The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-07-27
.But what can we give them for sup


"Ch, something with a nice, fast, rol-
licking, late-at-night flavor to it. Let
me see! Champagne, Of course-and
oysters. oysters will do. In the movers
all the naughty people take champagne
any oysters. Besides, they won't neeu
any cooking. How is your pocket-mon-
ey, Clara?"
II have three pounds.
"And 1 have ore. Four pounds. nave
no idea how much champagne costs.
Have your
Not the slightest"
How many oysters does man eat!'
Il can't imagine"
I'll Wri ~ and ask Charles. NO, 1
won't. I'll ask Jane. Ring Tor her'
Clara. She has been cook, and Is
sure to know
Jane, on being ross-questioned, re-
fused to commit herself beyond the
statement that it depended upon the
gentleman, and also upon the oysters
The united experience of the kltchen'
however, testified that three dozen was
a fair provision.
''Then we shall have eight dozen al
together" said Ida, jotting down all
her requirements upon sheet OF pa
per. land two pints of champagne.
And some brown bread and vinegar anu
pepper. That's all, ] think 1t IS not
SO very difficult to give a supper after
all, is it, Clara?"
81 don't like it, Ida. 1t seems 70
me to be so very indelicate."
but it is needed to clinch the mat
ter. No, there is no drawing back now,
Clara, or we shall ruin everything.
Papa is sure to come back by the $40
He will reach the door at 10. We must
have everything ready for him. Now,
just sit down at once, and ask Harold
to come at o'clock, and l shall do the
same to Charles
The two invitations were dispatched.
received and accepted. Harold was al
ready confidant, and he understood
that this was some further develop
ment of the plot. AS to Charles, he
was SO accustomed to feminine eccen-
tricity, in the person of his aunt, that
the only thing which could surprise
him would be a rigid observance of ETH
quette. At 8 o'clock they entered the
dining-hall of No. 2, to find the mas
ter of the house absent, a red-shaded
lamp, a snowy cloth, a pleasant little
feast, and the two whom they would
have chosen, as their companions A
merrier party never met, and the house
rang with their laughter and their chat
ter.
! 1T is three minutes to ten cried
Clara suddenly, glancing at the clock.
Good gracious! So it is! Now for our
little tableau!' Ida pushed the cham
payne bottles obtrusively forward, in
the dire ction of the door, and scattered
oyster bells over the cloth.
'Have you your pipe, Charles?"
MY pipe! Yes"
"Then please smoke it. Now don't
argue about it, but do it, for you will
ruin the effect otherwise
The large man drew out red case,
and extracted great yellow meer-
schaum, out of which, a moment later,
he was putting thick wreaths of smoke.
Harold had lit a cigar, and both the
girls had cigarettes.
THAT looks very nice and enamel
pated,' said Ida, glancing round. Nov
I shall lie on this sofa. So! Now,
Charles, just sit here and throw your
arm carelessly over the back of the
sofa. No, don't stop smoking. like
it. Clara, dear, put your feet upon the
coalscuttle, and do try to look a little
dissipated. wish we could crown our
selves with flowers. There are some
lettuces on the sideboard. Oh, dear,
here he is! [ hear his key" She be-
gan to sing in her high, fresh voice a
little snatch from French song, with u
swinging ira la-la chorus.
The doctor had walked heane from
the station in a peaceable and relent-
ing frame of mind feeling Ghat, per-
haps, he had said too much in eaae morn
ing, that his daughters had 'Aor years
been models in every way, and that, if
there had been any change of late, it
was, as they said themselves, on ac-
count of their anxiety to follow his adj
vice and to initiate Mrs. Westmacott
He could see clearly enough now that
that advice was unWise, and that a
world peopled with Mrs. Westmacotts
would not be a happy or a soothing
one. 1t was he who was himself to
blame, and he was grieyed by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
troubled and saddened his two girls
This fear, however, was soon dissi-
pated. AS he entered his hall he heard
the voice of Ida uplifted in a rollicking
ditty, and a very strong smell of to-
bacco was borne to his nostrils. He
threw open the dining-room door, and
stood aghast at the scene which met
his eyes.
The room was full Of the blue
wreaths of smoke, and the lamp-light
shone through the thin haze upon gold
topped bottles, plates, napkins, and a
litter of oyster shells and cigarettes
Ida, flushed and excited, was reclining
upon a settee, a Wine-glass at her ell
bow, and a cigarette between her fin
gers, while Charles Westmacott sat be-
side her, with his arm thrown over the
head of the sofa, with the suggestion of