The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-13

strangers are present. Why, 1 wouldn't
suggest such thing to her"
Then what is the use of keeping
her% / asked.
"Oh, Charles, you never have had any
sympathy for that poor thing! We can
hire small boy to wait. The grocer has
a very nice boy, and think can get
him cheap" said my wife.
"Very we'll" l replied, "have it your
own way; but what shall we have for
dinner? Jack is terrible particular about
his dinner, can tell you, and | think Pll
order something from Delmonico's for
this time"
ooh no, indeedl you mustn't do any
thing of the kind" said Emily, decidedly.
81 am just going to show you now the
inestiulable value of Professor Stoopann's
Instructions, and know you'll be proud
of your dinner. Leave it all to me,
Charlie"
"But what are you going to give us %
| insisted. Emily made no answer, con-
idently:
Gust wait and see, tell you. This
much you shall know and no more.
You're to have 'Potage st. Beuv, garni,
and Russian fish pie. Oh yes, Pm going
to give you your favorite lamb chops
with tomato sauce, for one course, Now
don't ask any more questions"
When brought Jack home the next
afternoon Emily met us with such cor
dial welcome that | could see he was
pleased. The grocer's boy was in atten-
dance, looking very well, the table was
prettiIy decorated with fruits and flow
ers, and felt intensely hospitable as !
took my seat, and Emily began to dis
pense the soup. The only drawback
was that the young lady whom she had
asked had been obliged to decline at the
last moment, but as there was barely
room for three people in our dining-room,
| was not as much disappointed at this
as was my wife. However, she and Jack
appeared to be getting on SO well that |
didn't think he regretted our intended
guest either.
As was saying, the soup was on the table,
but with my first view of it | began to
have fearful misgivings. 1t was an al
most colorless fluid, with a slice of lemon,
a sprig of parsley and several cloves float
ing i'll each plate, and it tasted like hot
water well salted. My resolution was
taken in an instant. made up my mind
that | would eat the soup, and | did, but
Jack never attempted second spoonful.
"What is this, my dear% | asked,
with great cheerfulness, pretending to be
entirely at my ease, as the next course
appeared. Emily smiled sweetly as she
answered, "That is a Russian fish pie,
prepared after the same recipe used in
the Emperor's kitchen"
"Let US see, then, whether our tastes
agree with the Emperor's," I said, fa-
cetiously turning to Jack, but he didn't
seem disposed to talk much, | fancied.
Truth compeIs me to say that, after
the most careful discussion of that fish
pie, did not discover any fish. | found
an onion, slice of hard-boiled egg, some
more parsley, and finally scrapof meat,
but that WAS all. ! was getting percept-
IDLY nervous now, when new course re-
leyed me. 'Here comes something at
last" ! said to myself, as dish of chops,
each with a'fringed white paper wrapped
daintily about the bone, and accom-
panied by tomato sauce, made its appear
ancc My dropping spirits revived.
"Chops are always chops" was my next
reflection. Alas! 1 didn't know Pro-
fessor Stoopan.
The moment attacked my chop !
found it fallacy. 1t was composed of
something, could not tell what, care
fuliy shaped, and then tied last to
nothing more or less than a tooth brush
handle, beautifully scraped and polished.
Tins was too much. looked at Jack.
saw the expression OF dlsmay on his
iace. glanced across at Emily, serene
y unconscious OF my feelings; and yield
ing 10 an uhcohtroiiaple impulse or
dered the boy, IN voice OF thunder, to
remove that dish.
As to the rest of that dinner, | can
only say it was worthy of the beginning.
Even what appeared to be magnificent
tart or pudding collapsed like soap
bubble at the first touch of the spoon,
and left nothing but a little sweetened
froth behind, too scanty to be divided.
was not at all surprised when Jack
pleaded an engagement, aud fastened
away, without waiting to smoke cigar
with me. He was going to dine, | knew.
Having seen him down stairs, I re-
turned to my wife, who was both aston
ished and indignant at my somewhat
warmly expressed opinions about the
dinner
"The soup!" she exclaimed; you didn't
like the soup? Why, it's one of Profess
sor Stoopan's own inventions. He taught
us to make it of the water in which The
potatoes have been boiled, and it is vcrv