Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
~ Great Stores Throughout the q. 8.

who may or may not come. but will go at
least half way to meet him and to encour-
age his timid advance.
And this is why these maids of the Bel
CLAN village, which they have made famous
the world over. send out a cordial invita-
ton every year to all bachelors in search
OF life partners to come and choose among
them. whit-Monday is the day chosen for
this tryst; and. weeks before 1t arrives, in
vitations to q feast Of love-" provided by
their fair hands, are sent broadcast by cir
culars, notices, advertisements-ln every
way, in fact. that female ingenuity can de-
wise.
On that one day of the year Cupid rules
supreme at Ecaussines. TIL streets are
spanned by floral arches, from which he
beams pensions down. from an environment
of doves and hearts and other sentimental
emblems. On scores Of tables the feast is
spread by the bank of the Sennette-an Ar
cadian meal of coffee and cakes; but such
coffee and such cakes! TIT very bowls
(not mere cups) out of which the stimulat-
ing beverage is drunk are wreathed with
roses and bear sentimental legends, and
the snowy napery is smothered with gay
and sweet-smelling flowers.
About noon the first bachelors make their
appearance, some bold as brass" others
awkwar and diffident; and from that hour
the streams Of invaders flow and grow until
Ecaussines is converted into a populous but
Eveless town, for every maid remains
clustered in her own home, decking her.
self in her most seductive finery, until the
guests arrive-some on foot. others on BIZ
cycles, and others, again, in vehicles rang
ing from a farm cart to smart gigs, and
even automobiles. From laborers in their
Sunday clothes, spruce young farmers with
confident smiles and automobiles, young
dandies from the shops and offices OF Brus-
even automobiles Farm laborers in theiI
courage or stimulating one another for the
coming feast as they congregate in the
place" where the tempting tables await
them.
Principally at the appointed hour the
maidens emerge one by one from their re-
treats, gathering courage as they are Joined
by others; and when their numbers are
complete they link arms and with heads
rerect, march boldly in procession to the
place" not wasting a single glance on the
packed crowd of their bachelor guests
whose hearts, we may be sure, are going
pit-a-pat at the sight OF such a phalanS
OF female loneliness.
At a signal each maid takes her APP
pointed seat. with a vacant chair by heI
side; and almost before they are seated
the masculine guests rush as one man &c
take the empty places. II is a case OF
many are called but few are chosen; since
for each lucky swain who finds a seat a.
the feast Of love, there are a dozen left
disconsolste and glowering, out In the cold
For a few moments even the boldest
bachelor Of them all finds himself strangely
tongue-tied; but under the stimulus OF cof.
fee and encouraging smiles, tongues are
quickly loosened and begin TO wag mer-
rily; glances and condolences are exchanged
and before the first cups have been drained
-joyousnsss and hilarty reign. What pretty
speeches Jack" makes and how JIM re-
spends We must leave TO the imagination.
but there can be no doubt that before the
beGSt comes 70 N end many = heart haG