Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-08-14
knife. ana present the two halves on .

| knife. And pfessns the two halves on
Sevres plate to the designated person
I watched this performance greed
lily. and, with fear, saw the pyrami
fall in. However, the contents of tn
basket vere not exhausted. Perhap
the order had been strictly executed
perhaps the peaches had been al
ranged with forethought; at any rate
when the banqueters, recalled by tn
orehestra's playing prelude. hurries
back to the dsncing-hall, there wer
still half q dozen beautiful peache
Nesting among the green leaves.
I followed the crowd, but it va
,nly . false sortie. I had left my ha
in . corner-s tall hat, which ha'
bothered me considerably during tn
entire evening. I went back with tn
pretense of getting it, and, as I was
in . way, one of the household, tn
servants did not mistrust me. Besides
they were busy carrying out the dishe
and glasses used by the guests, and, .
. certain moment, I found myseJ
alone near the sideboard.
There was not an instant to losA
After furtive glance to the right an(
left, I approached the basket and made
Two Of the peaches quickly roll into
ny hat. where I covered them with
my handkerchief; then. very calm and
1igni6ed in appearance. though my
heart was. beating frightfully, I left
the dining-room, carefully pressing
the opening of my hat to my breast,
and holding it there by means Of my
right hand, which, thrust inside of my
vest, gave me very majestic, almos
Napoleonic, bearing.
.oom cautiously, to steal away, and,
once outside, to carry home victori.
ously the two peaches wrapped in my
handkerchief.
It WAS not so easy as I had fancied
They were about 70 commence the
cotillion. All around tho large hall
there was Q double line Of men and
elderly ladies, hemming in the circle
formed by the chairs Of the dancers,
while in the center there was q wide
Empty space, where Q few couples wer
valtzing.
I timidly made my way through
groups of people; I squeezed between
chairs with tho suppleness Of Q snake ;
I trembled each morhentSor fear that Q
rough jog Of my elbow would change
the position of my hat and let thu
peaches fall I could feel them roll
ing around inside, and I grew hot t.
my ears and the roots Of my hair. Al
last, after much care and manouvring,
[ reached the inner space Just ss Q new
igure was being organized. A lady
q placed in the centre and the gen.
:lemen circle about her with thei,
backs turned: she holds q hat and
places It upon tho head of the ma
with whom she wishes to waltz.
I had hardly taken two steps wha,
he directors daughter, who was Lead
mg the cotilion with . yonng couD
selor Of the prefecture, Dried:
"a haiti We need q hatl
At the same moment she caugh.
dght 81 me with my stovepipe against
my breast. I met her glance, and m,
blood ffoze.
"Ahl". she said to me. "you hav.
ome Just in time, NJ. Herbelot
Quick, your hat"
Before I could stafnmer out on
Sord she had taken my hat, so hastily
that the peaches forthwith rolled upon
the floor, carrying my handkerchief
and two OF three grspe-leaves viii
hem.
You can imagine the tableau. Ths
iancers laughed in their sleeves al
my theft and discontinue: my CHIEF
frowned, and grave men whispered
and pointed their fingers at me, while
[ felt my knees grow weak. Ilonged
to sink through the floor and disap
pear.
The young lady pressed her lips to-
,ether to keep back her laughter, and,
while returning my hat, said, in AZ
ironical voice:
'Pick up your peaches, NJ. Herbe
OF" Shouts of mirth then resounded
rom all parts OF the room-even the
servants held their sides. Pale, hs2-
gard, and tottering, fed, over.
Thelmed with my disgrace and SO con.
used that I could hardly find the
loor. with q dead weight on my
leart I hurried away to tell my wife o.
ny disaster.
The next day the story was all ovel
own. When I entered my depart
nent, my comrades received me with,
'Herbelot, pick up youf peaches. ]
,ould not venture into the street with.
,ut hearing mocking voices murmu
behind me: "Peaches."
The place was unbearable, and, il
Iweek. I handed in my resignation.
An uncle of my wife had farm neal
ny native village, and I begged him
20 take me for an assistant. He con-
tented, and we moved to Chauteraine.
{ vent to work Eesolutely, rising with
me unwn anu never pltylnS Myseif.
It would seem that was more fitted
for agriculture than for peu-pushins,
Tor, in short time, 1 became AN en-
:husiastic farmer. The property did
30 we'll that our uncle, at his death,
villed it to us.
I worship peaches, for to them
I'VE my happiness. Without them
Ihould have remained a weak subordi-
aate, trembling at the slightest frown
rom a project, and being but one Of
The already too numerous throng of
clerks who find 1t difficult to make
both ends meet.-From the French,
IN the Argonaut.