The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-26

where, elegant IOlletS ana eXCellenC mu-
sic. The project, the president of the
tribunal, the officers of the garrison,
and all Of the department clerks were
there. Our chief had spared nothing
to give brilliancy to this entertainment,
of which his wife and daughter did the
honors most grsciously At midnight
supper was served, and the dancers filed
into the dining room in couples. l fol-
lowed, trembling, and scarcely had en-
tered before | saw the famous peaches
sent by Chevet occupying conspicuous
place in the center of the table.
They were indeed magnificent! There
was pyramid of them in a china bas-
ket, carefully arranged with grape
leaves, which brought out the appetiz-
ing color of their velvety skins where
deep red shaded into greenish white.
From seeing them one could easily i'm.
agine the fragrance and delicate flavor
of the luscious rosy pulp. My eyes ca
ressed them from afar, and l thought
OF the joyous cries that would greet me
on my return if l succeeded in carrying
home sample of this perfect fruit.
They were exciting general admiration,
and the more gazed at them the more
did my desire take the shape of a fixed
purpose. l determined to have one or
two. But how? The walters kept a
watchful guard over this rare and cost
ly delicacy our host having reserved
for himself the pleasure of offering his
peaches to certain guests. From time
to time, at sign from my chief, the
butler would daintily take one, cut it
with a silver knife, and present the two
halves on a Sevres plate to the desig-
, mated person.
| watched this performance greedily,
and with fear saw the pyramid fall in.
However, the contents Of the basket were
not exhausted. Perhaps the order had
been strictly executed; perhaps the
peaches had been arranged with fore
thought. At any rate, when the ban
queters, recalled by the orchestra S play
ing prelude, hurried back to the dane
ing hall, there were still half dozen
beautiful peaches nesting among the
green leaves.
followed the crowd, but it was only
a false sortie. had left my hat in a
corner-a tall hat, which had bothered
me considerably during the entire even
ing. | went back with the pretense of
getting it, and as was, in a way, one
of the household the servants did not
mistrust me. Besides, they were busy
carrying out the dishes and glasses used
nv tba TuactS op6 of a cartoi,, moment
found myself alone near the sideboard.
There was not an instant to lose.
After furtive glance to the right and
left, | approached the basket and made
two of the peaches quickly roll into my
hat, where l covered them with my
handkerchief; then, very calm and dig
nified in appearance, though my heart
was beating frightfully, l left the din
ing room, carefully pressing the open
ing of my hat to my breast, and hold
ing it there by means of my right hand,
which, thrust inside of my vest, gave
me very majestic, almost Napoleonic,
bearing.
My scheme was to cross the ballroom
cautiously, to steal away, and once out
side to carry home VIGOROUSLY the two
peaches wrapped in my handkerchief.
1t was not SO easy as l had fancied.
They were about to commence the CO.
tillon. All around the large hall there
was double line of men and elderly
ladies, hemming in the circle formed
by the chairs of the dancers, while in
the center there was a wide, empty
space, where few couples were waltz
ing.
| timidly made my way through
groups Of people; l squeezed between
chairs with the suppleness of a snake;
| trembled each moment for fear that
rough jog of my elbow would change
the position of my hat and the peaches
fall. | could feel them rolling around
inside, and l grew hot to my ears and
the roots of my hair. At last, after
much care and maneuvering, l reached
the inner space just as new figure was
being organized. A lady is placed in
the center and the gentlemen circle
about her with their backs turned; she |
holds hat and places it upon the head |
of the man with whom she wishes to
waltz.
1 had hardly taken two steps when
the directors daughter, who was lead
ing the cotillon with young counselor
of the prefecture, cried:
"A hat! We need a hat!'
AT the same moment she caught sight |
of me with my stovepipe against my
breast. met her glance, and my blood
froZe.
"Ah!' she said to me, "you have
come just in time, M. Herbelot. Quick,
your hat. "
Before l could even stammer out one
word, she had taken my hat, so hastily
that the peaches forthwith rolled upon
the floor, carrying my handkerchief
and two or three grape leaves with them.
You can imagine the tableau. The
dancers laughed in their sleeves at my
theft and discontinue; my chief frown-
ed, and grave men whispered and
pointed their fingers at me, while felt
my knees grow weak. 1 longed to sink
n Il. n