The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-29

HOW 1T WAS SHOWN THAT BOLD sTEP NAY
pE pyTTER THAN MODEST PERSEVERANCE.
(From the French Of Adrien Huart.l

office where he was employed II was evi.
dent from his bright, brisk manner, tha'
something unusual had happened.
"Boys," said he to the other clerks,
"did you get oney"
Gone! One what ;"
"An invitation TO the ball that the chiel
clerk il going 10 give. See, this ~ the cara
that WAS left for me- and he read II aloud,
a. follows:
an. and Nine. Du1ot beg the honor OF
NJ. Alcide Plumet's presence at a masked
ball, at their residence, on THURSDAY night
A comic costume must be assumed"
Lucky dog! !" exclaimed Alclde's col
leagues; "not one OF us have been IN
yited."
at looks rs II the chief had his eye on
YOU and intended doing something for
you." :.
"Perhaps, perhaps; but, really, can't
saw that he has hitherto taken warm in
tercst in my personal welfare. Indeed, he
returns the merest nod to my humble and
respectful salutation."
of ! were in your place, Plumet,
wouldn't say anything about this invita-
ton. II il came TO he talked about some OF
the fellows might be jealous at being passed
over when you are invited"
"You are right-quite right. In fact, ]
wouldn't have mentioned il to you, only
was sure you had all been asked as well a-
myself"
"Well," said Alcide to himself "what-
ever has inspired the old buffers action,
nv future seems assured. Dufl0t has 4
manageable daughter; he must have fixed
his eye on me as an eligible son-in-law
True. my salary is very modest one, but
then | am always at my desk prompt at the
stroke of 10, and that proves the regularity
Of nv habits, and in a son-in-law that Is
the first requisite
~ did not think, really, that the old gen.
tleman went in for masked balls and comic
costumes and all that sort OF thing, but
suppose when he il in the bosom OF his
family he puts of bis official gravity. How
appcarances will deceive one To look al
him i'm the Office now one would think he
had swallowed poker and washed it down
with vinegar, and that you couldn't get ?
laugh out Of him even if you were to tickle
the soles OF his feet.
"But all that Is neither here nor there
What | have to do is 10 select Il comic cos
tume--a very comic costume. Even If
90 10 some expense. all the better. III VIII
please the old gent, and perhaps he will
tell me to charge il to the contingent eX'
penses fund. Let me see. Shall 20 as 9
clown or Il negro? Comic, but not Origi'
nal. 4 Feejec Islander, with breech,
cout. ard CLUB? That might becOnsidercd
scarcely the thing with daughter just
from The convent in the company. have
it! ! will 90 as IN ape
III.
Ii was the work Of a moment to rush to
the shop OF a dealer in costumes. select m
ape's suit. and return 10 the room TO don
the costume and practice Il number OF
simian feats. He erinned, he clambered
up tie chimney-piecc, he sprang over the
bed, he leaped on to the bureau, he endea-
vorcd to balance himself on the back OF q
chair. but failed in the last performance,
the failure being not unIcc0mpanled by
Commissions. He felt sure that he should be
q success.
The eventful Thursday night came, and
DOMINIC the costume and covering ii with
an ulster he drove to the house where his
chief dwelt. He carried his mask in his
hand to the last minute, as the eye-hold-
were 50 small that lie had some difficulty
III seeing clearly through them. But rs he
assembled the stalls he put il on, then rang
the hell, and as soon as the door had been
opened cast his cvercOlt into the attend
ants arms, and with grin and chatter OF
the most realistic sort ran into the parlors
on all fours and threw SOmersault under
the chandelier.
".
The gentlemen stood stupefed, the ladies
screamed with terror. AlcIdc, bothered 10y
his musk. could see little or nothing, but
he heard the cries, and they reioiced his
heart.
81 have made hit," he said to himself,
"kecp it up; and, with mighty bound
over a sofa, he sent a cabinet OF old china
spinning oil over the carpet.
A muscular hand seized him by The napc
OF the neck. His mask was torn of, and
he found himself in the presence OF VI.
Dullot, who was rigid and liyid with rage.
"You, sir" said he, bitterly; "who put
YOU up to this cXecrable pleasantly
But p
"No words, sir! Leave my house thi,
instant. Tomorrow, 1t the office, | will
look into this
"ueayens!" exclaimed the unfortunate
Young man, a. he walked ont. "eyery one
else in the room is in full evening dress
There has been dreadful mistake some
wliere!"
Next day VI. Du1ot proceeded to inycSti.
cate the matter, and was not long diScOV-
ering that Alcide's colleagues had made
him the victim of a hoax. The young man
was sent for, and entered the Office OF bis
dread superior trembling in every limb.
"If l don't get the sack ne murmured
inwardly, II may make up my mind tc
vegetatc in my present grade so long As he
is above ground. lie is as unfOrgiying as
all Indian"
"Ah, NJ. Plumet." said his chief, "takC
a seat. ! had the pleasure Of a visit from
you last evening"
"Sir, yes-that ia to say. lin other
words, no-and YETI
"You need attempt no excuses. SIR"
"That settles it; Pm ruined man. "
said Alcidc to himself as he rose to go.
You need attempt no excuses. | shall
send word to the cashier to raise your sala.
ry from 400 francs to 3,000."
"To-to what"
"Yes, on looking up your record this
morning | find that YOU were passed oven
at the last promotion. and have corrected
the error. Good morning "
"Sir, -
"That will do, my young friend. Shut
the door after YOU"
Dwell, / will be hangcdl" said The
Stupefied clerk, as he went down stairs
pinching himself to see If it was not all {
DREAM
What s.Au ReyOir" Means.
Mrs. Ellen III. Cheetam was before JUS
tice Walsh, OF Brooklyn, for alleged assault
on her husband, James Cheetam. De.
PENDANT, who is about fifty-four years OF