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

the only occupant of the room. There
was no time to lose, however, and,
glancing furtively to right and left.
/ approached the dish, stretched out
my arm, snatched two peaches, and, in
the twinkling of an eye, had them in
my hat, my handkerchief stuffed well
between them. Then, assuming an air
of calm dignity, stalk."l ouv of the
room, holding the open side of The hat
against my chest, and keeping it
steady with my right hand, which was
hidden in the bosom of my waistcoat.
Tt really was Il fine posture, the sort of
thing one sees i'll statues Of great men.
1T was my intention to make my way
cautiously through the ballroom. and
then. without any form of lcavetaking.
to slip out of the house and carry home
my booty in triumph.
"But counted without my llost--or,
rather, without the hosts daughter.
The cotillon had just begun. the great
room was surrounded by double row;
against the wall black coats md dow
ayers, then u row of seats for the dane
ers, who now filled the middle Of the
room and were dancing a waltz. TO get
away, had to cross the room and pass
through the walters. I tried to do so
without being noticed, in moral
fright that some one would come bump.
ing against me and jolt out the peaches,
T could feel them rolling about inside
my hat. and the blood in my head. face
and ears felt like liquid fire. I really
suffered agonies of terror, but found
myself at last safely landed or the
other side of the circle, just as Il new
figure was being started. \ lady was
set in the center of Il ring of men who
were to dance round her, with their
backs turned to her. She was to hold
hat in her hand. and place it OH the
head of the man she chose as her part
ner to waltz. I arrived just rs this
n>aneuver began, and the very moment
the daughter of the house, who was
dancing with one of the officials of the
prefecture, set eyes on me, she said:
"'A hat, Il hat!-just what we
wanted!'
II was petrifed-I stared at her, but
could not move.
"'Oh, NJ. Herbelot,' she said, you
nave just CONlc Vic
Please give us your hat
"And before I could utter Il word, she
seized it out of my hands So suddenly
that peaches, handkerchief. vine leaves
all rolled out together OF the polished
floor.
You can imagine the scene; the
ladies trying to laugh, all eyes turned
on me, the peaches lying ut my feet:
the chiefs displeased frown; the older
people round the wall whispering and
pointing. My legs tottered 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. Herbelot.' 1t
was the young lady who had snatchc1
my hat and caused the catastrophe.
There was {: depth of sarcasm III her
voice, and she was screwing up her
mouth to avoid laughing aloud.
Her words acted like signal:
chorus of laughter rang from, every
corner of the room; the very servants
grasped their sides as 1 to hold in
their amusement; whilst I pale, hag-
gard, trembling from head to foot, flew
out Of the house to rush home and pour
out the story to my wife.
''NeNt day it was the talk of the town.
When I went to tho Office very fellow
in it came up in turn to say: Good
morning; and. I say, Herbelot. Pick up
those peaches Even in the street the
boys followed me and called after me:
Peaches, peaches.'
The long and short of it was that
had to give up my place "a week later I
sent in my res gnation.
IAN uncle of my wife was farming
some land of his own near the town
where l was born, and I wrote asking
him to take me as n kind of auxiliary.
He agreed to this; and that is how we
came to Chanteraine. There's not much
more to tell you. l buckled to, got up at
daybreak, and worked rs hard as a mig
ger. The life suited me, after all, better
than the old office, and before very long
developed into Il regular farmer. The
farm itself prospered so much to my
old uncle's satisfaction that he left it to
us at his death. Since then I 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 it
field sloped to clear stream, on the
farther side of which rose a vine-ciad
hill, where grapes were now swelling
and thrushes warbling. Left of us, the
noise of a winnowing machine showed
where the barns stood, and, after we
passed through the well-stocked kitchen
garden, we saw the house, the white
front of which was covered with peach
espaliers bearing fine crop of ripening
fruit.
"Ah!" said Herbelot, "you see, we go
in for peaches here. l owe them all my
luck, and but for them should have
been to this day wretched little clerk,
shaking in my shoes every time my
chief was out of humor. Poor fellows,
there are too MANY of them. without me