The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-02
MPS. Ballilt0bDSr'S Supper.
Written for the MORNING CALL

ence the paGgs OF hunger. They resolved
to go to supper.
But" said Pitblado, where Is our friend
Clonarty? Oughtn't we to take him witt
us?"
IAN excellent idea," said Miss Dlory
Lets hunt him up"
Between ourselves, Miss Trachy," said
the colonel. hes got a suit of my clothe.
on and I'm nervous about his style of feed
ing"
''Fll tie napkin around his neck" said
the girl laughing.
Mrs. Ballntobber was found where they
left hsr, in the center of drawing ROOM
haggard. purple. but resolved. Her leg:
would scarcely bear the weight of her mas.
siye frame; she hardly heard the word:
that were spoken 10 her. but there was q
cold light in her eye which decared--co me
one. come all. this house shall fly from it:
firm base as soon as /. She refused to go te
supper, but condescended to drink glass
OF water which Pltbado had servan,
bring. In reply to inquiries what she had
done with Clonarty she pointed silently to
corner of the room. Sure enough there
he lay fast asleep on lounge.
When he was got on his feet Pitblado took
him supperward. On the way the colonel
took the opportunity of reminding him that
drop of sauce, or liaueur, or gravy, or
salad dressing would irreparably ruin the
garment he wore.
The supper-room reminded Major Lind
say Of city that had been stormed Mrs.
Balllntobber had given the best caterer in
the city carte blanche; he had done his
best both as to quantity and quality. A
more sumptuons repast had never been
served In San Francisco; the walters had
orders whenever a champagne bottle was
nearly empty to replace it by full one. In
the center of the room was a long table
loaded with viauds; against the walls
stood row Of small tables, each with It's
dish and It's bottle. The small tables were
intended Tor three OK perhaps four persons.
There we're six at each of them. Round
the long table the guests were formed as
infantry prepared to receive cavalry. The
whole circumference was occupied by chairs
on which people sat; behind these stood
men who reached over and speared choice
morsels on the table; behind these again
stood row OF men each with plate and
glass IN hand-Ditiful victims of famine.
experienced ball goers had performed
1eats OF strategy by occupying cor
siege. One skillful captain had
seized bay-window, and leaving COM
rade 10 hold it. with three ladies who COM
pleted the garrison, sailed forth on for
aging expedition. He reappeared with
game-pie in one hand, two bottles IN an
other, half a dozen plates under his arm,
and his pockets full of wine-glasses. This
was merry party; their laughter echoed
10 the ceiling.
In another nook two ladies sat on chairs,
and man sat on the floor between them,
with champagne bottle between his knees.
When he was not drinking, he was shout
ing;
cream! Chicken salad! Game pie! More
champagnel Waiterw
Another party, having failed to find
ehalrs, were seated on table. The ladies
had their plates on their knees. and the
gentlemen went round with champagne
glasses. which their fair friends were re-
CURED to empty forthwith, as glasses were
scarce. From their high color and the
glasSiness of their eyes, they seemed TO
have obeyed the injunction frequently. The
joke at this gay gathering was to tilt the
table up suddenly, whereupOn the ladies
nearly performed culbute, and plates and
glasses went crashing to the floor.
Two or three gentlemen were engaged in
fierce discussion with each other Oh politics
Evidently they had lie vim qGereleur. All
spoke at once and in their loudest tones.
Once or twice the head waiter invited them
to retire to an adjoining apartment to
conclude their debate. But they offered
him battle. and used opprobrous language
in reference TO his birth and parentage
AS the wine circulated the fun grew fast
and furious. A member of the local aris-
t0cracy seized a pair of roast chickens by
the legs and bore them off in triumph to
his fledglings. A waiter had scarcely placed
q new dish of chicken salad on the table
when gay Teveler captured it. and, hold
Ing 1t away, emptied its contents ON the
snow-white neck and shoulders of a queen
OF the ball. On the floor lay BIRDS remnants
OF joints, little deposits OF icecream, char
lotte russo, jeliies, snow buildings, salads
OF various kinds. cakes and candies, mixed
up with broken plates and broken glasses.
just such chaos might have been produced
by the explosion of a ten-inch shell in a
modern banquet hall. Against the wall,
here and there, Teposed a warrior who had
too often met the wine when it is red, and
noyance not unmixed with Joy for the
walters 10 stumble.
The two girls contemplated this scene
with quivering lips. Was IL for this that
papa had hidden them give San Francisco
a bali that would sstonish people? Trachyte
ran her eye over the lines of the feasters;
she did not recognize one female face, and
only one or two OF the men. One young
fellow, who had visited at the house, was
in the act of raising his glass with shout
when he caught the girls eye. He put the
glass down and SUNK out Of the room.
Had we not b ter return to the dan
cling room?" muitered Diory.
"By no MEANS" gayly replied Pitblado.
I'VE came here to get our suppers, and,
please God, We'll get them. Major, you are
a veteran. Take the rear guard. /, as
your superior officer. will lead the ad-
vance"
his sharp eye had detected round table
fah fixru eft t..,
two gentlemen, who were evidently in the
maudlin stage. Pitblado approached them
briskly, shook their hands with warmth,
and with Now, boys, guess I'll have to
trouble you; turn aoouts fair play" ell
bowed them out Of their seats and settled
his party in them.
who are your friendsP" asked Trachy as
she followed the retreating bacchanalians
with her eye.
Never saw them before in my life."
The supper was brief, and before it ended
two old acquaintance of the Ballintobbers
claimed the girls as partners in the german.
Trachy, who adored dancing, went off ioy-
fully; Diory shot parting look at Colonel
Lindsay.
The table cleared and fresh bottle pro-
duced by an attentive waiter, the three gen.
tlemen lit cigars. Lindsay stretched his
legs, and leaning his head over the back Of
his chair. gazed upward at the wreaths of
was in the mind to think, not to talk. He
was 40 years old, an idle man. had just re-
tired from the army, was easy in his cir
but was dependent upon his
club for the comforts OF life. The comforts
were various and complete. So far as
bodily needs were concerned, he had moth
ing to desire. His slightest wants were an
ticpated by obsequiousswaiters. His room
was perfection, his commissariat varied and
excellent, his society choice But in the
crowd of clubmen he was very much alone.
Genuine sympathy he found nons. Clubs
breed home companions, not friends. He
could not even rely upon enjoying the So
ciety OF his own thoughts. for was not Jaw
kins there, insisting on explaining his
views Of the effect Of the tariff on the wool
industry, and Hawkins, whose performances
in expectoration is so soothing to the ear?
he had thought OF the dread alternative
mairimony. But man of AZ Is hard to
mate. He was a gentle man, who knew
that he would be kind, gentle, thoughtful
nffa ant Inn IN m anu mi 70 De-