The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-12-21

gentleman, whom we recognize as the |
chief justice. Frau Won Kesselschmidt |
walked toward him, and stretching
out her hand, exclaimed cheerily,
'Good morning, judge. How are
Paula and Erna this morning?" These
We're the two unmarried daughters of
the judge.
Slice the death of his wife, many
years before, the chief-justice had led
a very secluded life. Frau Won Kess-
elschmidt was the only lady upon
whom he called. He would gladly
have stopped to chat with her, but
the case of Kaiser versus Meyer was
called for IL o'clock; it was already
late, and never in his whole life had
he kept a case waiting. With a wo-
mans ready wit, Frau Won Kessel-
schmidt had guessed the thought of
the Judge. She explained that her
errand led her in the neighborhood of
the courthouse, as She could not find
what SHE wished at the market Then,
as if by chance, after complaining of
her husbands late hours, she men
toned the new assessor. Her huS-
band had said so much about him
that she must know him, cost what it
might
..That will he a hard task" ex-
claimed the judge, 'for Kahlbaum is
a sworn woman-hater."
'sNot so hard as you think, my dear
Judge, if you will only help me-"
And the little Frau looked half
beseechingly, half-affectionately at the
Judge, until he wished in his inmost
heart Kaiser versus Meyer to the
devil.
Frau Won Kesselschmidt saw that
she had won her point She now has
tily explained to the judge that he
was to give the usual complimentary
dinner to his new assistant at his own
house, instead of at the Star, and
that he was to invite ladies to be
present. All objections were over
ruled, one after another, by the reso-
lutte little Englishwoman, who offered
to furnish menu, dishes, and servants;
and finally the judge gave reluctant
consent At the very door of the
courthouse they agreed upon a list
of guests, eight ladies and eight gen
tlemen, and Frau Won Kesselschmidt
arranged matters so skillfully that all
formidable rivals to Maud were omit
ted.
'rhe principal thing is, however, my
dear judge,"-and with this the con-
versation closed-'that the assessor
shall have no suspicion that ladies
are to appear at this dinner. l will
answer for their secrecy, if you will
undertake a similar, but even more
difficult task with the gentlemen. And
now good-by, my dear friend" With
a charming smile she offered both
hands to the judge-they stood in the
entrance hall of the court-hOuse-whO
raised them with much confusion to
his lips, not noticing that the parties
to Kaiser versus Meyer, who had
been waiting already a half-hour for
him, We're watching the operation
from over the balustrade.
That very evening, on his return
home, the judge found that Frau Won
Kesselschmidt had spent the after
noon with his daughters. Erna and
Paula, who presented him with the
menu for the important event. On
the next day the six ladies were in
vited and bound over to silence. On
the third day came the dinner. =
Frau Won KeSselSchmidt had ordered
her bea autiful china and cut-glass car
ried to the judges. Stabilinsky, with
a nired waiter was to serve, and on
this occasion he was to wear the gala
livery of the Kesselschmidths. But,
alas! this was altogether too small.
In vain did the tailor let out to their
full extent the seams of the blue
frock and the velvet breeches. They
were still very small. The faithful
servant, however, squeezed and twist
ed himself into the uncomfortable gar
ments. The black-and-yellow striped
vest was no larger than frock and
breeches. The blood rushed to his
broad face. His head was bursting.
But what mattered it to him? Did
be not feel so much the cooler for his
long white stockings and his broad.
patent-leather shoes?
The guests We're assembled at the
judges, but the assessor did not ap-
pear. They joked and laughed about
the poor fellow, but two people were
not quite comfortable: the judge. who
could not foresee how Kahlbaum
would take the surprise; and Stabil-
insky, who was in a condition border
ing upon apoplexy. Suddenly a ring
at the bell. All was silent.
Herr Assessor Won kahlbaum,"
gurgled Stabilinsky, and at the same
moment the long form of the assessor
appeared in the doorway. Thinner
than ever he looked in his close fitting
evening suit
Kahlbaum's forehead darkened at
the sight before him. He took a half
step backward, but Immediately his
good breeding conquered. He greeted
formally the host and his daughters,
showing himself master of knightly
courtesy; and although the good-fel-
lowship that made him such a favor
lite among men is forbidden among
ladies, he was soon acknowledged by
all to be exceedingly attractive.
Dinner was served. The assessor
was obliged to take out the daughter
of his host, but Maud was seated al
his left hand.
Maud could scarcely be called re-
mdrkably pretty. But her bright,
round face, with its halo of golden
hair, its great, clear blue eyes, dear
little snub nose, and fresh, rosy
mouth, was truth and frankness itself
She was of medium height, with
round, graceful figure. The assessor
did not seem displeased with his
neighbor, ard as he spoke English
fluently, before the oysters had dis
appeared a lively conversation had
sprung up between them, although
Erna was not neglected.
When Stabilinsky, red as a cherry,
appeared in the doorway with the
soup-tureen, was he careless about
the threshold of the strange house, or
did he stumble in his great shoes?