Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-08-14

WAS reSu
lar chip Of the old block, and m,
father thought nothing could equal
Government career. So, after I ha,
graduated, no one urged me to d.
anything but take q subordinate plac'
in my fathers department did no
feel strongly drawn toward another
vocation, and submissively started OF
the uninteresting highway of bureau
cracy. 1 was diligent fellow ant
well disciplined, for I had been taugh,
from my cradle to respect superior Of
ficials and to defer TO those in author
ity; so was noticed by my chiefs anc
rapidly passed the first grades o.
clerkship. When I was twenty-five,
my director, who was fond Of me
gave me a place in his Office, and 1 be-
came the envy of my comrades. They
already spoke of me as q prospective
superior clerk, and predicted bright
future. 1t was then that married.
My wife was beautiful girl, and,
what is better, very good and affeo.
tionate; but she had no fortune. That
was grave fault in the eyes of the lit.
tie world of clerks in which I lived.
They were very positive. They re.
garded marriage only as q busines.
transaction, and they invariably took
for rule that 'if the husband provide.
the breakfast, the wife must provide
the dinner" But my wife and I be.
tween US had hardly enough to sur
meagrely. Everybody said had done
a very silly thing, and more than one
blunt colleague in my department de.
clared briefly that was fool and had
willfully put my foot in it. Neverthe.
less, my wife was very sweet and love-
ly, and, by living modestly and with
great economy, we succeeded in max
ing both ends meet. Though my hack
of foresight was still condemned, the
society people of the place 'deigned ts
continue inviting US.
My chief was rich, and delighted in
being conspicuous, priding himself on
making fine appearance in the social
world. He frequently received, gave
elegant dinners and, from time to
time, issued invitations for a dancing
party to the families of his employees
and to the prominent people of the
town. My wife was suffering from
neuralgia some months after our mar
riage, and, though 1 would much pre-
ferred to remain at home with her, I
was obliged to go alone to these en-
tertainments, for my chief would not
allow any one to decline his invitations
his subordinates must even amuse
themselves according to his orders.
One night there was a grand ball at
the directory, and, of course, whethe,
I would or no, had to don my even
ing clothes and go.
While put the finishing touches to
my white cravat, my wife gave me
numerous suggestions: 'It will be
perfectly lovely. Do not fail to see
everything so as to tell me afterward.
The names of the ladies who are there,
the toilets, and the supper menu-for
there is to be supper. It seems that
they have ordered great many deli.
cacies from Chevet-some rare fruits !;
I heard of peaches that cost sixty cents
npiece-oh, what peaches they must
bel Do you know, if you were good,
You would bring me one.
I demonstrated, I showed her tha.
the thing was impracticsble, and how
difficult 1t would be for O man in a
dress suit to put such fruit as q peach
in his pocket without the risk of being
seen and pointed out. The more. I
objected, the more bent upon her whim
did she become.
Son the contrary, nothing could b
easier. In the midst Of the crowd
coming and going to supper, no one
would see you. Take one as if for
yourself, and then hide ii adroitly.
Don't shrug your shoulders. Perhaps
it is only a bit of childishness but I
long for one; ever since I heard OF
those peaches, I have had a wild de-
sire to taste them. Promise to bring
ne one, at least"
How could man give downright
refusal to the woman he adored? ].
ended by murmuring q vague promise
md then fastening away; but Just as
[ turned the handle Of the door she
sailed me back. I saw her big blue
eyes, bright with longing, turned upon
me, and she cried once more: ''Do
You promise?"
The ball was very fine flowers every
Ehere, elegant toilets, and excellent
music. The Prefect. the President of
the Tribunal, the officers of the garri.
ION, and oil of the department clerks
we're there. Our chief had spared
uothing to give brilliancy to this en-
.artainmant nf which hia wife ard
daughter did the honors most gra.
ciously. At midnight, supper was
served, and the dancers fled into the
iiningroom in couples. I followed,
trembling, and scarcely had I entered
before saw the famous peaches sent
by sChevet occupying conspicuous
place in the centre Of the table.
They were, indeed, magnificent!
There was pyramid of them in a
.hina basket, carefully arranged with
grape leaves, which brought out the
appetizing color of their velvety skins
where deep red shaded into greenisb
white. From seeing them one could
easily imagine the fragrance and deli.
cate.havor of the luscious, rosy pulp.
" eyes CafeeSeu lheha iAoih oi"A' t1no
I thought of tho joyous cries that
would greet me on my return il I suc-
ceeded in carrying homo sample Of
this perfect fruit. They were eTcit-
ing general admiration, and the more
I gazed at them, the more did my de-
sire take the shape of fixed purpose.
determined to have one or two. But
how? The walters kepta q watch over
this rare and costly delicacy, our host
having reserved for himself the plea
sure of Offering his peaches to certain
guests. From time to time, at sigr
from my chief, the butter would dain.
Al1 take ono. out 1t with q llv-