Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-23

over with her eye before I started to
see that everything was correct and civ
ing me little pats and pulls. especially
the bow of my white tie.
"Tt's going TO be a regular grand
ball she said. so mind you keep your
eyes open and see everything, for my
benefit. I shall expect to be told who
Is there and all about the toilettes and
the supper. Oh. I forgot. there is to
be a grand supper. They say he has
sent to Chevet for all kinds of delicacies.
fruits and things worth their weight
in gold. Peaches, my dear, at three
francs apiece! Oh. those peaches! l
do want one so badly, Do you know, I
think If you were very, very nice, you
would manage to smuggle one to mel
II cried out at this, and represented
to her that 1t was as much as mans
reputation was worth to be seen slip
ping fruit off the table into his pocket;
and that If I were caught doing such
a thing we should be cut. But the
more / talked the more she insisted
upon the qualification Of her whim,
"'Why, it is just the very easiest
thing in the whole world. All you
have to do is to take one for yourself
and bring it to me. In the midst of
all those people coming and going you
won't be noticed. Now. don't you shrug
your shoulders. sir. daresay it is
very childish of me. but I do long for
it. Ever since ! heard about those
peaches have wanted one. just dread
fully. Promise me. dear. you'll bring
me one-promise me. darling
"Now, what was to say TO her?
How could / refuse her, loving her as
did? At any rate. at last murmured
out some kind of promise and then
fastened to start. But just when was
in the act of closing the outside door
she called me. | looked round and saw
two great blue eyes fixed on me. eyes
that absolutely CLEANED with desire,
and she called out:
"'You've promised, haven't YOU
dear?
"The ball was a grand affair. Flowers
in profusion, pretty toilettes, good mu-
sic. The prefet, the local justice, the
officers Of the garrison, everyone who
was anyone was there. The chief GER
tainly had spared nothing to make it
a success, and his wife and daughter
did the honors exceedingly well.
"At supper time followed the pro-
cesslon with humping heart, and the
first thing saw, in the place of honor
on the long table. were Chevet's ia
nous peaches.
"And magnificent they certainly
were. They were piled up in basket
shaped dish of Luneville china, each
separate fruit resting in its own little
nest of fresh vine leaves, skillfully ar
ranged to display its attractions, the
rosy flush of one velvety cheek contrast
ing with the greeny white of a neigh
Dor, The very look Of them was enough;
one could see they were delicious, per-
fumed, pink-Aeshed.
~ gazed tenderly at them from o dis
Greet distance, and then began to think
of the happy little cries that would
greet me if could contrive to take Just
one home. Everyone was admiring
them, and the more looked, the more
determined | was to get one. or per-
haps couple.
"But how? That was the point, for II
was evident the servants were keeping
guard over them. Every now and then
| caught the master of the house civ
ing little nod. and then the butler
would delicately remove a peach, open
II with a silver knife, and hand the
split fruit, on Sevres plate, to the in.
diyidual who was allowed the honor IT
eating one.
~ watched this little game until
began to trcmble lest the whole pyra-
mid should vanish. But my fears were
not realized. For some reason or other
either because the host signifed his
pleasure that no more should be dis
pensed, or because some guests were
too modest to accept the fruit, to my
relief | saw six beauties still remained
when the band struck up fresh chords
and the company filed back TO the ball
room to dance.
81 went too, but only as feint.
had purposely left my hat h the sup
per-room, q tall one that had been both
ering me all the evening. Iwen, back
for 1t very soon, the servants, who all
knew me. not, Of course, watching me-
They were very busy too, carrying
away the used plates and glasses, and
II so fell ont that, for one minute, Twas
the only occupant of the room. There
was no time to lose. however, and,
glancing furtively to right and left.
I approached the dish, stretched out