Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-06
THREE GOOD DINNERS.
EY VI. ALPHoNsE KARL.

One tav. happening to be in Paris, saw a
man cross the street with both his hands
stretched out Running TO me, he cried, joy
fully
at last have met you"
His face recalled to mind no one l had ever
met. The man totally unknown to me-
but these Oujstretchsd hands, what did they
mean? You, my reader, you would have said,
pardon me. my dear sir, you have probably
made a mistake on account OF nv resemblance
TO some one you know" But /, who must bid
defiance to my memory in cases OF this kind,
said to myself, - l shall recognize him soon
as he speaks. IL would be an insult to ask his
rsme OF a man who meets you with an air of
such joyful friendship" put out my hands,
and he shook them warmly. However. my
slight hesitation had not escaped his attention,
and IN a tone tribe less familiar he said:
They told me, my dear friend, that you were
in Paris"
how" thought /. "a clew will be given
ne" ''And who told your" | asked. earn
estly. Naturally enough, 1 supposed that he
would give me the name OF some one of my own
friends, and thus I could guess his own.
. Oh" said he, lit is one whom You do not
know-nOt one OF our set-a cOuntryman, and
he only knew yOu because you had been pointed
ont in the street to him. But l am keeping
you Where are You gOing?'
- was passing along this way in the hope of
meeting a friend who
cit it is not female friend" said he, laugh
ing, Iii mi ght not be improper for me- to walk
with YOU"
He took my arm. and we walked along to-
setheI. all the time seeking by questions to
draw him Gui to reveal himself
- Y nj " n ~ are YOU doing now
oh. after heSitat'ng a COOL while, I have
ended by obedience to my father in following
the career which he had always dreamed of tor
me. NV taste. a. yOu know. led M another
wav. but could 1 have sncceedcdP On the
other hand. by the plan marked out by the
family, have only to get into the car and
glide easily over the track. first in partnership
with my father. and then in his place"
- That l. frst-rate."
ayes; az present ike it very mach"
And are YOU Keeping house,
tl A. /
and married her whom already loved When
You know
..Ah. a charming LADY,
Charming? No not exactly; but a counte-
nance fuli Of Intellect and amiability, and with
very solid qualities
Nevertheless, good manager is preferable
for wife to those giTls who
% That * precisely the single good quality
which she lacks, the result OF education merely.
But - We live at the house of our grandpa
tents, my good imOther has now Addicted the
family throne, and you remember with what
majesty she sat upon it?''
..Uh. YES" and Joined nv laugh to his
Then stopped before door and said, there is
where was going"
Since chance has thrown rs together" said
lie. lit ought 70 cause Us TO meet again. Are
youth Pans for long?'
81 few days only
Where do YOU stop"
In little lodging house, Rue de La Tour
d'AuyerRne."
&c All az No. Ij?''
g. Hes-and yOu2''
oh, am az the same old place.
s'AH right"
"Now you must promise without ceremony
With pleasure, only that fear that my bu-
me think have taken you for some one else!
But listeni Let Us make better plan. Are
yOu going TO stop long,"
Ne. Five minutes."
- lH wait for you, and we will walk down to-
gCther."
/ entered. found the people for whom
sought. had the conversation with them which
4 Wished. and returned, worried and perpleNed
20 ind my unknown friend waiting for me at
the door. He took my arm and we retraced our
u am glad 70 see,'' said he, "that was mis-
taken"
ain WHAT"
- thought your first greeting of me rather
cold But no, you are always the same. II is
only your way. 1 will resume the Old famili-
arify il you wish it,"
'sOf course"
Good. An idea. II Is six O'Clock and am
hungry. Suppose We dine together at the first
restaurant we come tor
began to I've worried BY the farce. The rid
die tOrmented me. But what could 10? My
companion seemed to be an excellent man,
frank, open and intelligent. answered, there
fore, Come on, then, let US md it Behold
rs then giancing from side TO side OF the streets
a. we passed. consulting the signs, looking for
al inn and 70 iecuIS u after an examination
a. see 10 place IT." said T.
Nor ," he replied, and we passed alone.
g. Here We are going along turning up our noses
at every ale-house. ! prete nd disgust, and that
IA am ps's ., LI me gentleman turn up
10 less fine gentleman than Won. But there
l. q most excellent OdJr OF stew that comes from
these houses, and If you have not changed mOre
than ! we ruicht a. well 90 into the first eating
house We SEE
You are r gdt But you have such deli
who could make you believe that was so
changed" Hoiu' Here wc are. Let Us g1In'
We entered, and were installed in a sort OF
arbOr. My friend ordered veal, salad and rah-
bit stew.
=. You remember. of course, what is Away.
understood between US about the stew
" About the rabbit Stew
eyes. SO beware OF the penalty. by the
way-waiter, waiter, Bring some Brie cheese,
If You have it"
"a Yes, SIR
My friend rung and called again. g. am
bound 70 make sensation here. Waiter,
waiter, waiter. How about that stew?"
- On said /, ''it has rsined to night, and
the roofs are wet and slippery. OF course they
ssThe forfeit the Forfeit" cried nav INK nown
friend a. But warned you. Waiter, an extra
bottle of the most expensive wine at the ex-
pense of this gentleman"
Z" The best wine, sir?"
whatever il best and costliest. All, my
fine fellow, you indeed have no memory, and
make slip notwithstanding that recalled 70
Won the agreement about not making any allu
zion to eats in connection with rabbit ste ~. You
who were never caught before" And he made
gesture OF despair.
Me- cried /, I" 1 have no memory and am
going TO give you q terrible Illustration Of my
lOss. Here we have been together an hour. and
have been addressing each other in the most
familiar manner"
''Well?''
do net know yo1."
really cannot pretend to describe the out
Ifgeous laughter which followed this speech
hy unknown friend choked, turned red with
fUnoestCn, and stamped his feet IN his agony
AT last when he got breath he told me his name
To tell the truth, he Was an Old college chum
with whom my relations had been continued ~
Intervals ever since. But he had allowed his
beard 70 grow, had become stout. and then, ~
explained at the beginning OF the story,
never could RENE Der faces His outburst OF
laughter had conquered me. When We had be-
come little calm, the waiter came TO tell Us
piteOusly.
"Gentls men, am very sorry. 1 was mis-
taken We have TO stew"
We were 80 In tie mood for laugh Ter that this
sad news only excited a new outbreak. Proba-
bly, If We had been told that Paris was ia ruins
We should have laughed all the same. The