The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-06-05

seem TO have come out several shades
lighter"
Wilhclmina poutcd. and nothing
further was said on tho subject. The
conversation dropped. In tho Popkins
household conversation has u way OF
dropping, no matter what may DO tho
subject under discussion. 1t drops and
nobody says anything for quito awhile.
In comparatively few families do the
members have much to say TO each
other; they have talked each other out
long ago.
On this occasion the silence was inter.
ruptcd by Mr.. Popkins. who said:
John, I think | will have II bottle OF
that champagne. You know-tho
Neuve Clicquot. l bought two cases
OF 1t last year. and though it was recon-
mended to me as particularly excellent,
l have not tried it yet. think | may
as well sample it."
John. tho butler. bowed and with
drew. More than ten minutes elapsed
before he returned, and then ho said
simply:
There amt no champagne, SIR"
"Bu. tell YOU that you arc mistaken"
| replied MIR. Popkius. ~ bought two
cases, and | remembered that they were
delivered. Two baskets, you under
stand, each OF a dozen quarta."
"fhe baskets arc still there, sir, but
they are empty"
Empty"
YES. sir"
"How could such 4 thing happen ?"
reared Mr.. Popkins.
~ don't know, sir"
"Who has tho keys to tho wine eel.
lar?"
Myself, sir; and Miss popsins has
another"
The master OF the house couched ON.
inousIy and made no further remark at
the moment. He slipped his coffee
cloomily, and. when the butler had left
tho room. said:
~ shall discharge that man at once"
"Why. papaY' asked Wilhclmina.
because he has stolen that vino"
Miss Popkins flushed and looked AJAX.
ious. Said she:
II don't believe il, papa. John does
not drink a drop OF anything, you
know"
"Bu,lers never drink" responded her
father grim!y. THAT is 10 say. they do
not drink when anybody is looking"
"But | am sure he did o take the
wine, papa"
well, my dear. l Am satisfied tina.
he did take it. Nobody else has n key
to tho wine bin except y~onrsclf."
Wilhelmina flushed again.
"You may tell John that would like
TO 500 him IN the library alter dinner"
continued Mr.. Popkins, rising from tho
table. His Indignation was clearly ex.
pressed in his heavy footballs. rs he WAS
heard mounting the stairs 10 his den"
as ne called it, on tho second inor.
lie had not been there five minutes
when his psrusal OF the Evening Star
was interrupted by a knock at the door,
and in walked. not John. tho butler,
whom no expected, but his daughter.
She came up behind his chair aad put
hor arms around his neck. n long curl
with n CLINT OF gold in it falling over his
waistcoat.
Dear papa!" she said.
"Well. pet?' he replied, knowing
that this form OF address by his daugh-
ter always meant that 4 request was
coming.
You will not discharge john"
"Oi course | will. There can DO no
doubt tina, he TOOK tho wine. | saw it
delivered myself. and | suppose no
thought that | Ind forgotten all abou,
having bought t."
"Well, then. papa, because l cannot
stand by aud see an injustice done, |
stall have to tell you all about it.
know ,hat John did not take the wine"
"Ilow can you know? lie alone had
the key"
"No, dear papa. Somebody else had
n key. you know"
"Who, pray?"
"Your little housukeeper, OF courso."
yourself! why, certainly. But you
are not going to tell mo you stolo tho
wino?"
"Such is tho fact, papa"
"You are ioking!!"
"Not at all. Indeed | took it."
"But-but you astonish mo. You do
not drink chnmpagnc!"
"No, papa." replied Wilhelmina, with
n little sob, "but IL have been using
it for another purpose"
"Goodncss me!' exclaimed tho old
gentleman. "Do you mean to toll mo
that you have been filling up that beau
OF yours. Young Toodlcs. with my Veuve
Clicouot?'
mo, pnpn; that Ia not it. Blu, Mr..
Toodlea ndmires tho blonde type OF
beauty-boohool-very much; and
have been using tho wine on my hair to
mako Observation-Disclosures"
"Ohl" said Mr.. Popkins with n gasp
OF nssoniahmcnt. $50 that is why You
havo bocn turning yellow recently"
mot my complexion, ! homo, papa.
Bu.-boohoo!-you will forgive mo,
won't you?"
~ gucss there's nothing clso for me to
do" responded the old gentleman.
"The champagne il gone, and you ought
to DO spanked; but | suppose you arc
too old for that. But ncxt timo, If you
musthavo wine to wnsh your hair with,
give mo M opportunity TO buy a cheap.
or brand. Thirty dollars n case Ia a
littlo high for n cosmetic, oven If tho Of
feet IL 40 fortunate ms to crafty tho c4-
,l,ctic ego OF Mr.. ToodIrN. No. under
tho circumstances, | aha!l not discharge
John"
"Thank you, papn," said WiIhcllmina.