Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-22
''But what can we give them for sup

| oysters. oysters VIII do. In the novels
all the naughty people take champagne
and oysters. Besides, they won't need
any cooking. How is your pocket mon
ey, Clara?
II have three pounds"
II have one. Four pounds. Ihave no
idea how much champagne costs. Have
youp"
Mot the slightest"
"How many oysters does man eat?"
81 can't imagine"
'I'll write and ask Charles. No, |
won't. I'll ask Jane. Ring for her,
Clara. She has been q cook and is sure
to know"
Jane, on being cross questioned, refused
to commit herself beyond the statement
that it depended upon the gentleman
and also upon the oysters. The united
experience of the kitchen, however, tes-
tilted that three dozen was fair pro-
vision.
"Then we shall have eight dozen alto
gether," said Ida, jotting down all her
requirements upon sheet of paper.
"And two pints of champagne. And
some brown bread and vinegar and pep
per. That's all, think. 1t is not SO very
difficult to give supper after all, is it,
Clarap"
II don't like it, Ida. 1t seems to me to
be 30 very indelicate."
"But it is needed to clinch the matter.
No, no, there is no drawing back now,
Clara, or we shall ruin everything. Papa
Is sure to come back with the 0:45. He
will reach the door at 10. We must have
everything ready for him. Now, just sit
down at once and ask Harold to come
at o'clock, and I shall do the same to
Charles"
The two invitations were dispatched,
received and accepted. Harold was
already confdant, and he understood
that this was some further development
Of the plot. AS to Charles, he was so
accustomed to feminine eccentricity in
the person Of his aunt that the only
thing which could surprise him would
be rigid observance of etiquette. At
0 o'clock they entered the dining room of
No. Q, to find the master of the house
absent, a red shaded lamp, snowy cloth,
pleasant little feast and the two whom
they would have chosen as their COM
panions. A merrier party never met,
and the house rang with their laughter
and their chatter.
at is 8 minutes to TO-" cried Clara
suddenly, glancing at the clock.
"Good graciousl So it isl Now for
our little tableaur Ida pushed the
champagne bottles obtrusively forward
in the direction of the door and scattered
oyster shells over the cloth.
"Have you your pipe, CharlesP'
"My pipel Yes"
"Then please smoke it. Now, don't
argue about it, but do it, for you will
ruin the effect otherwise"
The large man drew out red case
and extracted q great yellow meer-
schaum, out of which a moment later he
was putting thick wreaths of smoke.
Harold had lit cigar, and both the girls
had cigarettes.
"That looks very nice and emanci-
pated," said Ida, glancing round. "Now
I shall lie on this sofa. Sol Now,
Charles, just sit here and throw your
arm carelessly over the back of the sofa.
No, don't stop smoking. l like it. Clara,
dear, put your feet upon the coal scuttle
and do try to look little dissipated. /
wish we could crown ourselves with
flowers. There are some lettuces on the
sideboard. Oh, dear, here he isl hear
his key" She began to sing in her high,
fresh voice little snatch from French
song, with swinging tra-la-la chorus.
The doctor had walked home from the
station In peaceable and relenting
frame Of mind, feeling that perhaps he
had said too much in the morning, that
his daughters had for years been models
in every way, and that if there had been
any change of late it was, as they said
themselves, on account of their anxiety
to follow his advice and to initiate Mrs.
He could see clearly
enough now that that advice was un-
wise and that a world peopled with Mrs.
would not be happy or
soothing one. 1t was he who was him
self to blame, and he was grieved by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
and saddened his two girls.