Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-10-26

at the head of the table. You are my
guest Of honor tonight" Zones" to
the old butler, "show in my other
friends"
And while jerome Mordaunt was
marveling what this unusual kindness
could portend, old Jones threw open
the folding-doors, and in marched
lawyer Audrey, followed by Stichen,
the tailor, in his Sundays best, Mrs.
Riordan, the washer-woman, in sur
prising mob cap, the consumptive little
boot-maker Higgins, the jeweler,
Prickem, the cigar merchant, and
Spill the wine dealer. While last, but
not least, came Mrs. Nuttingale, the
boarding house keeper, and her pretty
daughter Ruth.
Mrs. Castlethrope stood in stately
dignity at her end of the table, while
Jones marshaled.. the miscellaneous
crowd Of guests to their seats. Jerome
sprang from his chair with a low,
muttered exclamation at first, but
seated himself again. Evidently he
was in for it, to use a popular and
most expressive phrase, and the only
way was to make the best of a bad
bargain.
The dinner progressed. Fish sue
ceeding soup-game and entrees fol-
lowed fsh-elegant side dishes came
and went and with grapes, pine-apples
and ices, came rare wine and cham
payne Mrs. Castlethorpe rose with the
dignity of a hostess Of the old school.
"a health, ladies and gentlemen"
said she. "Fill your glasses ALL Are
you ready? Then propose the
health of the man who pays his debts"
1t was drunk with acclamation.-
Only Jerome Mordaunt colored and
hesitated.
"Jones," said the old lady, please
hand these five hundred dollars-in
small bills, Jones, take particular no.
tice-to Mr. Mordaunt. Gentlemen
and ladies' to the company, pray
present your little accounts my
nephew is ready to audit them :"
Mr. Mordamt opened and shut his
mouth two or three times in a feeble,
gasping way, like an exhausted fish !;
he offered no audible circumstances.
He knew it would be no use.
ooh cousin, shall do as my aunt
advises, he said
One by one the hungry-eyed guests
advanced, presented their little bills,
and retired with satisfied countenances
until not person was left except law
yer Audrey, Mrs. Nuttingale and her
daughter, and the hostess.
''Now for the last settlement of all, +"
said Mrs Castlethorpe, with an inexo-
rahle 1eountenence. Jerome, | believe
you are under an engagement to marry
this young lady? 2"
jerome Mordaunt, face to face with
poor, trembling, little Ruth Muffin
gale, could not deny it.
Jones pursued Mrs. Castlethorpe,
task the Reverend Mr. Tyson to walk
in. Here is a wedding ring, my own
forty good years ago, and l hope none
the less lucky for that. Stand up like
a man, Jerome-and you close to him
my dear. Now we are quite ready,
Mr.. Tyson, if you please"
And almost before Jerome Nor
daunt realized what was going on, he
was married, safe and sound, to Mrs
Nuttingale's blue-eyed daughter, Ruth.
81 congratulate you, my DEAR" said
Aunt Castlethorpe, with sounding
kiss. Il wish you joy as Mrs. jerome
Mordaunt-and here's a check for one
thousand dollars to begin life with"
Thanks, dearest aunt" smiled the
blushing bride.
"And now you are square with the
world, so far as l know, jerome" said
the old lady, austerely, to her nephew.
''See that you remain for the future,
for you'll get no more help from me.
And now I'll bid you all good night,
for it is getting late, and l need my
after-dinner nap"
And so closes Mrs. Castlethorpe's
dinner part with an impromptu we'd
ding.