The Port Gibson reveille., 1904-10-06
His Lost
Opportunity
Observation-Disclosures

from the German OF joseph SlklOby.
90 a beautiful autumn day | mad'
a bicycle trip from Paris to Chartres
where / dismounted at the hotel. Al
was very hungry and the clock haC
Just struck six, at once directed m.
steps toward the dining room, the 10
cation of which was known to mt
from earlier visits.
found the room better lighted
than before, and flowers on the ia
Bles. But where we're the guests?
took q seat and began to dram on the
table with my knife and fork. A
walter who looked in at the door In
response TO the noise, and whom !
asked II dinner would not be served
soon replied, in a tone almost Of re
buke, Very soon, sir"
Some ladies and gentlemen came
In, oonversing To my surprise, they
we're all in evening dress. More and
more Of them came, until the room
was quite full. but not one Of them
took scat at the tables. sat there
aloUo munching the roll which I
found stuck in my napkin, in expecta-
tion 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. / re-
nected that probably the new owner
OF the Hotel had introduced new eti-
quette st the table d'hote. II 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-I? What do you
mean? Oh. is there to be a wedding
Ginnerr"
Yes. sir. ! suppose you thought
you were in the public dining room.
This evening the table d'hote is
served in the billiard room on ac-
count Of the wedding. Prosper will
show you the way"
Laughing over my mistake. rose
Gid followed the waiter, but before l
was out OF the room / heard behind
me loud "Sir, sir!"
l turned in the door. IL 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 a vacant seat. for my
friend Bidochard was obliged to leave
before the dinner, and we shall be
glad to have you take his place"
! looked at the faces around me.
and aaw that should be laughed at
II ! refused. Il am to stay, then?"
| asked. hesitatingly.
Ties, stay, stayl" replied a chorus
Of voices, and all clapped theis hands.
A uvacious woman came forward and !
shook my hand, saying How do you
do, NJ. Bidochard?"
Under such circumstances | soon
telt at home In the charming circle.
gave my card to M. Beriot, who in.
troduced me with great ceremony.
was to SIT beside his siste.-in-Iaw, a
young widow, whom had already no
Iced among the guests.
During the twenty or more courses
Conversed diligently with my charm.
ns neighbor, and my chivalrous
speeches were not received with dis
'asor. What she seemed to appresiate
especially In me was that she could
elk with me about everything. Her
'avorite theme, however was music.
Che was vividly interested in the fact
hat l knew Franz Liszt personally
md could tell her everything about
lis peculiarities and habits. She prom
sed that II should ever call on her
when / happened to be In the city
he would play a Hungarian rhapsody
or me.
The next morning when I had sent
or my wheel and was settling my
dl q carriage drove up to the door.
loon the widow and a friend. whom
had also met the evening before.
anne down in travelling costume.
Understood, from the way in which
ne friend looked at me, that I had
zen subject of conversation be-
ween the two women. Returning my
reetng, the lovely Nine. Beriot
ased whittier ! was bound, and when
replied that | had no fixed destina-
ION, she suggested, blushing slightly.
hat l should go a little way with
hem on the road to Dreux, In order
nat they might see me on my wheel.
4 assisted the two women into the
arriage and accompanied them on
" bicycle to Dreux. In spite OF the
ust which ! was obliged to swallow. /,
felt proud and happy TO play the
ayalier to my lovely acquaintance.
course, no conversation was Dos
bic on account OF the rattling of
le wheels. The widow talked exclu-
veiy with her friend, but often look
at me with an enchanting smile. !.
rom time to time she raised her
'ics to ask me IL did not wish to
IN back, and when | declared that
power on earth could induce me to
ave them until they had reached
cir destination, she blushed and
emed pleased. which completely :
rned nv head n