The Washington herald., 1906-10-18

eat and tried 20 make his companions
believe that he was enjoying himself.
Every time the vessel pitched be felt
that the bottom was going out Of things
and that he, Ike Gerontius. trembled on
the dizzy brink Of some sheer infinite
descent and needs must sink and sink into
! that vast abyss. Then when the dive fol-
lowed the pitch he realized the compare
tive bliss he had the second previous en-
5oyed and made miserably aware Of the
emotions Of LucfCr falling from heaven.
wondered AZ whas precise instant he
would be required 10 Yield I'D the ghost.
that Is to say, his dinner
The psychological moment soon arrived.
After the BenediCtine. madame produced
a handsomely decorated box OF sweets.
tied up with dainty ribands whose ends
were sealed with bright green wax.
These are my sugar plums," she an
nounced. but before / open the box I
must tell YOU how I got them. Listen,
once upon q time. about "a week ago. a
pretty lady-thats ms-wanted great
statesman 10 do her a great favor He
refused at first: because. well. because
She coaxed and nattered him, and finally
he gave her a half promise Then ne dis
covered that If he kept his word he
would betray an official secret: so he did
not know what TO do. He did not want
10 fail in his duty he did not want to
offend the pretty lady. He thought and
thought, and finally made Up his mind.
He sent the pretty lady two offerings. a
note inclosed with each. The first was "A
diamond necklace. and its letter said:
Madame. keep this gift. and wearing II
command my love and ask my honor
what you will The second Offering was
this box Of sweeties; the letter Is here. l
shall read ii. my friends to show you
how clever an Englishman can be at
times: Madame, keep this gift il Is
simpler than the other, but I think you
needs must ind 1t more acceptable, for IL
Is offered you with feelings Of devotion
and sincere respect F."
Her audience exchanged smiling glances
and madame continued: 1T is unueces-
sary, gentlemen, 10 finish the story since
you see that I have kept the sugar
plums. Prince, viii you open theme
Prince Carlos took the box and slashed
the ribands with a penknife. Within re-
posed a score Of richly candied fruits
and in their very midst a little nest OF
wool On the wool lay a marquise ring
set with FIVE priceless emeralds. Every
one gave q little gasp of amaze, but mad
anne caught up the jewel with cry of
rapture and kissed it ardently.
II was SO hard to return the neck
lace" she explained. After all. the great
statesman was nice to the pretty lady,
wasn't he?" She was just Ike a child in
her joy and excitement. and the others
found it a real pleasure TO watch her.
she had so bewitched them; all that is to
say. excepting Cressingham, who was too
seasick to be 3JIgt- br: cynical
Madame took up the sweetmeats pres
entity and extracting one between two
dainty fingers extended il toward the
prince. He bowed and murmured: Il
never eat sweets you know that, mad
anne"
She pouted prettily and turned to the
colonel: You sir will not disdain me
too; do not daret"
The colonel thought for one fleeting
second sadly of his liver. but like n gall
liant old gentleman, put fear behind him
and ate the dainty capt FagerhOIm
followed suit but Cressingham's psy-
Geological moment tad arrived. The very
odor of the rich candied stuff effected
the disaster which he fought off for so
long. With the courage Of a hero he put
1t in his mouth. but at that stage hero
ism vanished. He could not swallow it,
his throat his every nerve and sense
went into sudden revolt