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

I
1T was grand ball indeed, flowers
everywhere, magnificent toilets and a
splendid orchestra. Everybody was
there, among them the Perfect aud
President Of the Tribunal and the off
GERS Of the garrison-in short, all the
top OF the basket, Nothing had been
spared that would give ecat to the fctc
over which the wife and the daughter Of
the director my chief 50 gracefully pre-
sided.
supper was served at midnight, the
dancers passing from the ballroom di-
reetly INTO the sale-a-manger, and a
gorgeous supper it was"
u had scarcely entered the room
when | saw in a most conspicuous posi-
tion in the centre of the table, the cele-
brated peaches from Chcvlet's. Ar
ranged in basket of the rarest china
and delicately interspersed with vine
leaves, they proudly dispensed their
appetizing odors, the rich crimson and
white of the velvet skins betraying at
once the lusciousness Of the flavor"
From the end of the table where the
servants had placed me l looked upon
the dish with gaze as eager as MY
" les, picturing to myself the pleasure |
should give her if by lucky chance
could carry home a specimen Of the ox
quisite fruit. Gradually, as l caresscd
them with my eyes, the desire to possess
them assumed more determined form.
l decided that l would have not only
one, but two of those beautiful peaches.
But how That was the question that
/ puzzled me. The servants in attendance
kept the strictest watch upon the basket,
for NJ. Taboraul, the director, had re-
served to himself the pleasure Of offering
to privileged few this product Of
Cbeyiet's industry.
! From time to time at sign from
him, the head waiter would take a
peach, daintily cut it in two, and pre-
sent the halves to the persons desig-
mated. greedily watched the economi-
csl arrangement, and trembllngly saw
Assrltt grow snaile- smaller
HsNevcr, when the feast was over and
theguests recalled to the dancing hall by
a melude from the orchestra, the IN
structions had been so discreetly carried
out that there still remained a half
dozen or 50 Of the Voc dcrful fruit lying
embedded in their nest of leaves.
Il went with the crowd, of course,
but it was a false sortic, for ! had pur-
po ely left my hat behind mc-a tall
stove-pipe, which had occasioned me a
word Of trouble all through the evening.
Under the 2rctext Of regaining it could
return to the sale and perhaps, for |
was well known to the domcstics of the
house, obtain peach. When l re-en-
tered the room the waters were engaged
IN carrying to the pantry the remnants
OF the spread. At certain moment l
found myself entirely alone anJ near the
buff t, upon which had been placed the
dish Of fruit. There was not second
to lose. approached the basket, and,
quick as lightning, rolled two of the
peaches into the crown of my hat, ad-
roitiy covering them with my hand.
Carefully holding the hat against my
breast returned to the ballroom m
Intention being to cross it quietly and
slip away, like the English, and when
once outside to run every step of the
way home.
1t was not as easy to do this as had
anticipated, for they were beginning the
cotillon, and all around the grand salon
there was a double row of black coats
and wall-fowers, surrounding third
row formed by the chairs of the dancers;
aud in the middle of this third ring a
great empty space in which the couples
ofthe cotiilon would waltz Cautiously in
snuating myself between the groups
ghded around the chairs with the noise
less fexibility of the serpent dreading at
every step that some unwary elbow
would strike the hat and dislodgc the
spoils. Icould distinctly feel the toss
ing about of the peaches as walked
along.
"At last, after deal of trouble and
innumerablc scares, | entered the space
just opposite the door Of entrance as
they were forming the ''coquet figure.
A lady was in the centre Of the ring,
the gentlemen clustering in a circle
around her As you know, when the
cavalier presents himself with whom she
wishes to waltz, she places hat which
she holds in her hand upon his head and
away they go.
The lady in the centre of the room
was Mile. Tabaraud, the daughter Of my
chief. l had scarcely taken steE
across the floor when she saw me ano
came running toward me
g You are just in the nick of time,
NJ. Herbelot,' said she; quick give Us
your hat And before l could escape ol
stammer protest the hat was whisked
from my hand and those internal first oI
the seasons spinning over the floor
Imagine the tableau! The dancers tit.
tered, the Director frowned, the wall
flowers exclaimed, and Mile. Tabaraud
was transfxed. Red as a beet, and witt
my teeth chattering with moral chill,
stood like a fool, the cynosure of al
eyes.
g Take back your hat, NJ Herbelot,