The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-22
CHAPTER XIII.
PAINFUL pUTIES.

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CHAPTER XIII.
...,f g.. PAINFUL DUTIES.
After the two great crimes of removing
the landmarks of the constitution to pande.
to the masses, and not wiping ones shoes
the one an imperial, the other domestic sim
yet equally grave-unpunctuality at table
was the most heinous otfense in the eyes OF
Horace and Herbert. Without being exactly
gorlrmands they liked their food cooked to q
turn. Most bachelors who have turned 4C
exhibit the same liking. The Talberts took d
great deal Of trouble about their cuisine, and
expected to be rewarded by finding every
thing, from the salt to the salmon, as il
should be. Such a matter as a hard-hearted
potato was all but unknown at their table,
and would have formed the subject for Z
court of inquiry, and, if needed a revision
| D. Kitchen utensils
AT unem refined dinaer parties 1t was I'M
derstood that after certain time of grace nc
one was to be waited for. 1t was their theory
that keeping several guests waiting for one
laggard was breach of politeness. There
Were unkind people who said that the broth
ers would break this rule for a lord. They
wronged our friends. They would have
waited for no one under the rank Of duke
| OF at least a marquis.
So that when Whitaker having struck the
resonant gong and so proclaimed that lunch
was ready, ten minutes passed ny without
| Beatrce's responding to its hosptable sum
| mons, it is no, wonder, that Horace and Her
bert began to'look grave. The soup was on
| the table; Whitaker was waiting his mas
ter's commands. He. who from long aSsocia-
| ton, felt the situation as much as they did
| looked absolutely sympathetic. Although his
| had no reason to suppose her stone deaf he
Ventured to suggest that Miss Clauson had
not heard the gong.
The beauty, Of the Talberts' character was
that politeness invariably triumphel over
principle. Punctuality was here the prin-
ciple; it was outraged yet Forced fora while
| to submit. Horace forbade a repeated sum-
mons. and -they actually waited another five
| minutes before they sent Whitaker, to in
qure for Miss dauson. Whitaker reported
that Misc ClauSon, the nurse and the little
boy had gone ont Immediately aftdr break
fast aud had not vt returned
Then the nursery dinner will he spoiled,
too," said Horace sadly, AS he seated himself
and iadled ont the soup. Horace, wish his
kind heart, felt for any ono who was doomed
to suffer from spoiled dinner; a- ,u!i
After a solemn lunch the brothers waited
FOR While in the dining-room. They ex-
pected every moment that Beatrice would
appear They did not Of cotfrsa, milan to
scoid her, but were prepared to say a few
wnydS of; mild remanStrahce; to show her,
in fact o how the bad example, of unpunctual-
ity must ,dsmoraliae an establishment.
inf R,o r;r did tba wall
meant little lecture. they We're tacitly pre-
pairing turned into open expressions of won
der as to why her morning ranible should be
sdprotiaeted Perhaps she had gohe some
whTe to lunch. Perhaps something had
stage. of superstition, Whitaker brought in a
from Oxford Circus, We are in London-it
ran do not be uneasy; will write tonight
They were greatly surprised, and maTveled
on what errand could she have gone 70 Lon
DOM No doubt it was all right She had
STlMaingay was ILL.,. Beatrice might have
Intercepted a telegram and irapulsvey
started off at once. But why take tho CHI Id
unable 10 make head or tail Of the matter, 50
Nuuhi oulN Wult lOT HUI uiIS post.
Beatrice might have been more explicit"
said Horace, looking ut the teiesIuslv once
more. d. 81. - ID, .nNf - 4 -
Yes" said Herbert ::'she had nine words
to spare" ,,,,i -. al .or.,
kilograms are one of the pests Of modern
life" continued Horace. People dash of
these illworded, unpunctuated phrases in-
stead of a proper letter! No one can write a
decent letter now" E. =. - y',..sy-
Horace, who, had, the gift Of writing pe6u-
liarly well-coustructed, and elegant, if rather
too lengthy, epjsues,. felt keenIy ON the ten
denty of the age to conduct its correspond
ence BY means Of short, Swapping sentences,
after the manner Oh Mr.. Mofrile's style Of
talking! .uI0 q ~ , - -
II hope she will be back soon,' said Her
bert Frank comes to US the day after to-
morrow"
He is in good hsalth now, isn't heF
sShdhbd, bellows" :. wv s
"Ihen think We can give him the 50 this
time-the ~ is growing low"
THIS was,,nos fneanAesS n was but the
caution q wise man exercises over his cellar.
Besides, who could complain Of the delicate
graduation 1858 is a fine wine; many prefer
il TO 1S41.
Beatrice's promised letter came in the