The Penn's Grove record., 1885-09-12
irht It happens to be a Tennyson

how it happens, but we sit down, and
| begin reading to them. People say
that 1 read well, and l have an innate
conviction that tends to confirm the
popular verdict. l know | acquit my
self creditably tonight, for l see the
bright eyes grow very luminous, and
even Arthur throws away his cigar in
order to listen more intently. In ac-
cordance with my request, Mrs. Pllton
sings "Bdtti, BATH" from the inviting
looking heap before her. This suits
her fresh soprano admirably, and she
renders 1t with just the mingling of CO.
querry and contrition that | have ever
attributed to my ideal Zerlne but have
never before heard. BY a natural
transition Va CT ddrem'' suggests it
self, and we suddenly discover that Jul
voices accord most delightfully."-. Were
l in town, | should in all probability be
listening to Patti and Maurel in that
identical duet, but L quite think
that the present performances pleases
rue more
Later on, when my hostess has re-
tired, leaving us to the enjoyment of a
quiet smoke, Arthur asks triumph
antly-
"Now, my boy, after tonight you'll
agree with me in thinking bachelor
hood the greatest mistake going, won't
your"
"Arthur," l reply very gravely, ''you
add insult to injury. After appropria-
ting the incest woman in the three king
| doms, you actually ask afellow il bach
elorhood is a mlstakel My dear friend
it is the only alternative you leave us
after seeing your wifeP'
by Jove," laughs he, in high glee,
''that's not half badl I'll tell Kate that
tonight. I"
Irrespectively Of all jesting, [ think
to myself that my hostess cannot be ap-
preciated by Arthur-in fact, inward
ly resolve that she is to good for him.
My Sunday passes delightfully."-, and,
as a natural result, most speedily. Over
the fields to church in the morning,
baby-worship in the afternoon, and de-
| sultory conversation in the evening
that is the routine.
1t is with a feeling unaccountably
resembling regret that on Monday NOR
| ming, at breakfast, L realise that it is
| the last meal of which I am to partake
at Roselands.
"Pilton," I observe, as, with a hear
tier appetite than | remember since my
~schoolboy days, | make alarming in
roads upon a delicious compound that
chances to be before me, You are for
tunate in being blessed with one of
the most essential elements to mans
contentment here below; you are pos
| sessed of an excellent cook. This is
simply unrivaled''-here 1 indicate the
contents of my plate.
"Do you really like it so much Mr..
Bird2" asks my young hostess, as she
beams on me from behind the glittering
urn.
She looks fresh and glowing with
beauty as she sits there arrayed in her
crisp morning muslin, the daintiest of
which is enhanced by a cluster of daz-
cling scarlet geraniums, which, together
with their green leaves, seem to supply
the place of a brooch.
at is simply perfect. l assure you,
Mrs. Pllton. So many delicious fla
vors seem just suggested, and yet they
are so delicatly blended that it is I'M
possible to say which preponderates-a
| culinary poem, if l may be permitted
| the expression"
Husband and wife exchange laugh
ing glances.
congratulate Arthur, please Mr.
Bird, upon the dual blessings of wife
and cook combined. l made it, and
We call it Kate Pilton's pasty'I'
| endeavor to look the admiration |
feel.
"If ever l discover a lady kind enough
to rescue me from the slough OF bache-
| lorhood, may l ask for the receipt |
| shall beg for it in the name of Mrs.
Bird-nOw unknown"
"My dear fellow" exclaimS Arthur,
''you might just as well ask her gra-
| cious Majesty Queen Victoria to pre-
sent you with the largest diamond from
her regalia; you are just about as likely
to get It'll"
"The receipt Is an heirloom" ex-
plains Mrs. Pilton, land known only
to members of our own family. / even
send cook out Of her kitchen during
the manufacture of that particular. 1t
descended from my great-great-great-
grandmother, and has remained unal-
tered ever since.
Sand, in the %ruinously radical days
of so-called reform that are drawing
upon US, l trust that 1t will remain UNI
altered to the end of the chapter; may
no innovation be introduced here!" /
reply, helping myself again to the
pasty,
"Your appreciation delights me, Mr..
Bird. I am more sensitive on that
subject than on my rendering of Bait,
Batti,' do you know2"
NATURALLY so, Others may vainly try
to emulate you in that charming song;
but none can even attempt the auda-
city of rivallIng you here"
81 am so vain about it, replies my
hostess merrily, shat your compliments
extreme though you may think them, |
receive as only a fitting tribute. | am
sorry to deny the receipt to the future
Mrs. Bird, she adds archly; but |
ever mean to be the sole manufacturer
so, whenever you taste that pasty, no
matter the time OF place, remember
Kate Pilton Is nearln
"Then / sincerely hope that l shall
most speedily taste it againl" l say,
with earnestness that seems almost de.
yout.
My visit to the Reseland has been
thing of the past for a very long while
now. For many months it remained a
pleasant green spot in my memory; but
gradually the mists of time have al.
most obscured it, and at the present
moment my recollections of it are of
but a shadowy nature. This is perhaps
partly owing to the brevity of my visit,
partially the result of my being inten-
selY occupied since then, and also great
ly attributed to the fact that Arthur
and have drifted apart. | have not
heard of him for quite two years, and
| haze not the leisure even to regret the
circumstance.
After the usual amount of study, |
have been chilled to the bar, and am
now a barrister-and not a briefess one
Some attribute my success to high con-
nections in influential quarters, Others
to my natural qualifications and address
[ prefer to attribute to the latter. Either
way, here | find myself, the head of a
IA audaapaa haobalor ACCOMPLISHMENTS in