The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-08-02

things well, and in very short time a
table was spread on which was display
ed every luxury that money could buy
or the mind of man conceive.
"Please forgive me if | leave you, -
said her host to Miss Lexington
"shall be back after the interval, and,
in the meantime, Captain Carbury will,
| am sure, look after your wants"
Miss Lexington graciously assented,
and the air was soon filled with the
cla.ter of plates and the popping OF
champagne corks. Throughout the
progress of the orgie Carbury kept an
eye upon the proceedings of the but
Ter. He was anxious to find out the
meaning of the mysterious communl-
cation made to that worthy by Byng.
| Moreover, Corker's movements were
| decidedly singular. He seemed per-
petually at Miss LaXington's elbow !;
now pressing on her attention some
triumph of Byng's chcf, now filling her
glass with champagne, or piling up her
plate with Strawberries. After these
little attentions, he would retire behind
the drag, and write something down on
a piece of paper.
The Captains curiosity at length ex-
hausted his patience. He watched his
opportunity, therefore, and came upon
Corker suddenly just as that individual
made an entry On the mysterious sheet.
''What are you up top he asked.
Corkcr was momentarily confused, but
he answered with dignity:
''I'm making hinwentory, sir
"What the deuce do you mean?"
"A hinwcntory, sir, by Mr.. Byng's
orders" responded the butler, some
what ruflled.
The Captain paused a moment in
thought. 1t mieM be important, this
piece Of paper.
Come, Corker," he said, '.let me
see that paper and lll give you a SOW
ereign =
"Couldn't do it, sir" answered the
incorruptible Corker.
"Oh, well, hang it, I'll make it a
| flyer :"
Mr. Corker was not proof against
the extra inducement, so he handed
over the mysterious slip.
"What on earth-Do you mean to
say your master told you to make this
list ?"
The butler nodded.
'Well, Pm blessed Oh, this is al
together too lovely! Here, I'll keep
it for bit Won't he open his eyes
when he sees it :"
Byng did rot reappear until very
shortly before stumps were drawn for
the day, and he made but a lame eX-
cuse for his long absence. Carbury,a as
it happened, did not see him again till
late in the evening, when he found him
in a state of great mental perturbation,
porting over a small sheet of note pap
er, on which certain hieroslyphics were
scrawled in pencil.
"What's the mattero" said the Cap
tain you look awfully bad
"My hopes are shattered said Byng
in a dismal voice my fondest illus
ions have been rudely dissipated; the
dream is over
''What are you talking about p
"Look at this" answered the philos-
ophcr, in his most tragic tones.
Carbury took the paper and read:
plateiuls mayonnaise, 3 ditto Peri
CORD pie, ditto lobster salad, quails in
| aspic, meringnes glacees, 6 glasses of
champagne; , telpings straw berries and
cream, l ices. glass of liqueur brandy.
"Wel, what is it? 1t reads like a
m enu.'
at is the disgusting record of the
guiding propensities Of Miss LaNing-
ton. | ordered Corker to keep count,
for after what you saw at Ascot | sus-
peCtcd her of matcrialism-cvcn of
sensuality-and my worst fears are
confirmed -
'And you mean to say you won t
marry her because she likes 4 good
lunch?'
"Ncver would l link my fate to one
SO welded to the grossest pleasures
| [ shall start for Palestine tomorrow
morning. You must come, SO get
ready. Goodnight r'--L0NdoN Truth.