The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-22

was scarcely accustomed to such pious practices, and, as the noble lord would be the only one present who was un- used to them he could not but feel that due consideration of all the circum- stances might justify him in this in- mise by a grace, both before and after the meal, of unusual length.
 At length all was settled, the invi- tation was accepted, and the day was fixed. It was fine Summer afternoon, and the noble guest asked permission to arrive an hour before dinner so that he might "enjoy the country lit- tie and see their place." All were a little uneasy, and some were quite frightened, but MT. Falconet himself felt he must make an effort and his demeanor was outwardly calm. But there was not the slightest necessity for this embarrassment The noble lord was the personification of tact and polished sympathy. His eyes smiled with gentle kindness when he was pre- sented to Mrs. Falconet, and his gen. eral bow was so skillful that every one appropriated it to him or herself. He was almost enthusiastic about the Com mon which, it seems, he had seen for the first time, and said 1t was worthy of "As You Like It" He much praised
 the conifers in the private grounds. and
 intimated he had never seen any so fine, though the truth was he was him. self unfortunately lord of the most rare and extensive arboretum in England. He visited several of the glasshouses, and hinted that there could be few in England equal to them, though he had at home acres of these structures wnlch
 he had unhappily inherited, and which
 it cost him annually thousands to main tain.
 The dinner was quite a family party
 Three married, daughters and their
 husbands were present; the two sons in the business and the young ladies to whom they were engaged, two un- married daughters, the clergyman
 brother, who had travelled all night to
 be there, and was to return at dawn so that he might assist at a Bible class, from which he never had been absent. Of course the new M. P. was there, and the only child away was the sailor; but then, as a compensation. Mrs. Fall comet had just received from him let ter on very thin paper and crossed, and which gave a most animated account of the capture by his vessel of one
 Of the most terrific slavers in the Eight
 of Benin. She wished their noble guest
 to read this epistle, which he took with
 much courtesy ,and then glancing at It's CalllSrapnys Wlln somewhat nu- morous expression put the letter in his pocket, saying he should like to show
 1t to the Secretary of State.
 The dinner was, of course, too elab-
 crate and much too long. The dessert | itself lasted as long as a dinner ordi- narily ought to do, but nothing would l satisfy MT. Falconet on these occasions but a procession of all his wondrous fruits-golden pines of vast shape. green melons like gigantic emeralds rare figs O. all sizes and coloPs, and
 bananas which in form and flavor beat Egypt. Indeed. he had on this occa- 1 sion some from that sultry land hand ed round, in order to prove the pre- eminence of Clapham Common.
 The evening was short, and went off
 pretty well. The young ladies had sweet voices and were skillful musi- cians. They did sing some Psalms, but his lordship did not-f1nd 1t out. He ] sat>on sofa in the evning between Mir.
 and Mrs. Falconet Joseph Toplady on
 a chair opposite to them, looking earn est and rather grim. They discussed his new life in the House of Commons,
 and Joseph took the opportunity of re- | marking that he had received some
 new information respecting the slave
 trade in the Red Sea, and thought of
 bringing the matter forward. T think | I would leave the Red Sea alone" said
 the Earl. Tt was miracle that saved | us from being drowned In it before" Mrs Falconet looked grave, and hef