The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-12-18

/
/ approached the dish, stretched out
my arm, snatched two peaches, and, in
the twinkling of an eye, had them In
my hat, my handkerchief stuffed wen
between them. Then, assuming an air
of calm dignity. l stalkrd oue OF the
room, holding the open side OF the hat
against my chest, and keeping IL
steady with my right hand, which was
hidden in the bosom OF my waistcoat.
II really was fine posture, the sort or
thing one sees In statues OF great men.
oIt was my intention 10 make my way
cautiously through the ballroom. ana
then. without any form Of lenyetalNing,
10 slim out OF the house and carry home
my booty in triumph.
.But ! counted without my host--or,
rather, without the hosts daughter.
The cotillon had just begun, the great
room was surrounded by double row;
against the wall black coats and dow
agers. then n row OF seats for the dane
ers. who now filed the middle of the
room and were dancing waltz. TO get
away. had to cross the room and pass
through the walters. l tried 10 do so
without being noticed, in moral
FRIGHT that some one would come bump
ING against me and jolt out the peaches.
| could feel them rolling about inside
my hat, and the blood in my head, face
and ears felt like liquid fire. | really
suffered agonies OF terror, but ] found
myself nt last safely landed on the
other side Of the circle, just ms new
figure was being started. A lady was
set In the center OF n ring OF men who
were TO dance round her, with their
backs turned to her. She was TO hold
hat In her hand, and place IL on the
head of the man she chose as her part
ner TO waltz. ! arrived just as this
, maneuver began, and the very moment
, the daughter Of the house, who was
81 dancing with one of the officials OF the
, prefecture, set eyes on me, she said:
".A hat, hat!-just what we
7 wanted!'
r 81 was petrifed-I stared at her, but
i could not move.
, ooh, NJ. Herbelot,' she said, you
4 have just come at the right moment.
o Please give MS your hat
And before could utter word, she
!. seized il out OF my hands SO suddenly
I that peaches. handkerchief. vine leaves
g all rolled out together on the polished
| floor.
| you can imagine the scene; the
u ladies trying TO laugh, all eyes turned
on me, the peaches lying at my feet
d the chiefs displeased frown; the Older
S people round the wall whispering and
y pointing. My legs tottered under me
: and would have given the world to see
h the floor open to swallow me.
g AT lase some one spoke: PLEASE
d pick your peaches up NJ. Herbelot' II
was the young lady who had snatche.
4 my hat and caused the catastrophe
Il There was depth OF sarcasm in hel
II voice. and she was screwing up hei
y mouth to avoid laughing aloud.
II "Her words acted like n signal: I
q chorus OF laughter rang from every
Is corner of the room; the very servants
~ prasped their sides as 20 hold II
e their amusement; whilst l pale, bag
/ gard, trembling from head to foot, flew
q out OF the house 10 rush home and pou
out the story TO my wife.
Il? "NeNt day II was the talk of the town
,s When / went 20 the Office very fellow
d i'm IL came up in turn 10 say: 'Goo'
N morning; and, say. Herbelot. Pick NJ
IS those peaches Even in the street tn
,r boys followed me and called after me
- Peaches, peaches
IS "The long and short Of 1t was that
e. had to give up my place; n week later
sent In my resignation.
u. IAN uncle OF my wife was farmin
some land OF his own near the tow
rs where / was born, and l wrote nskin
H. him to take me as a kind OF auxiliary
ne He agreed TO this; and that is how W
10 came TO Chanteraine. There's not niue
r more to tell you. buckled TO, got up q
II daybreak, and worked as hard as n mig
err ger. The life suited me, after all, bette
than the old Office, and before very lon
o. / developed into regular farmer. Th
ne farm itself prospered so much TO IN
Or old uncle's satisfaction that he left IL I
n us at his death. Since then | hay
bought more land round the old plac
" and now you shall see for yourself tn
Il results"
IN BY this time we were at Chanterain,
lie First we passed through the orchar
Ir- under trees bending beneath the weigh
he OF apples, pears, plums. beyond it
81 field sloped to n clear stream, on III
h farther side OF which rose vine-cla
h; hill, where grapes were now sweliin
r. and thrushes warbling. Left OF us, III
noise Of a winnowing machine Shove
is where the barns stood. and, after "
nix passed through the well-stocked dtche
Id garden, we saw the house, the whit
| F.,,t 81 tuhfah tVa.a ,.avarad xstffb NAM
ng espaliers bearing fine crop OF ripenin
re fruit.
r. "Ah!" said Herbelot, you see, we :
In for peaches here. ] owe them oil m
IL luck. and but for them should hal
ng been to this dry a wretehed little cler
en- shaking In my shoes every time m
iy- chief was out OF humor. Poor fellow
Ter there are too many OF them, without IN