Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-02

master of the house, The air was full of |
a constantly-increasing commotion, hum |
ming, as yet timid, but ready, at the |,
slightest proyocation. to burst forth into |
unrestrained mirth. Poor Justine, bewil- |
dered by the presence of so many persons,
and by such unusual noise in house or
dinarily SO peaceful, assisted in the prepar-
atlonS with a dim sense that all was not
well, but still not daring to make any OBJ
lection.
At half-past II everybody was there
not single absentee. Indeed, little Nine.
Capefgue declared she would have come,
even though she had been obliged to walk
on her head. Fortunately for her be-
witching couture, however, such a labori-
Gus method OF DECENTRALIZATION was entirely
unnecessary.
And now NJ. Peyrusse cannot DELAY much
longer. The next stroke of the bell will
be his. They must prepare for him some
sort of an ovation-thank him for having
given them such delightful evening. OF
course, the post of honor had been reserved
for him, and a handsome bouquet graced
his place at the table. But how was he
going to act? How would he take the
Joke were the questions that agitated the
giddy throng. 1t would be somewhat en-
barassing for him to come home TRANQUILITY,
not expecting such thing, and find
Ding ding two strokes of the bell
" 1t is he! Quick, now Every one in his
place, and let the door be guarded care
fullyw hastily commanded the prime
mover of the plot 1t was indeed Mr..
Peyrusse. After an interminable game of
ha1tnIto ha bod tol loo,-a g
Dubois, and now sauntered carelessly home,
not dreaming of the ordeal awaiting him.
As the windows of the graRde sale over
looked the inner courtyard, nothing I'M
common met his view as he entered the
house. According to his usual custom, he
was about to proceed to his room on the
first floor, sitting yawn as he mounted the
stairs, but at the first step Justine, who
had admitted him, stopped him, crying
hurriedly;
"What are you going to do, Monsieur?
They are all there"
"Hein ?" said her master, not compre-
hending her meaning.
They are all there, in the large hail."
repeated she. They are only waiting for
you to open the fete."
NJ. Peyrusse thought he must be dream
ing. Had Justine lost her senses, or had
Dubois Cliquot been more mousSeur than
usual that evening? While he thus re-
aected, a faint sound of voices, coming
from his cherished sale, reached his ears.
Although completely mystifed, NJ. Pey-
russo manifested no surprise, but calmly
moved toward the door and opened it,
Here he is here he is ~ shouted a
chorus of merry voices. "Be seated, NJ.
Peyrusse. Nive NJ. Peyrusse! Hurrah
for NJ. Peyrusse
But NJ. Peyrusse was equal to the emer-
gency. In second he saw through the
plot, and resolved to betray no astonish-
ment-to pretend that it was all perfectly
natural, and to laugh the most heartily of
all
80 sorry to have kept you waiting"
said he, graciously, stepping forward to the
place reserved for him. Let us begin at
once w
1t is unnecessary to state that the sup
per was Jolly in the extreme. The finest
productions of Bordeaux lent their savory
gayety to the imaginations of all present,
and wit and humor flowed as freely as the
wine. They talked, they laughed, they
sang. NJ. Peyrusse, especially, was full of
the liveliest humor.
"What an excellent idea this is ~ he
kept repeating to himself " Just see how
every one enjoys this, and to think that
did not invite my friends before, because |
was afraid Of being unable to amuse them i.
How easy it is, after all y'
My good people, am thousand times
obliged to your
AS soon as the simmer wac over tho +ahIo
was removed, and dancing began. The or
chestra, which, during the repast, had
played only stately pavans and graceful
minuets, now began series of vertiginous
waltzes and bewildering quadrilles. NJ.
Peyrusse himself rendered a sportive fancy
dance, to the hilarious amusement of his
guests. The party dispersed at very late
hour, all expressing themselves charmed
with their entertainment, and their host
the most so Of any.
At 9 o'clock the next morning NJ. Pew
russo descended, as usual, to the lower floor
According to the instructions which he
had given before retiring the previous
night, everything had been put in order
throughout the house. The servants had
removed the table and flowers, and had
sT ept, busted and returned all the furni-
ture TO Its accustomed place. No trace re-
NAMED of the giddy reunion Of the night
before.
Fresh and smiling, NJ. Peyrusse went to
take a turn in the park of the Quinconces.
Undoubtedly, the story of the receilL0n had
already been spread abroad, for he thought
he detected quizzical smile on the lips of
III 70 w bp erraatal bI,,
he had too much geniality and shrewdness
to be angry at the trick that had been
played upon him, but he had also a goodly
share of dntour-propre, and he made up his
mind that if the people were going to
amuse themselves at his expense, he would
in turn amuse himself at theirs. He was
not going to be outdone when it came to
a test OF wit.
One Of the liveiiest guests of the previ-
Gus night, young Baillioque, perceived
him, and coming towards him with a teas
ing air. said:
GLOW are you this morning, NJ Pey-
russo? Did you sleep we'll You are not
fatigued, hope"
"Fatigued? with what, pray" inno-
Gently queried NJ. Peyrusse.
"Why, on account of retiring so late"
replied the young man patronizingly.
$50 late~ exclaimed NJ. Peyrusse. AZ
retired at my usual hour"
Young Baillioque gazed on him in as
constituent, but recovering himself said,
with good natured raillery:
"Well, how do you feel after your fancy
dance-that famous pas sem9 You must
be little stiff in the joints this morn
ing"
"A fancy dance" murmured NJ. Pey-
russo, with well-ieigned surprise.
"And that marvellous supper :" reioined
his young tormentor "People will talk
of your surprise party for long time to
come"
my surprise party cried NJ. Peyrusse.
" Will you explain what you are driving
at ?"
Somewhat abashed by the imperturba-
bility of his recent host, the young man
reminded him of the menu, the supper, the
balm fact, all that had occurred When
be had finished, NJ. Peyrusse replied
gently:
My poor young friend, you are dream
Ing, or else you are i'll. You must take