from
nearing many words, except those on
either side and Immediately next to
me. And, indeed, the dishes that load
ed the board were each moment set
before us by five or six men servants
We're by a good half unknown to me.
Beef I could tell, and a dish of chicken.
but there were others built up high
with pasty and mixed in with colored
sauces, the like Of which I had not
seen before. =. =
Blessed with a good appetite, I tast-
ed all the men passed to me and found
them palatable. Talk ran on current
things, OF the recent fight in Staten is
land, of Andres coming execution, and
anything that came up; until, in the
midst of a foolish remark Of her own
invention and with a laugh on her face.
I heard Mistress PhiIipse saying in q
low voice, as if came from some. one
else: -
i have much to say to you-two
things. Have a care o your counter
ance and let no one read in your face
what YOU hear"
For a: moment was at a loss, her
face SO belted her words. Then tax
Ing up a glass of wine, I did as I had
seen others do already-held it.towards
her, bowed, smiled, mt said: PRO-
eeed. mistress. ! am listening. and
crank part OF the wine.
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