The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-02
His Lost
Opportunity

Ts2Hs7575751s157525757525251s
From the German Of Joseph Siklosy.
On beautiful autumn day l made
a bicycle trip from Paris to Charities,
where dismounted at the aotel. AS
/ was very hungry and the clock had
just struck six, l at once directed my
steps toward the dining room. the To-
cation of which was known to me
from earlier visits.
I found the room better lighted
than before, and flowers on the ta-
bles. But where were the guests? /
took seat and began to drum on the
table with my knife and fork. A
waiter who looked in at the door in
response to the noise, and whom I
asked If dinner would not be served
soon replied, in tone almost Of re-
buke, Very soon, sir"
Some ladies and gentlemen came
In, conversing. To my surprise, they
were all in evening dress. More and
more of them came, until the room
was quite full, but not one of them
took a seat at the tables. sat there
alone munching the roll which
found stuck in my napkin, in expecta-
ton of the soup. Nobody seemed to
take any notice of me; but the waiter,
who had come in again, seemed to
be shocked by my conduct. l re-
fiected that probably the new owner
of the Hotel had introduced new ETH
quette at the table d'hote. 1t was not
long before the host came up to me
and asked: Pardon me, sir, but are
you one of the wedding guests?"
Wedding guest? What do you
mean? Oh, is there to be wedding
dinner?"
Eyes, sir. suppose you thought
you were in the public dining room.
This evening the table dhote is
served in the billiard room on &C.
count Of the wedding. Prosper will
show you the way"
Laughing over my mistake, / rose
and followed the waiter, but before
was out of the room heard behind
me loud "Sir, sir!"
I turned in the door. 1t was M
Beriot, father of the bride, who was
calling me. He was standing by the
bride and groom, who had Just come
in. The young couple were smiling
at me, and M. Beriot called out:
my dear sir, you are hereby in
vited to keep your place at the table.
Pray, do us the honor to dine with
US. We have vacant seat, for my
friend Bidochard was obliged to leave
before the dinner, and we shall be
glad to have you take his place."
I looked at the faces around me.
and saw that should be laughed at
II refused. Il am to stay, then?'
I asked, hesitatingly.
Eyes, stay, stay!" replied chorus
Of voices, and all clapped their hands.
A vivacious woman came forward and
shook my hand, saying How do you
do, M. BidochardT
Under such circumstances soon
felt at home in the charming circle
I gave my card to M. Beriot, who in
troduced me with great ceremony.
was to sit beside his siste:-in-law, a
young widow, whom had already mo-
ticed among the guests.
During the twenty or more courses
I f6nversed diligently with my charm
ing neighbor, and my chivalrous
speeches were not received with dis
favor. What she seemed to appresiate
especially in me was that she could
talk with me about everything. Her
favorite theme, however, was music.
She was wildly interested in the fact
that / knew Franz List personally
and could tell her everything about
his peculiarities and habits. She prom
Used that II I should ever call on her
when I happened to be in the city
she would play Hungarian rhapsody
for me.
The next morning when I had sent
: for my wheel and was settling my
bill carriage drove up to the door.
Soon the widow and friend. whom
had also met the evening before,
came down in travelling costume. I
understood, from the way in which
the friend looked at me, that had
been a subject of conversation be-
tween the two women. Returning my
greeting, the lovely Mime. Beriot
asked whittier / was bound, and when
replied that l had no fixed destina-
ton, she suggested, blushing slightly.
that I should go little way with
them on the road to Dreux. In order
That they might zee me on my wheel.
l assisted the two women into the
carriage and accompanied them on
my bicycle to Dreux. In spite of the
duss which ! was obliged to swallow,