Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-06-18

THEIR FIRST AND LAST DINNER.
A Remarkable and True TaIe of the
Experience of Twelve Friends.
The Sunday Star.


same age, and fixed, by their pursuits,
ther family connections, and other
local interests, as permanent inhabl-
tants of the metropolis, agreed one
day when they were drinking their
wine at the Star and Garter at Rich
mOnd, to institute an annual dinner
among themselves, under the follow
ing regulations That they shall dine
4 alternately in each others houses on
the first aud last day of the year; that
the first bottle OF wine uncorked at
the first dinner should be recorked and
put away, to be draLk by him who
shall be the Last of their number;
that they should never admit new
member; that when one died eleven
should meet, and so on; and that
when only one remained, ne should,
on those two days, dine by himself
and st the usual hours at his solitary
table; but the first time he so dined
alone, lest is should be only one, he
should then uncork the first bottle,
and in the first glass drink TO the
memory of all who are gone.
There was somethi1g original aud
whimsical in the ideas, and il was
eagerly embraced. They were all in
the prime of life, closely attached by
reciprocal friendship, fond of social
eDjoyments. and looked forward 10
their future meetings with unalloyed
authorizations of pleasure. The only
thought, indeed, that could have
darkened those anticipations, was one
not likely to intrude itself at this mo,
ment, that of the hapless wight who
was destined to uncork the first bottle
at his lonely repast
1T was high summer when this frolic
compact was entered into; and as their
pleasure yacht SKINNED along the
dark bosom of the Thames. on their
return to, Lopdon, they talked of
nothing but their first and last feasts
OF ensuing years. Their imaginations
ran out with thousand gay predic-
tons of festive merriment They
wantoned in coDjectures of what
changes time would create.
LAS for you, George" exclaimed
one of the twelve, addressing his
krother-in law. 81 expect l shall see
you as dry, withered and shrunken as
an old eel skin, your mere outside OF
manp aud he accompanied the
words with a hearty slap on the
shoulder.
George Fortescue was leasing cares
lessly over the side of the yacht,
laughing the loudest OF any at the
conversation which had been carried
on. The sudden manual saiutation
of his brother -in~law threw him off
his balance, and in a moment ne was
overheard. They heard the heavy
splash of his fall, before they could
be said 10 have seen him fail. The
yacht was proceeding swiftly along;
but it was instantly stopped.
The utmost CONSERVATION now pre-
vailed. 1t was nearly dark, but For
tescue was known to be an excellent
swimmer, and startling as the acci
dent was they felt certain he would
regain the vessel. They could not
see him. They listened. They heard
the sound of his hands and feet. An
answer was returned, but IN FAINT,
gurgling voice, and the explanations
"Oh God p struck upon their ears. In
an instant, two or three who were
expert swimmers, plunged into the
river, and swan toward the spot
whence the exclamation had pro-
ceeded. One of them was withln
arms length of Fortescue; he saw
him; before he could be reached, he
went down, and his distracted friend
bcheld the eddylng circles OF the
wave lust over the spot where he
sank. He diyed after him, and
touched the bottom; but the tide
! must have drifted the body onward,
I for it could not be found
They proceeded to one Of the near~
est stations where drags were kept,
and having procured the necessary
apparatus, they proceeded to the fatal
spot After the lapse Of about an
hour. they succeeded in raising the
hfeleSs body of their lost fIiend. All
/ the usual remedies were employed for
! restoring suspended animation but IN
vain; they now pursued the remainder
Of their course 20 London in mournful
silence, with the corpse OF him who
! had commenced the day OF pleasure
with them in the fullness Of health, of
spirits and lifel And in their severe
grief they could not but reflect how
soon one of the joyous twelve had
slipped out of the little festive circle.
/ The months rolled on, and Deeem,
Der came with all its cheering round
OF kindly greetings and merry hospi-
talities: and with it came a softened
recollection OF the fate of poor For
tescue: eleven of the twelve assembled
on the last day of the year, and 1t was
impossible not 10 feel their loss as they
sat down to dinner. The very irregu-
larity of the table, five on one sides and
six on the other, forced the sad event
upon their memory.
A decorous sigh or two, becoming
ejaculation, and an instructive okseE-
! walton upon the uncertainty Of life,
made up the sum OF tender posthum>
Gus offering to the name of George
Fortescue, as tkey proceeded to dis
charge the more important duties for
which they had come. By the time the