Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-04-24

4OA ApO4AOAANs AoNSNOAS 0AACu HIS
wrath, and after some meditation, he
hit upon another plan, which had the
merit of being both ingenious and
effective. He sent out superbly en-
graved cards-all strictly CONNECT faut
inviting everybody he knew to a
grand banquet at the Hotter Costanzi to
celebrate his engagement with Apol-
lonia Schwinger. He gave the propn-
etor of the hotel carte blanche, and
only told him to get up something in
the best style he knew, regardless Of
expense.
1t was a very grand assembly which
greeted MI. Block that night in the
parlors of the Costanzi. All his med
dlesome friends and all his pet enemies
were there-Italian noblemen, French
and German attaches of legations,
artists of all grades of eminence and
%obscurity, half a dozen monsignori,
ladies of lofty birth and gorgeous tot
lets, and ladies of lowly birth and
dowdy toilets-in fact, everybody who
had done a kind or an unkind deed to
Mr.. Anton Block, during the thirty
years of his residence in Rome, he
had honored with an invitation. He
felt as happy as a king when he took
his seat with Apollonia, at the head of
the brilliantly decorated banqueting
board, and he conducted himself with
q dignity which would have been be-
coming in an Emperor. Apollonia
felt as if her heart would burst; it posi-
lively danced to the tune of Mendels-
sohn's Wedding March, which the
band played as she walked with an
ambassador at the head of the process
sion into the magnificently lighted sale
q mGnger. And when Block raised his
glass and welcomed the company, that
same excitable heart of hers shot up
into her throat, and remained there for
the rest of the evening. She was so
iubilant that she feared she would die
from sheer c of happiness.
The banquet went off with brilliant
eclat. No jarring incident occurred.
Everybody was amiable, well-bred and
amusing. The wine flowed freely
wines Of choice vintage and choice
prices. Great dignitaries, secular and
ecc~lesiastic, made speeches celebrating
the hosts shining merits; and MI.
Breitkopf, Overlooking with champagne
and enthusiasm, compared him in one
breath with Raphael, Leonardo and
Michaelangelo. That was perhaps a
little too much, and Block, without
%conceding an inch of what he held to
be his legitimate due, deprecated his
friends extravaganza. He made a
positive sensation by the dry wit, neat
conciseness and admirable taste Of his
reply. Everybody's face sbone with
delight and admiration; and Block
stood, glass in hand, narrowly watch
ing his would-be benefactors while he
spoke, and in his heart he crowed over
them, and slipped his triumph like a
precious wine, with keen relish, in
small. delicious sips.
There could be no doubt of it: it was
an enormous success. All the guests
agreed that no such banquet had been
given in Rome since the good old days
when the Pope was king, and the car
dinals kept house in the great historical
palaces. But all things must have an
end, and SO also a banquet. 1t was
long after midnight when the guests
departed; and when at last Anton and
A%pollonia stood alone in the deserted
salon, he suddenly clasped her. in his
arms and kissed her. He had to give
vent to his ecstasy. in some way. If
she had not happened to be near, he
might haye embraced the waiter.
'.Glory, glory, hallelujah!" he shout
ed, and waltzed round the room with
her like a madman.
"Mr. Block! Mr.. Block!' she cried,
in faint remonstrance, lido let me CO."
"Glory, h%allelujah!!" cried Block, and
whirled about with more maddening
speed.
81 shall die, MI. Block" she whis-
pered, sinking into his arms ex-
"Do de-" exclaimed Mr.. Block, with
wild boyish abandon; "let us both die.
| We may never have another chance of
dying SO gloriously."
Then flinging his arms about Apol-
%lonia's waist. he lifted her up on the
table, struck an attitude before her and
declaimed:
20 happy he whom Death the bloody laurels
In victory's radiance winds about his crest,
Or whom in raptures of swift maddening
dances
He finds reposing on his mailen's breast;
o would that I, before the Spirits power,
Had fallen, stark and dead in yictory's
hour!'
1t was a pity, perhaps, that Mr..
Blocks prayer was not fulfilled. He
would then have left a glorious name
behind him, and Mr.. Breitkopf would
perhaps have bought in his whole col
lection at auction, and founded the
Block Museum in his native city.
Moreover, if Death had taken him at
his word, he would have been absolved
from the necessity OF paying the bill
for the banquet, which, I regret to say,
amounted to two thousand five hun
dred and twenty-one dollars and thirty
cents. Block came near fainting when
it was presented to him; but quickly
collecting himself, he seated himself
easily, and without a murmur of protest
made out a check fol the amount. 1t
was done with such royal samg-troid
that the caterer, who had come pre-
pared to haggle, and perhaps to take
off thirty or forty per cent, was COM
pletely dumbfounded. He was about
to apologize or justify his charges; but
Block waved him off grandly, and
seized his palette. But no sooner had
the rascal gone than he hastily wrapped
one Of his pictures in a pillow-casc, ran
to a pawnbroker. and obtained the fifty
frames which vera needed To snrara hi.