Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-12-03

a half hour later We quilted ~ bi,,.
ir'.sssaetfng raem and lighriue cigars ysGsss
our walk to the fam. 1t was warm
afternoon at the end of August, but the
road was well shaded and a gentle breeze
blowing from the direction of the river
prevented our suffering from the heat
"You know said Herbeot beginning
his story, chat in my youth was a roll
irg ball, without decided preference for
any profession, but my father an old
employe himself, could see nothing COM
parable to career in public office. As
soon, therefore, as | had received nv
diploma nothing would content him Jut
that too must follow in the ancestral
footsteps. As said before, with no
prediction for a special vocation, l
willingly consented and entered upon
the route of bureaucracy.
industrious, educated and discp-
lined from infancy to listen wi h defer
ence to the wishes Of my suporiors, it
was not long before was favorably no
ticed by the chief, AM rapidly con-
quered my first official grade. At this
epoch married young and beautiful
girl, good and affectionatc, but entirely
without fortuna grave fault in the
eyes of the world in which | livel. My
friends were positive that no good could
come of it, and openly quoted the pro-
verb If the husband brings the break
fast the wife must supply the dinner.
"As far as we were concerned, neither
of us had enough for the scantiest sup
per, counting out the official salary.
Perhaps it was reckless, but my wife
was an excellent manager; and as we
lived modestly, with the strictest econ
omy, local society ceased to rail at our
imprudence and still received US.
My chief, however, was very rich
man, but continued in the trealmill Of
administrative work because be loved it,
aud also because it gave him an excuse
for lavish hospitality. He was particu-
larly fond of throwing open his doors to
society, and every now and then invited
the clerks from the office to attend these
entertainments.
81 had far rather have remained at
home with my wife, who had become
very delicate soon after marriage, but
was forced, whether or no, to attend the
dlrectorial receptions, Tor We were bound
to amus1 ourselves according to order.
"Just at the time when my wife's
health had failed her most completely
invitations were issued from the diree-
torial mansion for a grand ball, and u
spite of myself was compelled again to
don dress coat. As the hour ap-
preached for starting for the affair my
wife, who was celebrating the knot OF
my neckue, said to me:
"D)n't forget HerbcIot, to look at
everything so that you can tell me all
about it, and, by the way, l saw from
the papers that NJ, lie Director has or
dered the greatest lot of de.icacies from
Cheviet's, among them hot house peaches
If you love me you'll bring me one,
My dear child, | demonstrated
that isntto be done 1t is impossible.
Think now how difficult it would be tor
a gentleman in a dress suit to pocket
peach and escape being seen But the
more objected the more determined she
became in the fancy. Nothing could be
simpler in the midst of the coming ana
going than to take a peach as if for my
self.
i" Perhap, 1t is childish, she de'
tisrcd, 'but cannot helpt Since I've