The Dillon tribune., 1885-07-25
CHAPTER XIII.
PAINFUL DUTIES.

After the two great crimes Of removing
the landmarks Of the constitution to rander
to the Masses" and not wiping ones shoes
the cne an imperial, the other domestic sin,
vet equally grave-unpunctuality at table
was the most heinous offense in the eyes Of
Horace and Herbert. Without being exactly
gourmands they liked their food cooked to a
turn. Most bachelors who have turned 40
exhibit the same liking. The Talberts took a
great deal of trouble about their cuisine, and
expected to be rewarded by finding every
thing, from the salt to the salmon, as it
should be. Such a matter as hard-hearted
potato was all but unknown at their table,
and would have formed the subject for a
court Of inquiry, and, If needed, a revision
Of kitchen utensils
Al their refined dinner parties it WAS un-
dastood that after certain time of grace no
one was to be waited for. It was their theory
TINT keeping several guests waiting for one
laggard was u 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 a duke
Or at least marquis.
10 that when Whitaker having struck the
resonant gong aud so proclaimed that lunch
was ready, ten minutes passed by without
heatrice's responding to its hospitable sum-
mons, it is no wonder that Horace and Her.
bert began to look grave. The soup was on
ae @hIe; Whitaker was waiting his mas
.srs commands. He. who from long associa-
tlon telt the situation as much as they did
'oosed absolutely sympathetic. Although he
uau DO reason to suppose her stone deaf he
'entured to suggest that Miss Clauson had
not heard the gong
Iae beauty Of the Talberts character was
'ua9 poalteness invariably triuup!,ei owe,
pf'ac'ple' Punctuality was here til. prin.
'p'e; 1t was outraged, yet forced for a while
"suoh'. Horace forbade repeated sum-
mous, and they actually waited another five
"'autes before they sent Whitaker to in.
Iu'Ie % i'r Hiss Clauson. Whitaker reported
ua' "'s' C'auson, thu nurse and the little
;s: ", na. gone out Immediately after break
'ass pa anu had not yet returned.
~. ruen the nursery dinner will he spoiled
@ sam Horace sadly, as he seated himself
t;ss .aa 'ad'ed out the soup. Horace, with hi;
,a wv neart, felt for any one who was doomed
'saner from as ,iled dinner.
a., s''er soleni tunch the brothers waited
W. ~h'le in le dining-roo,n. They ex
r.s.eo s.O every nlent that Beatrice would
l,s aI The, id not OF course mean tx
ros. . "er' nut we're prepared to say few
i, us ts "t mild rc;norst,ance; to show her
itv ' 49, now the had example of unpunctual
H.. '>' aeno'aliz,, an establishment
.no.a. an az ,'eatr'ce did not appear the we'll
no.:. ""' 'i't'e lecture they were tacitlv IRE
dsr s -. "''ned int" open expressions Of won
s0,"s ~ !" why her nlorning ramble should T..
w,,'' ,m"r;"'ei. Perhaps she had gone some
b.n' have 70 lunch. Perhaps something hat
.ptened Just as they had reached this las
ts,aS ss ot superstition. Whitaker brought in :
from m H": u was from Beatrice aud sen
ran..da .ora . Circus. We are in Londcn--i
rho'' ~" ne uneasy: will write tonight.
On wS.. were greatly surprised, and m.arvele,
don, n e'ra''d could she have gone to Lon
mos. ;S. Mo doubt it was all right. Sh. hat
Sir M.;''y ':se'y gone to her fathers. Perhap
intaraaugay was i'll. Beatrice might hav
.tsr+espa .t+ptea telegram aud iu,pulsivel,
and 90 49, %" at once. But why take the chill,
m,h,. ~. nurse! Why! There they wei,
,ould , 20 u:uke head or tail of th., matter. :.
.,R..y wait for the mornings Lost,
said I,S might hav" been more explicit. :.
mo,. ''''s''s n@'s'ny =. the t,,c,r,n, one
sosrare." ~r'' she nal min" word
ffe," ,,on.i !'> are one "f the pests Of nu,ler
these IN aI"s'"'!'l Horace. '.People dash oi
stead Of . ''e''' unpunctuated phrases il,
decent ls.tp proper letter. No one .an write
liarv we,, WI" VINO had the gift OF writing ,pcu
too ler,,'''. r,',e'"astru"tal and elegant, if rathc
"S' ep>tleS, felt leeniv on tue te,