Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-27


view back through the cliffs into the
broken country at the rear, and there
were beautifully shaded lawns, inter-
spersed with strawberries and pArtsrres at
either end Of the house.
Luncheon was laid at two O'Clock, in
open air, and the numerous guests were
I not long in enjoying themselves at the
top of their bent. They were served by
capable, alert, silent-footed French wait
ers, brought up from q London club
house for this occasion only, with an en-
tire disregard Of expense. Everything
pertaining to the repast was in the same
expensive keeping, and there were addi-
tional elements of luxury.
Directly across the greensyard, between
the luncheon table and the house, was
the entrance to the billiard. rooms, back
wards and forth from which the geDtlh-
men could alternate asd c!souiSts at
| pleasure. On one side Of this entrance,
in q gayly oanopied little booth, was sta
toned Maurice, Boncourt's accomplished
body servant, engaged in dispensing
wines, cordials, and ices as fast as called
for by the walters.
Directly across the entrance, and also
oanopied brayely in the open air, was o
| feature which doubtless constituted the
chief novelty of the affair. This was
nothing less than q neat little imitation
| of an American seaside minstrel booth
or pavilion, and seated therein, prepos-
| terously costumed, with blackened face,
and banjo upon his knees, was the latest
| addition to the Boncourt establishments;
the boy, Dip, himself varying his duties
| with squeaking forth grotesque planta-
/ ton melodies to his own accompaniment
on the instruments strings, out of which
he extracted an unexpected amount of
| musical sounds, and with occasionally
skipping across the greensward, inter-
vening between him and the table, for
the purpose of cutting this or that fam
tastic caper for the benefit of the guests
at large.
| Yes; it was none other than Master
Dipper who was furnishing the chief
novelty of the entertainment.
Not yet more than twenty four hours in
his new service, he had already sue
ceeded in thoroughly interesting Adele,
and rendering himself indispensable to
Boncourt, by the manifestation of ver-
satility of attainments, as welcome as
they were unexpected. No accomplish
ment of bizarre nature had seemed to
be outside of his experience and his i'm
itative ability.
Both master and mistress had been
charmed, more or less, the latter by his
handiness about the house, and the
former by his precocity in everything
relating to sporting matters. And even
the natural prejudices of the servants
4 had been overcome in a manner that
could hardly have been expected.
He had prompted Madame Ronceville,
in the interior floral decorations Incl
dental to the present entertainment, with
suggestions that had surprised and
charmed her. He had given out, there
tofore, occult points in gardening and
horse wisdom that had astonished the
gardener and groom. he had inducted
the cook into the mysteries of Mexican
tortillas. and of O new condiment, chile
colorado, which was at once voted as the
superior Of curry. He had bewitched the
housemaids with odd, wild songs and
aboriginal dances.
When Boncourt had returned from The
Beeches ON the preceding evening, hot
and wearied from the long ride, and
vexed with the profitlessness of the mis-
spent day, it was Dip who had presented
himself, clean, spruce, and wonderfully
improved in his becoming new clothes,
and obtained permission for the personal
concoction of the half forgotten, magical
J mint-julep which had SO restored his
dropping spirits, and revived SO many far
away, pleasant recollections.
It was likewise Dip, who had, that very
morning, furnished boisterous amuse-
, ment for some of the earlier guests,
mostly fresh young squireens of
: shallow pates and "horsey" proclivities,
: by an alteration with the groom in the
stabIe-yard, which he had characterized
with such gushing, effortless, and original
profanity as was o revelation to their
rural intelligence.
And lastly, though not leastly, it was
to Dips suggestion to his new master that
the entertainment owed this innovation
: of the transatlantic minstrel extravaganza
which was proving such an attractive
feature, at least so far as the gentlemen
guests were concerned. And there was
the youthful prodigy now, calm, alert and
smiling, brushed and oiled, irreproach,
! ably necktied, and with great flashing
breastpin Borrowed for the occasion from
his indulgent masters effects) decorating
. his spotless shirt-front, and fairly gush-
ing with outlandish merriment and song,
: Though the affair had been designed as
3 gentlemen's party, in the main, there
were number of ladies present, rich
tradesmen's wives, Tor the most part
whose presence was owing TO q WlB0 TOr0-
i Of course been consulted ii The matter .,D d
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