Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-02-22
.-A9-
Madame Midas
BY Fergus Hume

BY Fergus Hume

should go behind the scenes and see him
This was unanimously carried, and aftel
some difficulty with the doOrkeeper, they
obtained access to the mysterious regions
of the stage, and there found Master
Sheridan Wopples practicing a breakdown
while waiting for the rest of the family
to get ready. He volunteered to guide
them to his fathers dressing room, and
OF knocking at the door Mr.. Wopples
voice doomed out Come in" in such an
unexpected manner that it made them all
jump.
OF course, they all expressed themselves
delighted, and as the entire Wopples fam
lily had already gone to their hotel, Mr.
Wopples with his three guests went out
of the theater and wended their way to
wards the same place.
They soon arrived at the hotel, and
having entered, Mr.. Wopples pushed open
the door of a room from whence the sound
of laughter proceeded, and introduced the
three strangers to his family. The whole
ten, together with Mrs. Wopples, were
present, and were seated around a large
table plentifully laden with cold beef and
pickles, salads and other things too nu,
merous to mention. Mr.. Wopples present
ed them first to his wife, a faded, washed.
out looking lady, with a perpetual shipper
on her face, and clad in a lavender mus
lin gown with ribbons Of the same de-
scription, she looked wonderfully light
and airy.
This said Mr.. Wopples in his deep
voice, holding his wife's hand as if he
were afraid she would float upward
through the ceiling like a bubble, this is
my futterer."
Why he called her his futterer no one
ever knew, unless it was because her rib
bons were necessarily duttering: but, had
he called her his shadow, the name would
have been more appropriate. Mrs. Wop-
pies futtered down to the ground in a
bow, and then futtered up again.
Gentlemen" she said, in a thin, clear
voice, you are welcome. Did you enjoy
the performance
Madame" returned Vandeloup, with a
smile, need you ask that?"
A shadowy smile foated over Mrs. Wop-
pies indistinct features, and then her hus-
band introduced the rest of the family in
n bunch.
Gentlemen he said, waving his hand
to the expectant ten, who stood in Il line
Of five male and five female, the celebrat-
ed Wopples family"
The ten all simultaneously bowed at
this as if they were worked by machinery,
and then every one sat down to supper,
Mr.. Theodore Wopples taking the head of
the table. All the family seemed to adj
mire him immensely, and kept their eyes
fastened IN his face with affcctionate re-
gard. When it was nearly twelve o'clock
Vandeloup rose to take his leave.
"Oh, you're not going yet said Mr..
1-o ,~D -,ksnh Ill ~ A.. c.--:I-.
echoed, Surely, not yet" in a most hos
pitable n
II must said vandeIoup, with a
smile. II know Madame will excuse me-"
with a bow to Mrs. Wopples, who there
upon Auttered nervously but I have to
up very early in the morning."
'In that CASE" said Mr.. Wopples, ris-
ing. Il will not detain you: early to bed
and early to rise. you know not that
believe in it much myself, but I under
stand it is practiced with geca results by
some people"
.Good night, Messrs. Villiers and Jar
said Vandeloup, going out Of the
door. II will see you tomorrow"
"And we also, / hope" said Mr. Wop-
pies, ungrammatically. Come and see
THE Cruet Stand again. I'll put your
name on the free list"
NJ. Vandeloup thanked the actor warm
~ for this kind offer, and took himself
off as he passed along the street he heard
a burst of laughter from the Wopples fam
lily, no doubt caused by some witticism
of the head of the clan.
He walked slowly home to the hotel,
thinking deeply. When he arrived at the
waffle Tree" he saw a light still burn
ing in the bar, and, on knocking at the
door, was admitted by Miss Twexby, who
had been making up accounts, and whose
head was adorned with curl papers.
"My !" said this damsel, when she saw
him, '.you are a nice young mar coming
home at this ~hour-twelve o'clock. See,"
and, as a proof of her assertion, she point
ed to the clock.
"Were you waiting UP for me, dear?'
asked Vandeloup, aud~aciously.
Not l." retorted Miss Twexby, toss
ing her curl papers I've been attending
to paris business"