The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-06-12
- BLUNDER
fOriginal.l

Miss Olivia Allendale was one Of the
elite; | also had the entree to the best
society. Miss Allendale was rich;
was by no means Impoverished, Miss
Allendale lived in q handsome house
Of which she was the mistress; ! lived
in bachelor quarters. Miss Allendale
was considering number Of men from
among whom to choose husband; I
was concentrating my attention upon
Miss Allendale with 4 view to secur-
ing her for wife.
Miss Allendalc knew all points Of eti-
quette as she knew her letters and was
extremely fastidious as to the bearing
If her friends. once saw q man who
lid not know that it Is q lady's privi-
lege to offer her hand to gentleman
extend his own to Miss Allendale. She
was dreadfully shocked,
l had everything in my favor with
Miss Allendale-so I was informed by
mutual friend-and felt reasonably
sure of an engagement before she went
to Newport for the summer. But one
thing / knew-if l ever made mis-
take in etiquette, laughed too loud, said
the wrong thing at the wrong time-in
short. in any way indicated that was
not to the manner born-I would lose
the prize.
note came inviting me to dinner
en- famille. l understood by this that
there were to be no other guests and
would have the evening to myself.
Indeed. considering the situation be-
tween us, felt sure that l would have
an opportunity to declare myself.
AS fate would have it. on the even
ing of the dinner | was suddenly indis-
posed My valet. Pierre. a treasure and
on whom had relied implicitly in car
rying messages. had been taken seri-
ously i'll the day before, and | had sent
him to hospital sent out for a
messenger to take my regrets to Miss
Allendale. and one Dennis O'Rourke
appeared It would never Go to send
note except by my own valet, so | told
Dennis to go into q back room. where
he would find one of Pierre's suits of
livery. and PIT it on. He did so. and
when he returned ! was charmed that
it fitted him so nicely.
"Take this note to Miss Allendale."
said. land when you return bring me
my dinner
Before could conclude the sentence
a friend entered. and when l turned
from welcoming him Dennis was gone
a ~
grily. II intended to tell him to bring
me a dinner from Delmonico's, and hes
gone without instructions"
An hour later Dennis came IN bear
ing q sumptuous dinner.
where did you get it?' I asked.
"Where did | get it? Sure, where We
stint me for it,"
"What do you mean!'
"The lady. Miss Allendale. I stint In
yer note an said ye'd loike 10 have me
bring back the dinner. as ye were suf-
fcrin' an couldn't go out"
sat paralyzed for a moment and
then. Selling the heaviest piece of china
on the tray before me. hurled IT at
Dennis O'Rourke. Unfortunately 1t
grazed his soft head, cutting it, and
striking the hard wall. broke into
pieces.
What could do to repair the blum
der? For awhile raved, then tried to
think. Absently taking up plate. l
noticed that 1t was a make winch
could not be duplicated in America.
Here was more trouble. II could get
a new piece to match the broken one.
I could return the dishes without II be-
ing noticed. AS 1t was, / could not re-
turn 1t at all.
Hoping against hope. wrote note
explaining the whole affair and. as
had no other messenger. was forced 10
send II by Dennis. When he returned.
he bore no reply whatever. Then
knew the game was up.
"Whom did you see, Dennis? asked.
"The futman. sir. He TUX the note
on q shinin' waiter. l waited. thinkln
there was seriethin' TO sind. an when
he KEN back he says. 'Sthep this way
I follyed him, an he TUX me to the
DRAWN room. an way of at the other
ind sat q beautiful lady. The rutman
stands loike sojer at attintion Mt the
door. an l axes him what | shud DE
doin'. Thin be jerks his thumb ut the
lady an goes to her.
".Are ye Mr.. Yer Bleeks manr' sne
axes.
"'Yis, mim.' says.
whats the matter with yer fore
head
81 got that fur me stupidity
"'From Mr.. Van BleekT
"'Yis. miss. an / deserved It.
"sWhat did he do 1t withr