Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-12
CHAPTER XIII.

After the two great crimes of removing
the landmarks of the constitution to pander
to tie Masses and not wiping ones shoes
the one an imperial, the other domestic sin.
yet equally grave-unpunctuality at table
was the most heinols offense in the ewes 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
great deal of trouble about their cuisine, and
expected TO be rewarded by finding every
thing, from the sat to the salmon, as it
should be Such matter as hard-hearted
potato was all but unknown at their table,
and would have formed the subject for
court of inquiry, and, if needed, a revision
of kitchen utensils.
At their refined dinner parties it was I'M
derstOOd that after certain time of grace no
enc was to be waited for. 1t was their theory
that keeping several guests waiting for one
laggard was breach of politenesS. There
We're unkind people who said that the broth
ers would break this rule for lord. They
wronged our friends They would have
waited for no one under the rank of q duke
or at least marquis.
So that when Whitaker having struck the
resonant gong and so proclaimed that lunch
BeatTice's responding to its hospitable 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
tiers commands. he, who from long associa-
ton, felt the situation as much they did
looked absolutely sympathetic. Although he
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 triumphed over
principle Punctuality was here the prin-
ciple: it was outraged, yet forced for while
to submit Horace forbade a repeated sum-
mons. and they actually waited another nve
minutes before they sent Whitaker to IN
quire for Miss Clauson- Whitaker reported
that Miss Clauson, the nurse and the little
boy had gone out Immediately after break
fast and had not yet returned
Then the nursery dinner will be spoiled,
too said Horace sadly, as he seated himself
aud ladled out the soup. Horace, with his
kind heart, felt for any one VINO was doomed
to suffer from a spoiled dinner.
After a solemn lunch the brothers waited
for while in the dining-rooEn They eI-
pected every moment that Beatrice would
appear. They did not of course mean to
scoac ner, Out were prepared 10 SAY Ao"
words of mild remonstrance; to show her,
in fact, how the bad example Of unpunctuai-
ity must demoraliza an establishment
But as Beatrice did not appear the we'll
meant little lecture they were tacitly pre-
pairing turned into open expressions Of won
der as to why her morning rambie should De
so protraeted. Perhaps she had gone some
whsre to lunch Perhaps something had
happened Just as they had reached this LAST
stage Of suppositon. Whitaker brought IN
telegram II was from Beatrice and sent
from Oxford Circus We are IN Iondon-ft
ran-do not be uneasy: VIII write tonight,
They were greatly surprised. and marveled
on what errand could she have gone to Lon
dons No doubt it was all right. She hsd
most likely gone to her fathers fernaps
Sir Maingay was Ill Beatrice might nave
intercepted a telegram ami inpuisiEeiy
started of st once But why take the cniia
and the nursei Whyl There tnsy were
unable to make head or tail OF the matter, 50
could only wait for the mornings post
Beatrice might have been more explcaf,
said Horace. looking al the telegram once
more