The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-27

torted sand unless they're all of them in
the very article of death. they could manage
to get us word"
Hello" l cried. "Listen to this. This
looks as though they were i'll, don't itf''
/ had picked up the morning paper. and in
paragraph which now proceeded to read
aloud. Itproclaimed to the world that, on
the previous evening, the Cercle de St.
Denis-"an association composed of the
wealthiest Frenchmen resident in New
York" had given dinner at Delmonico's,
in honor of the distinguished physician,
DR.. Hippolyte Marsac, of the Institute, and
his wife and daughter, who are at present
sojourning in this. city. In reply to
the reporters rs inquiry, What he thought Of
'Therew l concluded. "That's their ex-
cuse for giving us the go-by! There's a
specimen Of French politeness for you. How
do you like that, Mrs Ormizon?"
"Oh, it is dreadful, dreadful" DR.. Gluck
declared energetically.
And Herewith the debate ended. The day
passed. Feeling that we had been wantonly
injured and insulted. and nursing resent
ment deep and bitter, We did not go near the
Marsacs; and never a line came from them.
At half past six in the evening dinner was
announced, and we sat down to funeral
baked meats.
1t was forlorn-loolxing table, scene of
ruin and devastation. At one end, stark
upon platter, lay cold canyas-back duck:
At the opposite end the wreck of a tillet of
beef, warmed over, bore melancholy wit
ness to the glory OF vanished day. Some
cold sweetbread patties occupied plate in
front of DR.. Gluck. The only novelty was a
dish of mashed potatoes Yesterdays flow
ers hung their heads with an air of sheepish
detection. So shamefaced, SO disreputable,
| so katzeDjammerisch, was their appearance,
| you couldn't avoid the fancy that they had
been on an uproarious spree the night be.
| fore. The centre-piece OF fruit, with great
gaps in 1t here and there, looked as IL 1t had
| passed through bombardment AS a whole,
| the table was at once tragic and a comic
| sight. We were cracking jokes at its ex-
| pense and laughing over 1T, when the door
| bell rang.
"Who can that be?" questioned Denise
"Oh, nobody at this hour" answered /.
Probably letter."
You'd better close the doors into the par
lor," she suggested.
Nonsense" said, glancing at my watch;
"You don't suppose anybody's going to call
at ten minutes before T."
So the folding doors that connect the two
rooms remain wide open. Next instant
conceive our sensation If you can-neXt in
slant, gazing through these open folding
doors, we saw enter the parlor from the
hallway-Dr. Malsac, followed by his wife
and daughteri Clad in full evening cos
tune, correct, smiling, complacent, they had
evidently come to dine with us. Horror OF
uUIIUIc6 tDty udu UllSbdh6u Tile Qdy.
L Denise gave a shrek. sprang upon my
feet and bounded forward. DR.. Gluck be-
| gan to giggle. Next thing l knew, DR.. Mar
sac had seized hold of one of Denise's hands
and one of mine, and wa, covering us with
his ELUSIVE French greetings, while madame
and mademoiselle simpered IL the back
ground.
"Ah, mon cher! All, Denisel Here we
are, you see. MATS, teneZ. how you are well
placed here! An interior completely charm
incl nrtn sol tnc@
Marie? And this Denise, my faith. she be-
come from more to more young, from more
to more beautiful, from day to day. All, my
good Ormizon, how you are happy to possess
such wife! Allons, you permit me to en-
brace her. Is it not? Mais comment done!
She weeps."
1t was true, Denise had begun to cry. The
Doctor started back in dsmay and looked to
me for an explanation, But the situation
was beyond me. l was nonplussed. had
lost my wits. / knew not what to do or say.
"Oh, why-why do you stand there like
that?" sobbed Denise. "Why don't you tell
him? Tell him-teU himr
"Well, Doctor" l began, 'the fact is,
there's mistake. You see, it was last night
that you were to have done us the honor of
you comprehend, that we are not perfectly
prepared. We
"Misericordel' cried the Doctor, confu-
sion and CONSERVATION mantling his purple
lace. is IL p0nSlDle that we have commit
ted a blunder SO terrible as that? Hor-
tense" sternly addressing his wife, show
does this happen?'
For reply Hortense, without speaking,
plunged her band into her pocket, whence
she presently drew it forth, holding a letter.
The letter she opened and passed to her hus-
band, pointing TO a certain line. He took it
and read; and as he read, first relief. then
joy, then infinite amusement. broke like sun
shine over his brow. Shaking with laugh
ter, "Ah, that excellent Denise" he ex-
claimed; ''read what she has written"
He gave me the letter. 1 read. Denise
had written Tuesday, January the oath, and
then she had gone to work and got up her
dinner for Monday, the 23d.
'Ah! my sweet Denise" remarked the
Dsctor, as he deyoured slice of the cold
canvasback, lit is as / have always said !:
you are good, you are beautiful, you are full
of wit; but practical-alasl my Denise-ne,
not exactly"