Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-23
THE PEACHES.
continued from page 10.

the tWluklnS VI I'LL oycs A"u SneA" -
my hat, my handkerchief stuffed well
between them. Then, assuming IN r.
Of calm dignity, stalked ouv OF IL
room, holding the open side Of the hat
against my chest, and keeping n
steady with my right hand, which was
hidden in the bosom Of my waistcoas.
1t really was fine posture, the sort o.
thing one sees In statues of great mem
1T was my intention to make my way
cautiously through the ballroom, and
then, without any form Of leavetakins.
TO slip 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's
against the wall black coats and dow
ayers, then row Of seats for the dane
ers. who now filled the middle OF tho
room and were dancing awaltz. Toget
away, l had to cross the room and pass
through the walters. tried to do 10
without being noticed, in a moral
fright that some one would come bump
ing against me and jolt out the peaches
I could feel them rolling about inside
my hat, and the blood in my head, face
aud ears felt like liquid fire. | really
suffered agonies Of terror, but found
myself at last safely landed on the
other side of the circle, just as new
figure was being started. A Mdy was
set in the center Of ring of men who
were to dance round her, with their
backs turned to her. She was to hold
hut in her hand, and place 1t on the
head of the man she chose as her part
ncr to waltz l arrived just as this
maneuver began. and the very moment
the daughter Of the house, who was
dancing with one Of the olrclals OF tho
prefecture, set eyes on me. she said'
"'A hat, u hat!--just what we
wanted!'
~ was petrifed-I stared at her, but
could not move.
"'Oh, NJ. Herbelot,' she said, you
have just come at the right moment.
Please give us your hat
"And before could utter word, she
seized it out of my hands so suddenly
that peaches, handkerchief, vine leaves
all rolled out together on the polished
floor.
"You can imagine the scene; the
ladies' trying to laugh, all eyes turned
on me, the peaches lying Mt my feet
the chiefs displeased frown; the older
people round the wall whispering and
pointing. My legs tottcred under me,
and would have given the world to see
the floor open to swallow me,
AT lase some one spoke: 'Please
pick your peaches up, NJ llcrbelot.' 1t
WINS the young lady who had snatehed
my hat and caused the catastrophe.
There wns a depth Of sarcasm in her
voice, and she was screvng up her
mouth to avoid laughing aloud.
"Her words acted like signal: q
chorus of laughter RING from every
corner of the room; the very servants
eraspcd their sides as II to hold IN
their amusement; whilst pale, bag
pard, trembling from head to foot, flew
out Of the house TO rush home and pour
out the story to my wife.
"Next day 1t was the talk of the town.
When went to the office very fellow
In IL came up In turn to say: Good
morning; and, Tsay, llerbelot. Pickup
those peaches Even in the street tho
bows followed me and called after me:
Peaches, peaches.
1.-THE long and short of 1t was that |
had to give up my place; week Inter
sent in my resignation.
AN uncle of my wife was farming
some land of his own near the town
where ! was born, and wrote asking
him TO take me as kind Of auxiliary.
He agreed to this; and that Is how we
came to Chanteraine. There's not much
more to tell YOU bucliled to, gotup at
daybreak, and worked MS hard as a mig
ger The life suited me, after all, better
than the old office, and before very long
developed into regular farmer The
farm itself prospered so much to my
old uncle's satisfaction that he left 1t to
us Mt his death. Since then ! have
bought more land round the old place,
+, and now you shall see for yourself the
results"
! By this time we were at Chanteraine.
First we passed Through the orchard
under trees bending beneath the weight
: of apples, pears, plums. Beyond 1t a
4. field sloped 10 a clear stream, on the
, farther side of which rose vne-clad
j hill, where grapes were now swelling
and thrushes warblng. Left OF us, the
noise Of wbnnowing machine showed
b where the barns stood, and, after we
passed through the well-stocked Kitchen
e garden, we saw the house, the white
Il front OF which was covered with peach
/. espaliers bearing fine crop of ripening
o fruit.
a "Ahl" said Herbelot, you see, we 60
q in for peaches here. ! owe them all my
l. luck. and but for them should have
n been to this dhy a wretched little clerk
4 shaking in my shoes every time my
chief was out OF humor Poor fellows
there are too many of them, without me