The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-18
ner neirhbors in roars of laughter witt

ner neighbors in roars Of laughter with
her bright" conversation.
''How nice it would be il one could
have tail to wag when one felt hap
py." she exclaimed, with mock gravi-
ty that sent her listeners off into con-
vulsions of mirth. Jack. how would
you like a tail like Fido's?" she
screamed suddenly at the top of her
voice. I'm sure Granite would like
one, too, but she wouldn't have wagged
it this morning when the man brought
her the poached eggs, would you,
Granite. dear?'
1.-THE idea of his bringing me poeched
eggs when / was composing a sym
phony," cried the other bright CONVEX
sationalist of the party, giddy young
thing in white muslin, ''grilled bones
and brandy and soda are what one
needs when one is going to compose a
symphony, but poached eggs suggest
nothing better than sonata. And
then, you know, he actually dropped
one on the floor and"
THE ship lay two and got one"
shrieked Dodo, and the whole company
joined her in peals of laughter, while
poor Chesterfield looked on with an ex-
preston Of martyrdom on his face that
seemed to transfigure it.
Spirit" cried Scrooge. in agony,
stake me away from these clever
women or 1 shall go nad!'
But his companion merely shook his
head and babe him listen on to the bit
: ter end. AS he spoke the scene
changed to a ballroom in which the
gifted Dodo was the principal figure,
clad in long clinging folds of diaph-
anous, almost luminous, texture
whatever that or those may be-and
with her were many of the dinner
party, including Prince Baldneck, a
mem Der Of the Austrian mobility. and
brilliant, accomplished man of the
world, one who was as skillful and
easy in the use of the fork as if he had
been born an Anglo-Saxon.
The prince was looking on admiring-
" as Dodo led the cotjllion in company
with Lord Tommy Lightfoot, the most
accomplished. graceful dancer in Eng
land, and the one native-born Briton
who knew how to reyerse-which novel
form of gyration he exhibited at least
once every three minutes, to the awe
and edifcation of all beholders.
Granite" was there also, going about
the room and repeating her witticisms
about the poached eggs and the sym
phOny till even the cleverest members
Of the smart intellectual set paled be-
fore her matchless epigramnatic gifts.
little apart from the gay company
IF Christmas jewellers stood a silent
man with deep burrows on his face and
wearing look of unutterable fatigue.
"Who is that?' demanded Scrooge of
! his ghostly companion, as they turned
10 leave the room, ''and why that ex-
preston of WEAKNESS and unrest on
his deeplylined features?'
THAT is the creator of DOdo," re-
piled the spirit, solemnly, and added,
with shade Of pity in his stern voice:
Poor man, his life has been one long,
hard struggle with English syntax,
and although be has mastered some Of
che parts OF speech the subjuEctive
mood has laid him low 1t last But,
come, for have other things to show
you"
They foated out into the clear, frosty
| night and swept on across the field
and horizon till they found themselves
/ Ia the fog and smoke of London town,
4 and then they were IN the luxuriantly-
! furnished supper room OF q small and
/ exclusive clubhouse. At table
drawn up By the open fire two young
7 mcu in evening dress and wearing pie
/ bald chrysanthemums in their button
I holes We're eating their Christmas din
ner. Both were long haired smooth
shaven and OF pallid complexion, and
/ the pair exhalei an agreeable Amos
/ phere of complscent imDeciigty of su-
/ perior quality.
There were but few other diners
I present. aud Scrooge noticed that they
were huddled together at the other
/ end Of the room and wore looks Of IN
( utterable WEAKNESS
"Ah, Absinthe." said one OF the
/ young men. how eharmingly wicked
and epigranmatc you are tonight!
/ Let Us go on forever eating strawber-
T ries and saying witty things ] could
listen to you forever"
Yes, Clarence replied his con-
+ panion; Il know that ! am brilliant,
but cannot help it must be witty
F or die Inconsistency, thou art q
7 jewel The rose is blue. the violet
F blus-it comes easy TO ne. you oo-
I serve
! Beautiful cried Clarence. rolling
his eyes il ecstasy. Do i again, Al
sintae. Do i again
Blu; you are witty yourself a.
times rejoined tbsinthe, eondesoend-
inglv- i have known ron 70 plsy a
+. verJ pretty tune on ice coay o-cox