The Penn's Grove record., 1895-08-09

! watched this performance gree,
lily, and, with fear, saw the pyrami
fall in. However, the contents of Ii
basket were not exhausted. Perhar
the order had been strictly executed
|, perhaps the peaches had been o.
ranged with forethought; at any rate
when the banqueters, recalled by th
orehestra's playing q prelude, hurrie'
back to the dancing-hsll, there wer
still half q dozen beautiful peache
Nesting among the green leaves.
I followed the crowd, but il wa
Jnly a false sortie. I had left my ha
in q corners tall hat, which ha,
bothered me considerably during th,
entire evening. I went back with tn,
pretense of getting it, and, as I was
in a way, n Of the household, th,
servants did not mistrust me. Besides
they were busy carrying out the dishe
and glasses used by the guests, and, q
. certain moment, I found myse)
alone near the sideboard.
There was not an instant to losA
After a furtive glance to the right and
left, I approached the basket and made
two Of the peaches quickly roll into
ny hat, where ! covered them with
ny handkerchief then. very calm and
lignifed in appearance, though my
heart was beating frightfully, j 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
Nspoleonic, bearing.
Ny scheme was to cross the bali
.oom cautiously, to steal away, and,
once outside, to carry home victori.
ously the two peaches wrapped in my
handkerchief.
II WAS not so easy as I had fsnoied
They were about to commence the
:otiliion. All around the large hall
there was a double line Of men and
elderly ladies, hemmins in the circle
formed by the chairs Of the dancers,
while in the center there was q wide
Empty space, where g few couples wer
Taltsing.
1 timidly made my way through
groups Of people; I squeezed between
chairs with the supplensss Of . snake;
I tremblad each moment for fear that Q
rough jog of my elbow would change
the position OF my hat and let th,
peaches fall could feel them roll
ing around inside. and I grew hot t.
my ears and the roots Of my hair. AT
last, after much rare and msnouvring, |
I reached the inner space just - new
igure was being organized A lady
. placed in the centre and the gen,
lemen circle shout her with theii
bsoks turned; she holds a hat ans
pisces it upon the head Of the ma
sith whom she wishes TO waltz
Ihsd hardly taken two steps vhs
he iirector's daughter, Who was Lead
1g tSs cetiihoa With . young coup
elos Of the prefecture cried:
'A hstI We need o hstr"
At tbs ss.1e uoEasnf she csugh
nghf Of ne with ny s+ovepipe against
u! breast ] nst hsf gaance, and m,
aaooi traIe-
"Ahr-- she skii TO 1ss "you hsv,
nas !aa n tzaA. II Herbelot
ssEick, yozr list
Btocs ! c51li aAmuG out on
rurd ale had taken ny hat, 30 hastily
inst The peaches forthwith relied upor
the floor, carrying NJ handkerchief
AID two or thrss grAp%Iesves viii
hen.
You can insgine the t&bies1- Thu
Lsacsrs laughed IN their desvss- si
rs thar sad discontinue; my chic
troraed, aid grave men whispered
and pointed their fingers at me, while
I felt NJ knees gros weak Ilonged
to sink through the door snd disap
pear.
The yoahg lady pressed her lipsto
either TO keep back he. laughter, and,
Ehile returning my hat said, in 81
ronicL voice:
'Pict up your peaches, II. Herbe
Of" Shouts of mirth then Eesourded
rom all parts OF ths room-even the
ervsats held their sidsa Pale, hag-
ysrd, and lettering, I fed, over.
rhelned With my disgrace and so con
used that I could hardly find the
ioor. With . dead weight on my
aesrtf hurried away to tell my wife o.
ny disaster.
The dext day the story was all ovea
psn- When / entered my depart
nsnt my comrades received me with,
'Herbelot pick up your peaches" ]
sould not venture into the street with
sat hearing mocking voices mnrmuI
behind me: peaches"
The place was unbearable, and, II
week. 1 handed in my resignation
An uncle Of my wife had . farm neal
ny native village, and ! begged him
70 take me for an assistant. He con-
tented, and We moved to Ch~antersine.
[ went TO work x~ssolutely, rising with
sne aawn AMI never plying Myseifl
II would seem that I was more fitted
Tor agriculture than for pen-pushing,
,or, in q short time, I became an en-.
;husiastic farmer. The property did
10 we'll that uncle, ct his death,
ViIled il to us.
I worship peaches, for to them
I'VE my happiness Without them
hould have remained a weak subordi-
nate, trembling at the slightest frown
from a project, and being but n of
The already too numerous throng of
,lerks who ind it difficult TO make
both ends meet. From the French
in the Argonaut.
Robert Coliyer's Supreme Moment
Thirty years age next summer ! went