Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-11-01
everything arranged in the exquisite style

arranged in the exquisite style
of the French. Sparkling
decanters and dainty glasses, OF various
hues, appetizing sandwiches. salads, ct
cet, artistically displayed amid fragrant
flowers; while ladies and children streameo
in and out looking so gay and F'renchy.
The Americans were astonlshed to learn
that they could just help themselves az
taste and fancy dictated, and when ready
to leave, report the items consumed to the
presiding genius at one end of the estab-
lishment. allow generous! how honest
they must think usl We are not treated
so at home.' 'Of course not,' coolly re
sponded Miss Omaha, tive are known |
there"
After this invigorating rest our party |
returned to Bon Marche, prudently intend
ing to bring their performances to a speedy
termination. Instead of paying the cash
Ter in each department, their English
friend had suggested it would save time
to have final settlement. when the shop
ping was completed. From counter to
counter the procession Was followed by a
uniformed porter bearing an ever increas-
ing pyramid of boxes and packages, until
only his laughing eyes could be seen above.
When the stupid business of paying up had
to be undertaken, Mrs. James ungenerous-
ly suggested that it was useless to harass
the cashier with the presence of the whole
company. Let Nam 'selle 60 as interpre-
ter with one of the ladies, and the other
two stay and feast their eyes on some
''lovely mantillas.'' ''All right, but be
sure you do not stray from this spot.''
''Of course not-why should we do any
thing so absurd ?'' and for the first time
in six hours this harmonious quartette
separated into parts. When the business
ladies returned there were the lovely
Echo answered where Up and down,
and everywhere, especially III the lunch
room, these babes in the wood were sought
for anxiously by their deserted friends who
almost wept because they found them not,
but finally decided they could do nothing
| better than return to the hotel Sorrows
| love train,' The hackmen were ION a
strike" and policeman's aid had to be
solicited to secure transportation. With
national politeness he persevered until his
disconsolate charges were snugly seated in
phaeton, and then enquired their address,
! ''Hotel Bedford" was promptly given.
"Quelle Rue?'' Nobody knew. Guests,
policeman, driver all equally and culpably
| ignorant By happy inspiration
Mam'selle said "C'est pres de la Madele-
ine," which was sufficient information for
start This fragment Of once happy and
complete party finally got home in safety,
to find the other pair among the missing.
| 'What shall we do? shall we go to the
Morgue? have they suicided after the
Partisan custom % The whole party had
been nearly driven to it by one of the hum
Der recklessly remarking as the crossed the
Seine in the morning whoever throws
herself into the river will be insane."
Happily, in a little while, there was a JOY
full reunion, with this explanation Some
other lovely" things had lured them on
and on ANONYMOUSLY, yet they supposed
they were returning to their original posi-
ton about the proper time, and wondered
at the nonappearance of the others. BY
and by they commenced search which
was continued unremittingly for an hour,
and abandoned in despair. Mrs. James
wished to send a telegram for her hus-
bands aid, but as he was ''seeing Paris"
it was impossible to imagine where he
could be found. They decided at last to
70 home, but were utterly unable to secure
a carriage. A policeman put them in an
omnibus, which unfortunately, did not car
ry them as near to their hotel as was de-
sirable. And with every body around
talking that nonsense" there was not
much satisfaction in asking for directions.
However, "all's well that ends well,'' and
the four ladies sat down to table d'hote at
seven O'Clock with good appetites, and full
| ly prepared to entertain all present, with
the experiences cf their first visit to Paris.
After dinner the packages arrived, and
| then came the Strengthening up'' process.
care these figures mines or sevens or fves
one mai ked like this.'' sob we'll never
! get through at this rate, put all these things
aside until tomorrow, our heads will be
clear then, and let's go to tonight to an
| open air concert in the Champs Elysees.'
81 beg your pardon-our heads are as
clear as they will ever be, and cannot
haye my room clattered up with all these
dry goods. Not one of you leaves without
carrying her purchases with her, first hav
| ing accounted for every Article" Toll
was resumed. SsCenfections, twenty five
francs" "Who bought five dollars worth
of candy ?" II didn't know they had a
confectionery at Bon Marche." "Oh
CONNECTIONS don't mean confectionery-it
means something else!" sWell--what ?"
81 don't know exactly; 1 bought some
grenadine, it may mean that ''And |
bought two superb ostrich feathers, per-
laps it's that p "And got some lovely
silk embroidered hose, expect it that y
Nonsense One Of you fly down stairs,
three fiights) and ask Madame i'll the
office to translate this ridiculous BILL
But one vas ''too tired. "aEother ''disliked
to disturb Madame &C., so the mover Of
the resolution had to move herself. "Ex-
cuse me, Madame, but hoped you were
at leisure. and we cannot understand this
bill from Bon Marche." With beaming
smile and engaging courtesy, Madame's
pen was laid aside. 81 am never at leisure
but always most happy to render the
ladies any assistance in my power. Many
accountants write miserably" Soon the
mysteries were all explained, and the bear
er of the puzzling paper returned in tri-
umph to her companions. ''It is as easy
as A B G. Madame must think US perfect