Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-08-31

. shoulders that way. You can do IL per
fectly. and | should like one 80 much
Promise to bring me one. promise!'
. There was nothing for II. | muir
INJURED some vague reply and FASTENED
to leave, but just as went out OF the
door she called me back again, crying:
Remember, you have promised
1T was a very fine ball; flowers
everywhere, beautiful gowns and an
excellent orchestra. My chief had
spared nothing TO give success to a
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 |
thought how pleased my wife would
be II 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 a certain
signal, the butler would carefully re-
move one of the fruit from the lus-
cious- looking pyramid, cut 1t delicate
ly with silver knife and offer II upon
a choice dish to the person named.
trembled 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 as
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 |
found myself alone near the table.
There was no time to lose. Grasping
two OF the peaches hastily, hid them
In my hat, stuffing them In with a
and then, apparently per-
fectly 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
lnceremonious departure and. once
outside, carry my booty VIGOROUSLY
home in my handkerchief.
But alas! It was not so easy as I
lad thought. They had begun dancing
eotillion. and in order to reach the
ioor | was obliged to cross the entire
lall. 4,
Trembling | started to weave my !
way through the double row of chairs.
caring every instant lest a sharp blow a
hould knock the peaches out of my
lat To my horror, as | reached the !
middle of the floor. heard my young
ostess exclaim:
"A hat We need a haiti
"A new figure was beginning. and !,
he lady, standing in circle Of men y
Tho revolved about her, was to place :
hat on the head Of the man she Sc {
scted as a partner. i
AS she spoke, Mile. K caught .,
ght of me with my tall hat pressed :,
gainst my coat front. My blood froze :.
thin me as | caught her glance. ~
-" All she cried, you have come =
list in time, NJ. Herbelot! Quick. your =
at, please .
Before | could stammer a word In D
'ply, she had seized my hat. so alb j,
iptly that the two peaches came !
lmbling out, followed by my handker- !
lief
You can imagine the scenel There Z,
as a general litter from the ladies. \.
I'd saw the men point at me as they =
hispered among themselves. I felt -
y knees shake beneath me and | l.
ould have given anything TO have
Id the floor open and swallow me
here | stood.
The young girl looked at me for a
oment evidently struggling with
sire to laugh, and then she said as
e handed me back my hat:
Pick up your peaches, NJ. Herbe-
Everyone laughed outright at that.
en- the lackeys grinned openly. and. -
az anu habshius covered with cOnfu-
IN, ! stumbled my way to the door 49,
d went home, scarcely knowing what
did. -
The next day the story was all over
e city When I entered the Office .
comrades greeted me with a Pick
your peaches. Herbelot,' which Nil
ought the red TO my cheeks in a ss
sh | could not take a step In the
'eet without hearing some voice ely =
'ckingly: There's the man who lost n
! peachesl'
MY life became unbearable. and a "
elk later | resigned from the Office.
My wife had an uncle who had a
m near my native city. | beggci /.
n to take me on as an assistant and
consented, so that We we're shortly
er installed at Chanteraine. That Is :.
whole Of my story. r
l set to work in good earnest at nv ~
n In hgra rfoFwI -