Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-01-14

laru-WOrklnS SOrC OF cI;lp. anu having
early imbibcd proper notions of the re-
spect clerk owes his superiors, I was
soon noticed by the chiefs and got
rise. This was when was 2j. l really
think the head man in our department
had fancy for me. At any rate, he
kept me always in his own room. and
the other chaps in the Office all envied
me my luck and chaffed me about the
rosy future when I was to be top of
the tree But 1 soon gave them reason
to change their opinion of me. mar
girl who was pretty, loving, sweet, but
who had no money. Now. this is the
sort Of thing business men despise. To
them marriage is entirely business
tran saction. The husband can pro-
vide the breakfast they say. but the
wife ought to provide the dinner
"Well, when we first married it was
fully as much as we could do between
us to provide supper. Everyone said
1 was 4 fool, and that had made mess
of my life. But we contrived to make
ends meet. She was as good as gold,
our wants were few. and, though we
for our pains, yet society condescended
not absolutely to cut us.
'My chief was a rich man and fond
of making a show. He often enter
tained; sometimes at great. heavy dim
ners, and occasionally he invited the
| chief residents and the families of the
government officials to dance.
at was to one of these latter enter
tainments that we were asked about a
year after our marriage. and. my wife
not being in 4 fit state OF health to
accept. I would have given great
deal to stay at home cozily with her.
But dared not do it. for the chief did
not permit his invitations to be
sighted. :.
so, reluctantly enough. I donned
my dress clothes, the wife running me
over with her eye before started to
see that everything was correct and Civ
ing me little pats and pulls, especially
the bow of my white tie.
"'It's going to be regular grand
ball. she said. so mind you keep your
eyes open and see everything. for my
benefit. shall expect to be told who
is there and all about the toilettes and
the supper. Oh, l forgot. there is 70
be 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! !
do want one SO badly. DO you know. I
think if you were very, very nice, you
would manage to smuggle one to- met
II cried out at this, and represented
to her that it 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 I 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. I daresay it is
very childish of me, but l do long for
it. Ever since I heard about those
peaches l have wanted one. just dread
fully. Promise me. dear. you'll bring
NE one-promise me, darling.'
'Now. what was I to say to her?
How could I refuse her, loving her as
did? At any rate. at last murmured
out some kind of a 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 we'll.
cat supper time I followed the pro-
cession with a humping heart, and the
first thing | saw, in the place of honor
on the long table, were Chcvet's IA
nous peaches.
"And magnificent they certainly
swere. They were piled up in a basket
shaped dish of Luneville china, each
separate fruit resting in it's own little
nest of fresh vine leaves. skillfully ar
ranged to display its attractions. the
rosy flush of one velvety cheek con trast-
ing with the greeny white of neigh
bor The very look of them was enough;
one could see they were delicious, per-
fumed. pink-feshed.
II gazed tenderly ut them from 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 I was to get one, or per-
haps couple.
"But how? That was the point, for it
was evident the servants were keeping
guard over them. Every now and then
l caught the master of the house Civ