The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-08-17

After the interview with congress
Colonel Wilton was requested to await
further instructions before returning
to France, and, pending the result Of
the deliberations of congress, after a
brief visit to the headquarters of his
old friend and neighbor, General
Washington, he had retired to his es-
tate. AS special favor he was per-
mitted to bring with him the wounded
lieutenant, in order that he might re
cuperate and recover from his wound
in the pleasant valleys of Virginia.
That Seymour was willing to leave his
own friends in Philadelphia, with all
their care and attention, was due entire
~ to his desire to meet Miss Katharine
Wilton, of whose beauty he had heard.
and whose portrait, indeed, in her IA
theirs possession, which he had seen
before On the voyage, had borne out
her reputation. Seymour had been in
formed since his stay at the Wiltons'
that he had been detached from the
brig Argus and notified that he was to
receive orders shortly to report to the
ship Ranger, commanded by certain
Captain John Paul Jones, and he knew
that he might expect his sailing orders
at any moment. He had improved, as
has been seen, the days of his brief stay
to recover from one wound and receive
another, and, IS might have been ex-
pected, he had fallen violently in love
with Katharine Wilton
There were also staying at the house,
besides the servants and slaves, young
Phlllp Wilton, Katharine's brother, a
lad OF sixteen, who had just received
| mldshipman's warrant and was to
accompany Seymour when he joined
the Ranger, then Quitting at Phila-
delphia, and Bentley, an old and vet
eran sailor, boatswain's mate, who
had accompanied Seymour from ship
to ship ever since the lieutenant was
mldshipman, man who had but one
home, the sea; one hate, the English;
one love, his country, and one attach
ment, Seymour.
Colonel Wilton was a WidoWer. AS
Katharine came down the stairway,
clad in all the finery her father had
brought back for her from Paris, her
hair rolled high and powdered, the old
family diamonds, with their quaint
setting of silver, sparkling upon her
snowy neck, her fan languidly waving
in her hand, she looked strikingly like
pictured woman smiling down at
them from over the mantel, but to the
sweetness and archness of her moth
of
the coloneps pride, determination and
courage. He stepped to meet her and
then bent and kissed the hand she ex-
tended toward him with all the grace
of the old regime, and Seymour, COM
ing upon them, was entranced with
the picture.
He, too, had changed his attire and
now was clad in the becoming dress
of a naval lieutenant Of the period.
He wore a sword, of course, and a
dark blue uniform coat relieved with
red facings, with a single epaulet on
his shoulder which denoted his Off
cial rank. His blond hair was light
~ touched with powder and tied after
the fashion of active service in a cue
with black ribbon.
"Now, Seymour, since you two tru-
ants have come at last, will you do me
the honor to hand Miss Wilton to the
dining room?' remarked the colonel,
Strengthening up.
With low bow Seymour approached
the object Of his alteration, who after a
sweeping courtesy gave him her hand
With much state and ceremony, pre-
ceded by one of the servants who had
been waiting in attention in the hall
and followed by the colonel and lastly
| by the colonel's man, stiff old cam
paigner who had been with him many
years, they entered the dining room,
which opened from the rear OF the hall.
The table was a mass of splendid
plate, which sparkled under the soft
| light Of the wax candles in candelabra
| about the room or on the table, and
the simple meal was served with all