The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-08-12
"But what can we give them for sup

all the naughty people take champagne
any oysters. Besides, they won't need
any cooking. How is your pockct-mon'
ey, Clara"
Il have three pounds
And i have one. Four pounds. i have
no idea how much champagne costs.
Have you?"
Not the slightest"
How many oysters does a man eat?"
Il can't imagine"
I'll write and ask Charles. No, 1
won't. I'll ask Jane. Ring for her.
Clara. She has been a cook, and is
sure to know"
Jane, on being cross-questioned, re-
fused TO commit herself beyond the
statement that IL depended upon the
gentleman. ard also upon the oysters.
The united experience Of the kitchen.
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 a sheet of pa
per. And two pints of champagne.
And some brown bread and vinegar and
pepper. That's all, I think. 1t is not
so very difficult TO give a supper after
all, is it, Clara"
II don't like 1t, Ida. 1t seems TO
me to be SO very indicate"
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 GAS.
He will reach the door at 10. We must
have everything ready for him. Now.
just sit down at once, and ask Harold
IN pNr1a a q n'plppk and I shall do the
same to Charles"
The two invitations were dispatched,
received and accepted. Harold was al
ready a confdant, 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 9 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. y
merrier party never met, and the house
rang with their laughter and their chat
ter.
II Is tlTec minutes 10 ten, CrleQ
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 direction of the door, and scattered
oyster shells over the cloth.
Have you your pipe, Charles?"
MY pipe! Yes"
Then please smoke it. Now don't
argue about 1t, but do 1t. for you will
ruin he effect otherwise"
The large man drew out a red case, |
and extracted a great yellow meer-
schaum, out Of which. a m 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. Now
l 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. l like
it. Clara. dear. put your feet upon the
coalscuttle, and do try to look a little
d~issipated. / 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 a French song, with a
swinging ira la-la chorus.
The doctor had walked home from
the station in a peaceable and relent-
ing frame Of mind. feeling that, per-
haps, he had said too much in the morn
ing, that his daughters had for years
been models in every way. and that, IL
there had been any change of late, IL
was. as they said themselves, on ac-
count Of their anxiety to follow his ad-
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 grieved 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 s~ettee. 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
a caress. On the other side of the room,
Clara was lounging in an armchair,
with Harold seated beside her, both
smoking, and both with wine-glasses