The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-11
CHAPTER VII.

vited, of course. Alphonse Basnet, a
Frenchman owning the plantation
adjoining the one I then occupied,
asked me if I should attend Bostocks
party.
I told him that should.
''Well,' he said, II want your ad-
vice. am asked, too. A countryman
of mine, Castex by name, who has
lived in Louisiana, and more lately in
Arba, arrived at my place yesterday.
When I told him of my invitation
he became greatly interested and asked
me to take him along.''
Take him, then. That, l believe,
is one Of the usages of society the
world over
Yes, to be sure; but Castex leads
me to think that he has known our
host before. He has asked me fifty
questions about him. He seems much
more interested than he naturally
would be, growing out of any ordinary
acquaintance in past years. I must
take him, of course. What want you
to advise me about is: Shall go over
and speak to Mr.. Bostoclz this morning
about him?'
l was on the point of advising AL
phonse to do so, by all means, as GER
tainly should have done had Castex
been my visitor have often thought,
that, had l obeyed my impulse, the
bloody combat that has been described
to you might have been avoided. Then
came the reluctance to interfere in a
matter of other mems social RESPONSE
bilities, and declined to advise him.
Alphonse returned home, and his guest
accompanied him to the dinner-party
unheralded
It so happened that these two arrived
last. With them there were thirteen
in the parlors, the host making the
fourteenth. All who had been invited
were present, save one; and I renem-
Der that as Mr.. Castex was presented
to the company, there was much re-
mark and jest about our good luck in
having him there, so as to avoid the
awkward thirteen at the table,
When he was introduced to the host,
a different scene occurred. Mr.. Bos-
took started, changed color, withdrew
his profered hand and made slight
bow instead. Castex smiled, bowed,
and turned away. In my eyes he had
a most disagreeable face, and the smile
was very nearly a sheer.
It was an awkward incident, and
threw a chill over the party at tho
start; for everyb body observed it. Still,
there was no outbreak just then. Din
ner was soon announced, and Mr. Bos-
took led the way to the hall.
The host was at the head of the
table, of course; I happened to be at
the foot. Next on the right of the
head was a doctor; next sat Basnet, his
friend beside him.
The soup had but just been served
when Coralie, then but twelve years
old, came to an open door and stood an
instant. She evidently desired to speak
to her father, but, seeing that he and
his guests were seated, she went away.
Castex saw her, and stared at her.
Directing the attention of Bostock to
her, he put a question to him in French.
It was answered in the affirmative.
Basnet says that the question was:
y
Then, upon receiving the reply, Cas-
tex leaned over the angle of the table
and made a rapid rejoinder also in
French. Basnet distinguished the
words: "Wife,' "avenged' and "New
Orleans" More than these nobody un.
derstood.
Nobody but the host. The remark,
whatever it was, was for his ears, and
he heard every word of it. He looked
at Castex-horror, indignation, hate
were in the look. The attention Of
the whole table was fastened upon the
scene.
Gentlemen" said Bostock, ''some
thing very disagreeable has occurred
could pardon much in a man sitting
at my table and eating my salt; but
say now that either Napoleon Caste,
or I must leave this table. Well know
ing that his presence in my house anc
at my board would be idiocy, he ha.
taken advantage of a social license
to force himself upon me. That coulc
endure in silence, out of regard for my
friends, that nothing unseemly nigh
occur here. But he is not content will
that exhibition of his malignant heart
he has just this moment put upon m,
an insult which I cannot and will no
tolerate. If could I know not VIVA
next to expect from him. Irepeat it
either he or must leave this table,"
In the painful silence that succeede,
this startling speech, all eyes wer
fixed on Castex. He rose from his seat
cool and smiling.
ut pleases me very much to retire.
he said. "Witness it, messieurs!-yor
der gentleman drives me from his tabl.
and his house,
He bowed, and immediately left tn
room. Alphonse Basnet squirmed il
his chair, and at last blurted out: ~
'Bostock, my dear fellow - excus
me-but you see can't remain. Thi
1S a wretched business; 1 hope it will
end here. But I brought my frien'
here, and of course I must 20 witt
him. Z. -
And he did. The soup grew cold
and was removed untasted; course afte
course of the choicest dishes succeede,
and were hardly touched. Everybod,
was under dread full constraiI1H. COCOA