The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-28

wan and weary than ever. The DO,
drlfted away to the balcony, and the
OLD woman (my contemporary wrinkleC
her brows in painful effort TO follow
the Circassian's translation of my
phrases. | ended, and heavy silence
fell upon us ALL
"A maid brought in cigarettes. The
wives said they would only smoke q
little, as l dislike tobacco That was
really thoughtful, and felt grateful
heartily wished that I could make
some pleasant conversational return for
| their forbearance.
! &fterWard Bessie comforted me by
| saying that the guests were not bored,
We're even then enjoying themselves.
| But at the time felt that my own suf"
terings were measure of theirs.
| Alter a silence came another ques-
! ton: AS you are a learned lady, can
you tell us why the rain rarely Qf ever
goes up toward the sky, whereas the
snow went uD and down the other
| day?"
l threw myself with enthusiasm into
the task of answering, But the result
was no happier. They discussed my re-
ply in Turkish in perfunctory man
I ner, moving their hands around and
around, as some people use their hands
inside muff. and in way certainly
that could not have any reference to
rain or snow. Perhaps they We're say
ing my explanations were involved
Probably that was true enough Of them,
as translated by the pretty, uncompre-
bending Circassian. However, / shall
never know.
How longed that Bessie might walk
in and create diversion
The clock chimed 6. These people
had remained three hours. Would they
never go?
LAS you are learned lady" came
the now established preamble, 'can you
tell us why good tooth sometimes
aches?"
I began: "SWeetmeats' fearing
to drift into inhoepitable discourse,
Just as Bessie's maid was bringing
tray with tiny glass plates on each of
which was spoonful of roseleaf con-
serve, I fastened TO add: II have re-
membered something, 1t is quite new;
a London toy! Beesie's little boys
grandmother sent it,"
While the guests disposed of conserve
and sherbet I ran off to find The me-
chanical bear who danced and beat a
drum, winding him up as l returned to
the drawing room. l confess that I
wound him up slowly, it was such a re-
lief to be away from the company
I had no sooner set him upon the
floor than his dance began. The bride
uttered a piercing shrek; the boy
squealed like wild animal; the fat
Emphatic second wife went into hys-
tercs; the Circassian also screamed,
jumping about, and the first wife jab-
bered in evident horror, clutching her
boy.
"She says it is the devil" walled the
interpreter, shrilly, above the general
din.
At the moment the bear beat the
first sharp roll on the drum The elder
woman fiinging some of her draperies
about her son. tumbled toward the
door, rushed through the anteroom and
came plump into my cousins butler!
without the yackmash. According to
old Turkish usage, the encounter
might have meant loaded sack and
descent into the Bosporus for herr
The bride fled, clinging to the inter-
prefer. to the furthest corner of the !
drawing room, where they sobbed and
shuddered together. The second wife, |
now violently hysterical, claimed my |
first care After / had Gained her
I caught up the bear-drum-
ner and put him out Of sight. !
Then those in the drawing room took
heart to move into the anteroom, where
the first wife was already getting into
her extinguisher.
Nothing | could say Through the
Circassian) could tranquilize them.
Their ponderous coach was waiting be-
low. In less time than l thought pos
sible the long train of the brides ball
dress, the cut velvets Of the chief wife
and the shabby finery of the second
were rolled into big bundles on the
plan adopted by bathing women, who
wade and dip the children on our
shores in summer and then my guests
waddled and rolled rapidly out Of the
house.
When the carriage had rumbled away
l fell in great agitation upon the bear,
apostrophizing him: 'Oh, you terrible
little fiend! Oh, you dear, dear dar-
ling delverer!"
/ Rugged and kissed him.
"Alone already" exclaimed Bessie an
hour later Il hurried back from the
most charming garden party that ever
was on purpose to help you with your
harem!" -Travel.