The times., 1898-05-08

The two principal characters in the tale
are a pre- ~ little woman by the name
of Mrs Daisy Veruiam. who has been &.
leader Of society FOR some years. and Is
wildly desirous 10 get out Of the position,
bat can't; and friend Of hers, Mrs
chloe Van Adam. from the orange groves
of Florida. freshly divorced from Hus-
kinson. her husband. and wildly desirous
70 cet into society. on any sort Of terms.
The friends meet. FOR tha first time since
their school DAYS i'm the midst Of a Lon
don season Mrs Nerulam recounts her
woes IN cndcavoring 20 Ee- out of soc!-
cty. and describes the way in which soci-
ETY.. like the traditional sheep. followed
her rs its leader no matter what uncon-
veutiunaI thing she did. She has finally
become convinced tina. the only way to
make society drop her Will be to compro-
mise herself in al eyes of London with
out COMPROMISING herself IN her own
ewes. 'If I were married she plant
lively remarks. u could be divorced.
This dashes the hopes Of Mrs. Van
Adam, hut only FOR moment. she SUD
seQuently appears as her own husband,
Huskiuson Van Adam. and thus affords
her friend the desired opportunity for be-
coming compromised without doing any
thing wrong. The complications which en-
sue are peculiar. Most Of the action takes
place during the Ascot week. when Mrs.
Yerulam gives 4 house party, renting
for the occasion tie paiatial establish
mcnt Of MIR. Perry Lite. the Bun Emper-
OF. Who the Bun Emperor is one must
really read the book to find out. but one
is left with strong suspicion that he
may be intended for Mr.. Upton or some
other magnate OF the food market in
London. His house. however. deserves to
take o prize at some county fair cf lit
erature. Il is the most unique conception
Of house that has been sent into the
world since Bofins Bower One Of it's
features is a quantity Of penny-iH-the-
slot machines distributed around in diff
ferent parts Of the semi-harpnial hall,
and other unique and interesting fur
nishings are a Winter garden, with many
parrots. n remarkable variety Of echoes
which distribute the parrots remarks in
unexpected ways, a baronial staircase
pulled up by the roots from some home Of
the mighty and placed in the hall. and an
orchestrion which plays They Never Do
That TO Ne" while the Bun Emperor and
Empress peacefully fan asleep in their
chairs after dinner. CupOlas make the
roof-tree Of the palace dubious in every
direction.
The adventures which houseparty Of
a dozen or 50. half OF them titled, and
one Of them most earthly and primeval
country squire from Bungay Marshes,
are enabled TO have in this abode while
the Bun Emperor watches the proceed
ines with a spyglass. from fishing cot
ta-e at n distance-the remarks which
they make. the surprises which they
undergo and the performances which
they get up impromptu-are the very
apo;he9sis OF the unexpected. The eli
max of these performances arrives soon
after the nocturnal tour OF Lady Drake
widow Of a Y. C., in quest Of something
10 eat The descendant Of an ancient
family Of large feeders" observes the
author. mildly. she very naturally pos
sessed their main characteristics. This
dame of noble birth. therefore. being ac-
customed 20 lunches in the night and
having forgotten TO bring with her a
supply Of p9tted meats and so on for her
suEtenance, and not wishing to acquaint
her hostess with her needs IN this re-
spect. goes foraeinE about at three in
;hc mo:ning-wrapped in an Indian
shawl dressing gown and provided with
/ three shiIlings and f0urpeHce worth OF
coppers. This Is what happened:
Down the mighty stairs she tripPcd. her heart
beating nigh with pleasant autiriuItiouS careless
81 the gloomy solitude iu which the mighty hall
was wrapped. intent only upon the satisfaction
! of an iHHeriod appetite She gained the bot
/ tom oi -he stairs All was silent. But tn,
friendly candle tickered upon the blessed ma
chine iu whose interior lav hid in a mine
such golden dainties--0fi, succulcnt butter
I scotch, tho pale and rounded peppermint. th'
crurrhiug har cf c0c0anut-ice. and the Hsidinr
but revardiug hTandy-ball. Her ladyship tr .abler
Z with rapture as she surveyed Il. For one brie
instant she surveyed IL with her tiny eyes lk,
! piH-p0Hts. Then she placed her candle carefully
down, gra=ped her forty copper, and crept
Tavcncusiy forward on siippcrcd feet. She wa
about tG enjoy a supper of some forty courses
! The thought shook her 20 the very soul.
She gained the machine, and her glance ran pas
sioHately ever lis pretty knobs. its delicate but
! tons, the minute lct-in labels. which indicate,
I the laiTs 81 its FaTIOIs inhabitants. Which swee
should she treat like the Wsly badger and draw
I iirstt After a period OF profound meditation
she resolved 10 open hc4 banquet with q packe
3 of golden candy She therefore advanced, an'
I placed penny IN the slot. and promptly receiye'
/ parcel q luggage labels with pink insertion
/ full q tviue.
People who have had experience will
! slot machines will see the realism Of this
Lady Drake was staggered Although trasl
/ er. she had never accustomed herself 20 supper
! lite on addresses. But her ardor was only dashet
for . moment Reasoning that one mistak
I should only lift her stepping stones &
/ higher things and acutely sIIunsiug that II lug
gage labels occupied the home Of golden candy.
/ golden candy should I'll the place % Iuggag
| labels. she placed another penny IN the slot. an
I gTasTinC the drawer marked luggage labels wa
the prompt recipient of vet another parcel Of thoS
! useful articles Her lsdyshp WIS now lrTitatrd
These delays increased her alreS5y sharp set apps
I copper into the slot. ATTACHED drawer rlfko
1 ''peppeHnlute, extra strong and was ifstaufl
/ the proud possessor of a neat BLACK buipn-huo
/ with q cork handle. Mann persons of Hea. Dhai
| acter would have desistci from further pen
severance. and have retired. depressed atd suTp,i
less tD bed. But Lady Drake lad not been maj
NED 20 5. e without catching the complain
81 courage Size had now lost three pence, an
was still famishiug. Hor situation seemed dcspe
ate, bui she rose 10 the occasion dogge
expression came into her tiny peaked cCunt'
.raH.H r.|. NsH e
machine ard sat down with thc fixed determine
tiul II pressing every button and pulling ever
knob before She left the battlefield She rueaT
10 have il thoroughly out with the tnachu,
She was resolved 10 f-ht 10 the death.
thousand bHtt0r-h0oks should not turn her fg0I
her purpose. lu went another cGpptr-anoti'
knob was pulled. bui this time with 4 resu
| 50 Temafiable that Lady Drake almost sCreamc
| aloud For all of Sudden immense j
81 pennies spoutsd forth into her lap and vel
| nigll submerged her She Gas drcnrhcd IN nj
/ coinage 0f dcUartcf generations of sucar-plu
seekers. and vas rendered hrcathcss by the
/ proved determination 10 be- fed She nearly su
| CumhCl under this wave 81 misfortune and co!
! per- aut her grit saved her and. beating asit
I she pressed button after hutton. attacked kul
| after knob, with all the frenzy cf paSeiona
nature in arms. reckless oi danger needless
death. LADY bTabe Saw rcd and had u
/ Judgment day suddenly davned behind the Ia
tIcc windows u the hall sine would still ha'
fought on, stiil have pressed forward, hcadlor
| 20 glory and food. crash 0t cigars did NJ
dzunt her cloud u pills nearly blinded h
could not deter her. Dutch dolls hest her b
she oyeIcamc them. Showers - cherry blossom
broke over her from collaTSihle s1uirts. STAN
! few round her like falling leaves IN Autumn
size scarcely knew il. And Al last she had b
reward The sweets began To come hcralded
tine exquisite eruption Of sugar pig, "ith
string tail and pink eyebrows al complete. .
! They poured upon the tiny d4nntless creature wi
passionate aTd0r. filling heT lap To the yc
| hrm until the last knob was graspCd, the ia
. 2 4 a A
just "a ibis moment Mr. James Bush laid an enS
nous hand on Lady Drake's shouiGcr-
Who Mr.. James Bush WAS how
came to be meandering about the Il,