Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-31

whom the most brilliant future was pre-
dicted-you don't mean to say that you
have thrown away all your chances Of
distinguishing yourself in your chosen
career?'
Yes, that's the simple truth"
"How did it happen?"
" NV dear fellow" he replied, laughing,
great effects are often produced by very
trivial causes In this case 1t was cou-
pie of peaches that compelled me TO offer
my resignation"
"a couple of peaches"
Precisely so, and if you will drive with
me back to Chauteraine after we have had
our coffee l will tell you exactly how it
came about"
After coffee had been served we left the
banqueters, and while discussing over CT
CARS my friend began his story as we
skirted the banks Of the canal 1t was
warm afternoon toward the end of
August.
You know" he said, that was born
in the profession, and that my father, him
self an old employee at the bureau, thought
there was nothing to be compared to the
career of Government official. So as
soon as I had received my degree, and as
nothing more brilliant offered, | was in
stalled as clerk in my fathers Office.
AS / was an industrious lad of regular
habits, and had been taught from the
cradle to respect my official superiors and
to pay them the Difference that was their
due, was in great favor with the heads of
the bureau. When | was % the director,
who had conceived quite liking for me,
took me into his Office, and was an object
of envy to my fellow clerks. | was, in fact,
already spoken of as in the line of speedy
promotion.
1t was at that period ! married My
wife was an exceedingly pretty young girl,
but who, though as good as she was pretty
and very affectionate, had no fortune. This
was considered grave mistake on my part
in the little world Of employees in which
lived, many going so far as to assert that
had made stupid blunder, and irrepar-
able compromised my future. Neyerthe-
less, as my wife was attractive and amiable,
and as we managed by economy to make
both ends meet, people after a while
stopped talking of my want of prudence,
and the society of the provincial town in
which we lived condescended to receive US.
My official superior, the director, was
wealthy. He gave frequent receptions,
generous dinners, and now and then a
dancing party, to which his employees and
the celebrities of the town were invited
At the end of year my wife, who was in
delicate health, was compelled to remain
at home when invited on these occasions,
and although l should greatly have pre-
ferred keeping her company | was obliged
to 90 alone, for my host would not permit
his invitations to be refused.
sit so happened that just when my wife
was little more indisposed than usual
there came summons to great ball, and
l was thus compelled, much against my
wishes, to don my dress coat again.
"Just as l was about starting and was
engaged in tying my cravat, my wife began
to shower observations on me.
"'That will do capitally. Now don't
forget to notice everything carefully so as
to be able to give me detailed account of
all that happens. shall want to know
the names of the ladies, how they dressed
and the bill of fare of the supper, for
they're going TO have splendid one. |
hear that there are heap of good things
coming from Chevet's including some early
fruit. The grocer says there will be peaches
that cost three francs apiece Oh adore
peaches. Do you know, if you were a
very, very good boy indeed, you would
/ bring me one?
against this preposterous demand | en-
tered an earnest protest, but the stronger
! the objections offered the more my wife in
sisted that l should crafty her within.
/ "'On the contrary, nothing is easier.
! Promise to bring me at least one. Swear
you will
"What can one say when the wife OF
ones bosom takes so decided stand, es-
pecially if she is in delicate health? It
ended by my giving a vague promise, and
was hurrying away when, just as my hand
was on the door-knob, she called me back
l saw her great blue eyes fixed on me, her
face aglow with the pleasure of the ex-
| pected treat, as she cried:
"'You promise?
at was very attractive ball. Flowers
everywhere, fresh toilets and an excellent
orchestra. The Project, the President OF
the Court, the officers of the garrison-al
the high life of the place-were there.
"Atmidnight precisely supper was served,
and the dancers passed into the supper
room. | followed them in some agitation,
and had scarcely got inside the door when
beheld, In the place of honor in the mid
die of the table, the famous peaches sent
| by Chevet.
"They were superb. Arranged like a
pyramid in q vase of LunePille china, and
picturesquely separated by vine leaves, with
which the dark red and whitish green OF
the fruit contrasted most agreeably, the
whole presented a very appetizing picture.
| Toasted on them with my eyes from a
distance, and could easily imagine the
state of Joyous excitement into which my
wife would be thrown if | could succeed
in carrying home with noe a specimen of
this magnificent fruit.
"The longer looked at them the more
determined became to pilfer the Lune-
vile vase of one or two of its treasures
But how was | to accomplish my nefarious
design? The servants stood guard around
those costly products of the dollhouse, and
it presently appeared that my host had
reserved them for the consumption of a
few privileged guests. From time to
time, at q given signal, servant would
take peach carefully from the dish, cut
it with a silver knife and offer the two
halves on a rich plate of Sevres ware to
the person designated. / watched these
proceedings with anxiety, and felt cold
chills creep over me as the luscious pyra-
mid slowly but surely melted away.
"Still the vase was not quite emptied
when the dancers, recalled by few pre-
liminary chords from the orchestra, hast