The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-10
THE FIRST AND LAST DINNER.

Twelve friends, much about the same age
fnd fixed by their pursuits, their family
connections and other local interests Al
permanent inhabitants of the metropolis,
agreed one day to institute an annual din
her among themselves under tho following
Regulations: That they should dine alter
Enately at each others houses on the first
and last day Of each year; that the first
bottle of wine uncorked at the first dinner
should be recorked and put away, to be
arunk by him who should be the last OF
heir number; that they should never ad-
init a now member; that, when one died,
eleven should meet, and when another died
Pen should meet, and so on. and that when
pnly one remained he should on those two
days dine by himself and sit the usual
hours at the solitary table; but the first
time no so dined alone. lest it should be
the only one, he should then uncork the
irst bottle, and, in the first glass, drink to
she memory of all who were gone.
1t was high summer when this frolio COM
pact WAS entered into, and as their pleasut @
Yacht skinned along the dark bosom of
1 he Thames they talked Of nothing but
heir first and last feasts of ensuing years.
Their l~maginations ran riot with a thou
band gay predictions of festive merriment.
They wantoned in conjectures of what
changes time would operate; joked each
pther upon their appearance when they
should meet-some hobbling upon crutchss
after . severe fit of the gout, and some with
portly round bellies and tidy little brown
wigs.
'As for you, George" exclaimed one of
The twelve, addressing his brother-in-law,
i expect I shall see you as dry, withsred
and %shrunken az an old eel skin, you mere
outside of a mauw and he accompanied the
words with a hearty slap on the shoulder.
George Fortescue was leaning carelessly
over the side Of the yacht. The sudden
manual snlutation of his b. ot~her-in-lsw
ne was overheard. After the lapse of above
IN hour the lifeless body was found.
Several years had elapsed, and our eleven
friends kept up their double anniversaries
20 they might nptly enough be called. with
scarcely any ~perceptible change. But, alas!
here came one dinner at last which was
aarkened by a calamity they never expected
o witness, for OH that very day their
riend, companion. brother, almost. was
hanged. Yes, Stephen Rowland, the wit.
he oracle, the life Of their little ci cle, had.
IN tho morning of that day. forfeited his
ITO upon a PUBIC sCaHOlu Tor having made
me single stroke of his pen in u wrong
place. In other words. a bill of exchange
passed into his hands for E7OO passed out
bf them for 81, 700.
A embarr asslng restraint pervaded the
title conversation which grew up at inter
kals. The champagne Was not in rood
,rdsr, but no one liked to complain Of its
being ropy. A beautiful painting Of Van
lyke which was in the room became a tonic
II discussion. They who thought il was
lung in q bad place shrunk from saving 40.
nd not one vsntured to speak of the exc
ution OF that great master. Their host was
having the front of his house repaired, and
I any other time no would have cautioned
hem when they went away, as the night
vas very dark, to TAX care OF tho scaHfoid.
mt no. they might nave stumbled right and
eft before he you'd have pronounced TINT
word or told them not to break their neoks.
)ne in particular even abstainsd from using
God wine," and another forebors to con-
rntulats. tho friend who sat next to him,
ind who had been married since hslast saw
him, because he was accustomed ON such 90.
~aaioIs to employ tigurative language and
ak OF the holy moose of wedlock.
Some fifteen wears bud now elidcd away
ince the fate of poor Rowland, and the ten
emained; but the stealing hand OF time
lad written sundry changes In most lcRible
|hnrRcters. Apologies we're made for com.
pig IN thick shoes and warm stockincs-the
oors and windows were mo.e cnrefully
provided with list ana ~snndbAcs--the ire
pore IN reQu0s1-and Z quiet game of what |