The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-07-28

and there was no getting 1t out again.
The more objections | raised, the more
she insisted.
Nothing would be easier" she said.
'There'u be a hundred people coming
and going No one will notice you
Take one as If for yourself and then
hide it cleverly. Don't shrug your
shoulders that way. You can do it per-
fectly. and l should like one so much.
Promise to bring me one, promise!'
There was nothing for it. | MUIR
INJURED some vague reply and hastened
to leave, but just as | went out of the
door she called me back again, crying:
Remember, you have promised
'It was a very fine ball; flowers
everywhere, beautiful gowns and an
excellent orchestra. My chief had
spared nothing to give success to
fete which was to honor his wife and
daughter.
''At midnight the supper was served
and the dancers entered by couples
into the dining-room. Scarcely had
| crossed the threshold when, in the
center of the table, | saw the famous
peaches my wife SO desired to taste.
They were beautiful fruit, and the
more looked at them the more I
thought how pleased my wife would
be If she had one, and the more |
wished TO take her one. But how?
Only the servants were busy about the
table and the host himself directed to
whom the peaches should be served.
From time to time. at certain
signal, the butler would carefully re-
move one of the fruit from the lus-
cious looking pyramid. cut it delicate
ly with a silver knife and offer it upon
a choice dish to the person named. |
trembIed lest all should be served in
this manner. but. whether by accident
or design, when the music struck up
and the dancers returned to the ball
room there were half a dozen peaches
still remaining on the nest of green
leaves.
Il followed the others, but only IA
a false move. | had managed to leave
my tall hat in a corner of the dining
room. and | soon returned upon the
pretext Of finding it.
The servants were busy clearing
away the feast, and for a moment I
found myself alone near the table.
There was no time to lose. Grasping
two of the peaches hastily, l hid them
in my hat, stuffing them in with a
handkerchief and then. apparently per-
feetly calm. but inwardly quaking, |
made my way back to the ballroom.
carefully holding my hat against my
shirt front My plan was to take an
unceremOnious departure and, once
outside. carry my booty VIGOROUSLY
home in my handkerchief.
But alas! it was not SO easy as I
had thought. They had begun dancing
a cotfllion. and in order to reach the
door | was obliged to cross the entire
hall
Trembling | started to weave my
way through the double row of chairs,
fearing every instant lest sharp blow
should knock the peaches out of my
hat To my horror, as l reached the
middle of the floor, | heard my young
hostess eXclaim:
ga hat! We need q hat!'
n Lew HouI was duc
the lady, standing in a circle of men
who revolved about her, was to place
hat on the head of the man she Sc
lected as partner.
GAS she spoke, Mile. x caught
sight of me with my tall hat pressed
against my coat front. My blood froze
within me as | caught her glance.
"'Ah, she cried, you have come
just in time M Herbelot! Quick, your
hat. please
Before | could stammer a word in
reply, she had seized my hat, SO alb
ruptly that the two peaches came
tumbling out, followed by my handker-
chief
"You can imagine the scene! There
was a general litter from the ladies,
and | saw the men point at me as they
whispered among themselves. | felt
my knees shake beneath me, and
would have given anything to have
had the floor open and swallow me
where | stood.
''The young girl looked at me for
moment, evidently struggling with a
desire to laugh. and then she said, as
she handed me back my hat: