The national leader., 1889-04-06

"Just as I 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 ac-
count of all that happens. Ishall 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 a
splendid one. / hear that there are a
heap of good things coming from
Cheyet's, including some early fruit.
The grocer says that there will be
peaches that cost three francs piece.
Oh! l adore peaches. Do you know, if
you were a very, very good boy indeed
you would bring me One?"
Against this prepostcrous demand I
entered at earnest protest, but the
stronger the objections offered the more
my wife insisted that / should crafty
her whim.
ION the contrary, nothing is easier.
| Promise to bring me at the least one.
Swear you WILL"
"What can one say, when the wife
| of ones bosom takes so decided stand,
especially if she is in delicate health?
1t ended by my giving vague promise,
and was hurrying away when, just as
my hand was on the door knob, she
called me back. saw her great blue
eyes fixed on me, her face aglow with
the pleasure of the expected treat, as
| she cried:
"'YOu prOmiSe?'
SIT was very attractive ball. Flow
ers everywhere, fresh toilettes and an
excellent orchestra. The prefect, the
president of the court, the officers of
the garrison-all in high life of the
plaee-were there. AT midnight pre-
cisely supper was served and the dancers
passed into the supper room. l follow
ed them in some agitation, and had
scarcely got inside the door when be-
held, in the place of honor in the mid
die of the table, the famous peaches
sent by Cheyet.
"They were superb. Arranged like
pyramid in vase of Luneville china,
and picturesquely separated by vine
leaves, with which the dark red and
whitish green OF the fruit contra sted
most agreeably, the whole presented a
very appetizing picture. l feasted or
them with my eyes from distanoe,
and could easily imagine the state of
joyous excitement into which my wife
would be thrown if could succeed in
carrying home with me a specimen of
this magnificent fruit.
"The longer | looked at them the
more determined became to pilfer the
Luneville vase of one or two of its treas
ures. But how was | to accomplish
my nefarious design. The servants
stood guard around these costly pro-
ducts of the hothouse, and it presently
appeared that my host had reserved
them for the consumption of few
privileged guests. From time to time,
at a given signal, a servant would take
a 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. l watched pro-
ceedings with anxiety, and felt cold
chills creep over me as the luscious
pyramid slowly but surely melted
away.
''Still the vase was not quite emptied
when the dancers, recalled by few
preliminary chords from the orchestra,
hastily returned to the ball room. In
fact. could count half a dozen Of the
precious fruit still lying in their leafy
bed.
Il followed the crowd, but made only
a pretended exit. had left my hat in
a corner in the upper room, in order to
have an excuse for going back after it.
1t was silk hat, and had given me
considerable trouble in properly dispos-
ing of il during the evening. AS | was
quite intimate at the house the servant
paid no attention to my movements.
Besides, at that moment they were busy
in taking the dishes and silver to the
kitchen. In an instant l had made my
way to the buffet, on which the covet-
ed fruit had now been placed. No one
was in the room and there was no time
to lose.
after furtively glanciDg to the right
ard left, suddenly seized two Of the
peaches and placed them carefully in
my hat, first wrapping them in my
handkerchief. Then very calmly and
with much dignity, although my heart
was beating frightfully, left the sup
per room, pressing my hat against my
breast and holding it there by my right
hand skillfully thrust in the bosom of
my vest, which attitude gave me Il
somewhat heroic, not to say Napoleo-
mic, aspect.
MY intention was to cross the ball
room quickly and then suddenly diSap-
pear. Once outside, l would carry the
two peaches tied in my handkerchief
victoriously home.
This little scheme seemed not to be
so easy to carry out as l had imagined,
as dancing had just commenced again.
All around the room was double row
of black coats and wall flowers, sur
rounding a second circle formed by the
empty chairs of the dancers. Then
came large empty space in the mid
die, where the latter were enjoying
themselves. 1t was this space that l