The record-union., 1895-02-23
A BACHELORS SUPPER.
The Story of Mr. Valentines Phantom
Party.
How the Seven Loves of His Life Gath
cred Around His Banquet
Table.

w Q0n one man has b6TV6u duOLutI lOl
twenty years as valet, chambermaid and
errand boy, he not only acquires an accu-
rate knowledge of his masters life and
habits, but he forms definite opinions as
to his inner man and past career. More
over, there are few secrets he has lot
guessed at.
Old Glenn knew Mr.. Valentine had led
q comfortable and uneventful bachelor
existence during the last dozen years.
He also knew, or rather had heard, that
as younger man he had tasted freely OF
life's pleasures; that his youth had been
jolly and his manhood genial. Now, a
handsome old gentleman of 70, al
ways courteous and sometimes merry,
with well-behaved constitution and a
sufficient fortune, he was gliding grace
fully down the shady side of life. AL
though still an occasional diner-out, he
seldom entertained in his own apart
ments, and Glenn was naturally surprised
the night before Christmas on being told
to have the table set for eight people at
half-past IL. 1t was then nearly 10
o'clock.
But. sab, dey amt suppah for no eight
people!"
Never mind that. Glenn"
Never mind de suppah! Den whar' s
de use in settin' places?"
That's all right. Glenn, you just set
the table, and put on the very best china.
Put on the best we have of everything.
1t is sudden idea of mine; little
Christmas celebration, and 1 want it as
perfect as possible"
CLIENTS dark face expressed mild dis
approval, and he asked, with touch of
irony:
ANY wine?''
YES. put on one bottle of that old Ma
0elra," and then added, as if to himself,
shat is ladies' wine.''
Ladies' ~ said Glenn, and this time
there was fearless disapprobation in his
tone. rs der to be nuthin' but ladies p"
But Mr.. Valentine seemed to be drift
Ing on into reverle. and made no an
swer. Glenn waited a moment With
serious mlsgivings he began the prepare
lions for what promised to be an excep-
uonally unsatisfying banquet
AS Mr.. Valentine sat before the fire his
clean-cut features and handsome eyes
made 1t easy to believe the stories of his
earlier successes with the gentier sex.
Although over 20, he retained the bearing
and manner of youngish man.
And now, in his big chair, the half
closed eyes shutting out the scene before
him, he goes back some forty years to
certain ballroom on an eventtul summer
night. lie takes her out from the other
dancers out into the moonlight, down to
the little boathouse. And then, Just for
the joke of it, she in her ball dress. he in
swallow-tatl, they got into boat to row
over to the island. the music from the
shore filling the air about them. How
long they staid upon the rocks, how close
they sat, or what he said to her or she to
him was never published: but when they
wish to return the boat is gone. He sees
it floating down the river a hundred
rl1n
scene, she IN her ball dress and he in his
swallow-tail, and he remembers the
moist eyes and quivering lips. He hur-
rles to the lower end of the island, re-
moves the swallow-tail, and everything
else, and, plunging in, strikes out into
the black river. The current is with
him, and he reaches the boat. But the
pulling back Now in his old age he
wonders how he did it. Half an hour
later they re-enter the ballroom W lille the
last dance is on. They also take spin
about the room, and no one ever sus-
pected what had happened.
lie rose from his chair with a long sigh
and stepped into the dining-room, where
Glenn had started fire and put leaf in
the table. These serious preparations
made him realize what a childish enter
tainment he was giving himself.
Ills tribute to them, and who
knows if l shall see another Christmas
myself it is my own affair."
Glenn entered with large psstebosrd
box.
IBIS yer's just come. sab. It's flowers,
reckon"
"Ah, yes, those are the flowers. There
are seven punches in there. Glenn. Put a
bunch at each plate except mine"
Glenn retired to the kitchen, and, as he
laid the box In cool place, he remark ed
TO the cook:
Hope dey'll like der smell o. desc yere
flowers, for it looks mighty like dey
wasn't goln' ter gil anything else"
Mr.. Valentine in the meantime re-
turned to his library and seated himself
ut an old-fashioned desk. From a little
drawer he took letter and a daguerreo-
type. The letter was yellow and con-
siderably worn, with the appearance OF
having been opened and read and laid
away again great many times. He
placed It reverently before him and read
once again the words he knew by heart:
Silly Boz: Do you take seriously every
thing a woman says?
P: S,-To-morrow afternoon about $50 a
foolish girl on a bobtail horse VIII be in that
lane between the bridge and Hobrook's farm.
At this point something fell upon the
page which Mr.. Valentine blotted up
carefully with his handkerchief. Laying
the daguerreotype upon the letter, he
gazed silently upon the features of a
inviting mouth. AS he laid the portrait
and the letter back into the drawer Glenn
appeared in the doorway and said:
Sence dey's ter be some style at dis yer
suppah p'raps it'll be bettah ter have two
to wait on de table. But as dey amt no
food and only one bottle of wine l s'pose
I'll be enough"
You'll be one too many, Glenn. want
you to go 10 bed after the table is set. and
not be around at all"
Not be around at alp"
NO, Glenn"
"Den whose ter let de guests imp,
Nooody-that is. l can do it myself if
necessary"
AS his servant departed he muttered:
Nv hat an old fool he thinks anu And
the guess was not wide of the mari, 0II
Ciem was seriously alarmed, for although
his master had never yet shown sny of
the usual symptoms of mental derauee-
ment, ne knew those things often came
suddenly and without warning But he
set the table with unusual care.
AZ precisely half-past IL he Knocked at
toe door OF MIR. Valentines cham Der, and.
receiving no answer. after q second KNOCK
he slowly opened the door. The old gem
uenan was lying upon the bed, appar-
emily asleep. Glenn noticed that ha had
donned fresh shirt and a white crayat-
AS he touched MS arm, Mr.. Valentine
slowly opened his eyes, and at first dld
not seem 10 realize just where he was.
lie arose from the bed, however, and
there was little flush in each cheek that
made his pleasant old face look younger
than ever.
THANK you, Glenn" he said. "I must
have been asleep. IN be right out"
Five minutes later Mr.. Valentine en-
tered the dining-room in full evening
Dress, Win rose In his coat, q smile