The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-17

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father had already commenced negotiar
tions in reference to that affair
The eldest of my sisters was twenty.
eight years old, the other twenty-six.
They had never married, which was a
cause of great sorrow to all A wooel
finally presented himself for my young
est sister. lie was clerk, not wealthy,
but honorable.
| have always had the conviction that
the letter of my uncle Jules, shown again
one evening, had ended the hesitation and
strengthened the resolution of this young
man.
He was accepted eagerly, and it was
decided that after the wedding the whole
family should take little trip to Jersey.
Jersey is the ideal Of a journey for
poor people. 1t is not far; one traverses
the sea in packet and finds ones self in
strange land, an island belonging to
the English. Thus a Frenchman, after
two hours sailing, can see his neighbors
and can study their strange manners and
deplorable circumstances This trip to
Jersey occupied all our thoughts. our
entire attention, and we dreamed of it
constantly
Finally we started l remember it as
if it happened yesterday-the smoke
blowing over the dock; my father, very
much perturbed, watching the trans
porting of our luggage; my mother. also
disquieted, had taken the arm of my un-
married sister, who appeared lost since
the other sister had gone from her. like
chicken sitting alone in its coop, and
behind us came the young married pair,
always tagging, which compelled me to
turn my head often.
The whistle sounded. We went on
board, and the ship. leaving its dock,
glided out upon sea as smooth as glass.
We watched the receding shores, happy
and joyous, a feeling doubtless expert
enced by all who have travelled.
My father wore his long coat, from
which all the spots had been washed
with benzine and consequently he
strongly suggested that valuable cleans
ing agent, and recalled to my mind our
Sunday outings.
Suddenly he espied two elegant ladies,
to whom two gentlemen were offering
oysters. An old ragged seaman opened
the bivalves with one blow Of knife
and passed them to the gentlemen, who
Immediately carried them to the ladies'
who ate them in most genteel manner,
holding the shells in cambria handker-
chief, and conveying them to their
mouths without dropping any juice or
staining their toilets. Then they drank
the liquid with a pretty, rapid move
ment, and threw the shells into the sea-
Undoubtedly my father was captivated
by this distinguished act Of eating oys-
ters on vessel while it was under sail.
He thought it was good taste, refined,
superior, and approached my mother
and sisters. saying:
What would you say II l should
offer You some oystersT
My mother hesitated on account of
the expense. but my sisters accepted i'm
mediately.
My mother said in querulous tone:
81 am afraid they will not agree with
InO OlfS SOIlC W OlC OIlllO1Cuy OuI llOb
many as the oysters will make them
sick" Then turning toward me, she re-
marked. las to Joseph. he needs none;
it Is best not TO spoil the boy"
remained beside my mother and
thought her very unjust. followed
my father with my eyes and watched
him as he polnpously conducted his two
daughters and his son-in-Iaw toward the
old seaman.
The two ladies started to go, and my
father indicated to my two sisters that
they were to eat the oysters without
spilling any juice. In order that they
might understand better, he took an
oyster, and, in endeavoring to initiate
the ladies, poured the whole liquid down
the front of his coat.
Suddenly my father appeared to be-
come uneasy. He recoiled a few steps,
regarded his family fxedly, then the old
seaman, and quickly returned to us. He
seemed pale, and his eyes had singular
look. He said to my mother:
''It is strange how that man opening
the oysters resembles Jules"
Mother asked:
What Jules2"
My father returned:
"Why, my brother Jules. If did not
know that he had good position in
America | should believe it was he"
My mother CALCULATED angrily;
"You are lunaticI You know very
well that it is not Jules Why do you
talk such NONSENSE"
But father said persistently; "Go and
see for yourself, Clarisse. | should like
very much to have your opinion"
She arose and joined her two daugh-
ters, and also went and looked at the
old man He was dirty, wrinkled and
did not turn his attention from his work
My mother returned, and | saw that
she trembled. She said very quickly:
81 believe it is he. Go aud pump the
captain. 1t will be prudent, for we GER
tainly cannot claim this worthless fell
low as our relative"
My father went and | followed, feel
ing strangely agitated. The captain,
tall man, very thin, but with immense
whiskers, walked the bridge with an i'm
portant air, as if he were commanding
an India mail steamer. My father
mounted the steps with ceremony, and
spoke of his calling with compliments;
asked him of the importance of Jersey,
its inhabitants, their manners, their
dress, the nature Of the soil, etc, He
thought the captain would perhaps
speak of tie United States of America;
but he spoke only of the vessel in which
were sailing, how 1t was equipped,