for
Judge Whipple Virginia did not hide. Anne wrote of him. How he stood the
rigors of that campaign were a mystery to friend and foe alike.

CHAPTER XI. HOW A PRINCE CAME

Who has not heard of the St. Louis Agricultural Fair. And what memories
of its October days the mere mention of at brings back to us who knew
that hallowed place as children. There was the vast wooden amphitheatre
where mad trotting races were run; where stolid cattle walked past the
Chinese pagoda in the middle circle, and shook the blue ribbons on their
horns. But it was underneath the tiers of seats (the whole way around
the ring) that the chief attractions lay hid. These were the church
booths, where fried oysters and sandwiches and cake and whit candy and
ice-cream were sold by your mothers and sister for charity. These ladies
wore white aprons as they waited on the burly farmers. And toward the
close of the day for which they had volunteered they became distracted.
Christ Church had a booth, and St. George's; and Dr. Thayer's,
Unitarian, where Mrs. Brice might be found and Mr. Davitt's, conducted
by Mr. Eliphalet Hopper on strictly business principles, and the Roman
Catholic Cathedral, where Miss Renault and other young ladies of French
descent presided: and Dr. Posthelwaite's, Presbyterian, which we shall
come to presently. And others, the whole way around the ring.

There is one Fair which old St. Louisans still delight to recall,--that
of the autumn of 1860--Think for a minute. You will remember that
Virginia Carvel came back from Europe; and made quite a stir in a
town where all who were worth knowing were intimates. Stephen caught a
glimpse of her an the street, received a distant bow, and dreamed of her
that night. Mr. Eliphalet Hopper, in his Sunday suit, was at the ferry
to pay his respects to the Colonel, to offer his services, and to
tell him how the business fared. His was the first St. Louis face that
Virginia saw (Captain Lige being in New Orleans), and if she conversed
with Eliphalet on the ferry with more warmth than ever before, there is
nothing strange in that. Mr. Hopper rode home with them in the carriage,
and walked to Miss Crane's with his heart thumping against his breast,
and wild thoughts whirling in his head.

The next morning, in Virginia's sunny front room tears and laughter
mingled. There was a present for Eugenie and Anne and Emily and Puss
and Maude, and a hear kiss from the Colonel for each. And more tea