Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-20
THIRTEEN AT DINNER.
Translated from the French Of a. Lafontane for the
Modern App


Modern Agel
II is five O'Clock in the afternoon and here
am all ready. freshly shaved, my hair well
brushed. and my crayat tied to perfection. The
cut OF my coat does credit TO my tailor and ac-
tually improves my figure. My pantaloons set
admirably over my boots, and may say that
nv appearance is in every way thoroughly sat
fsfactory. am irving to force my hands into
~ gloves. although | always wear SIS, but
to-day must appear at my best. for I am to
dine for the first time with the family of my
fGncee, my Cece. my adorable Cecile with
whom am madly in love- and who will be nv
wife in two NOTWITHSTANDING DAYS. 464
hours. 81, $40 minutes. See how / count the
time She is so pretty. this Cecile of mine with
her golden hair. smooth brow, black eyes and
''tip-tiited" nose. her rosy cheeks. coral lips.
peary teeth, roguish chin graceful neck, slen-
der figure. little hands. and delicate feet.
i saw her for the first time fifty-fOur weeks
ago at Fillers-surMer. charming place.
was go happy there To see and fall in love
with CeciIe was the work of a single day. To
obtain an Introduction to her parents became
my one aim i'll iife-an aim which / soon
attained thanks to an old friend of nv family
who gave me the best of recommendations on
the score of morals and financial standing
have a fixed income OF six Thousand francs
utSiutS bi1he lGOfn seven TO elQnt thOu-
sand francs year through a stock broker who
has considerable respect for my business ability
am thirty years old. and an orphan; without
bein. handsome, am not bad looking, / have
white teeth and a good figure. / possess
believe. all the qualifications which q Young lady
can ask for in her husband. parents require in
son-in-law. So haze been accepted Imagine
my happiness From tomorrow / can call every
evening from seveh to ten to advance nv suit;
and in an hour and q half / am to be formally
tad
So do not be astonished at the pains am taking
with my toilet. or at the time am devOting to
the mirror; it is not my custom. But MOliere
has SAID:
where lovers heart Is there he pays all
attendance. and seeks to win favor on every
side. Rather than have any opposition to his
suit, he tries to make friends with even the
household dog"
And. by the way. must pat some Jumps of
sugar in my pocket for BOu; he is my mother
in-laws lap-dOg. the idol before which have to
bow down. on the wretched little beast. AS
often as he shows his yellow teeth at me- quiet
him with sugar. He is no longer a dog. but a
walking confectionery store he staggers be-
meath the weight of the sweets with which /
stuff him. The tears which are constantly rum
ming from his eyes, crystalize on his silky hair
into little balls of sugar candy. My mOther-n-
law, who is devoted to this animal has also an
extremely favorable opinion of me. and she does
not doubt for an instant that the man who has
been able to gain BijOu's liking. is worthy of
entering her family. and will render her
daughter perfectly happy. Oh. you snarng
little brute. your life would not be long enough
to consume all the sugar l should gladly give
you. Twenty minutes after five! l must start
jump into coupe. and buv bouquet for my
Cecie. BY the time reach the Place Royal
where she lives, it will be half-past six.
Good. my bouquet is beautiful-white lacs
and orange flowers. 1 reach the house, my
heart is beating: it is two days since have seen
my Ceciie. Cectlei what a lovely name! ring.
The door is opened. / enter and lay aside my
Overcoat; the maid takes my bouquet and
raises it to her nose; | think her impertnent.
and probably my face reflects my thoughts. for
che quickly hands me the bouquet bushes to
her ears. and opens the paflOr door. Oh! hap
piness. My Cecile is alone with her mother no
one has yet arrived the dinner hour is seven /
Kiss midames hand and turn towards the
piano. where my Cecile is letting her fingers
wander careiessly over the keys. producing
arpeggiOs. sweet chords and delightful harmo-
n1eS- The coquette pretends not to see me. so
that when shall come close to her side she can
utter a little scream which will make her blush
becomingly, and will send startled look into
her lovely eyes; whereupon / shall sOOthe her
very easily. See how prettily she is already
Smiling at me-. But what is the matter with my
mother-in-law? Why such melancholy ex-
preston? Can it be that Bijou is sick? No; he
Is yawning over there upon his cushion. Has
NJ. Miraul, my father-in-iaw. been buying
Turkish securities? What is that paper
Dieu, it may be an anonymous letter in which
some devoted friend informs her that / am a
gambler, q pirate thief. or assassin. With my
heart in my mouth / go up to her to calm my
fears She looks at me with a tragic air, and
as she hands me the letter. saws:
.'See. If We are not unucky, Read, readI"
She raises her hands toward heaven with an
air of utter despair feel nervous, and begin
with much anxiety to read:
Ny Deer Eulaiie:-That stupid Ignace has
do niT ar n; ,Icfo
i shall come alone, and believe me your devoted
COUSIN, ANAsTAsIE BARDOr."
well. what of it," I say in establishment
What OF it," cries Madame Miraul sinking
back into her chair. why, matter enough, we
shall be thirteen at tablet"
At this my Cecile rises and at the same time
presses heavily upon the piano, producing a
strange and not altogether melodiOus sound
Buou howis, for the discOrd CRATES upon his
delicate ear.
Thirteen at table. repeats Madame 'thir-
teen on the day when you are presented; that is
sign OF the greatest misfortuDes; the death of
some one OF us before the end of the year is GER
TAIN II we do not avoid that fatal number
But madame We can seat two of the guests
al a little table"
What difference would that make should
We not still be thirteen:" replied nv mother-in-
law Mon Deu, help me. How can find a
fourteenth In the little time that ia left OH
that wretched Ignace,"
And she presses her feverish hand TO her fore
head needless of the ruin she is working in her
Irlzzes; In two seconds her hair will look like
BJous- But what would it matter to her. That
memorable and fatal number thirteen
What shall do. what shall do" she means
IN despair 'half-past six. and We dine at seven"
Don't feel So Is there not some one i'm the
neighborhood whom ycu know well enough to
Invite at moments notice."
mo"
Have you not some friend who does not live
too lar away can Jump into a carriage. ex-
plan the circumstances to him and bring him
back with me-"
"Oh, how good you are my child. Oh. yes.
DO this for me; go TO our friend Burns house.
He is rs regular as cl0ck-work in his habits. and
sits down to dinner at seven in full dress; he has
Gil tie Englishman s regard for etiquette You
must explain to hin just what has happened.
Use all your powers Of persuasion. be irresist-
ipie aad bring him back with you i'm some way,
even II you have to use force. He lives at Num-
Der II FaubourI Poissoniere."
But what shall do if he is not there?"
VEN Well brins the first one Of your friends
whom you meet
A., 1 get INTO the Carriage and am on my way to
the faubouig Posonnic:e. reach the house
And ring. ''~'0
us ~ Burns in I say TO the servant.
lie il sick " site