The Cairo bulletin., 1909-06-27

The spirit OF old Omar OF Naishapur
has visited West Kensington The
Rubaiyat at-home is over.
Willie Trevor and the pretty Miss
Copsley agreed that it was ripping
The visitors arrived punctually. Mrs.
Blenkinsop who is tall and wears eye
glasses, received them in an Anglo.
Persian costume-Persian to the
waist, British about the skirts-with
silver filigree ornaments and high.
heeled slippers.
She asked the young people. on en-.
teving the drawing room. TO sit on the
floor, Willie Trevor and Miss Copsley
promptly took their cushions into a
corner. Willie murmured that they
didn't want to get in anybodys way.
There was small platform, GOV.
cred with Turkish rug. Mrs Blen-
kinsop mounted, and the audience
clapped
Il am going to read the Rubaiyat OF
Omar Khayyam." she announced And
| want you all to join with me in a
spirit OF revelry We will drink to
gether with the astronomer poet of
Persia-George. dear, tell ANNA to
bring in the wine"
Her husband obeyed and the parlor
maid appeared with tray. There was
claret cup and burgundy. The guests.
who had become intensely solemn. al
lowed Mr.. Blenkinsop to fill their COB
let's, with the exception of one woman.
whose strict temperance principles
Obliged her to ask for lemonade.
Mrs. Blenkinsop then opened hand.
somely bound edition OF the Rubaiyat
and put on her reading spectacles and
most becoming crown OF artificial
purple and white grapes
Have you heard Omar Khayyam be
fore?" whispered Miss Copsley TO
Willie Trevor.
"No-have YOU" answered Willie.
"Of course, heaps of good times
do wish | had copy OF my own"
Willie made mental note OF the
hint and the Copsley girl innocently
mentioned her fayorite color ia book
binding ..a
Listen. Willie." she said. you
ought to make the most OF your oppor.
tunities'
May t." queried Willie, and he
smiled expressively into her eyes.
How absurd you are" she ex.
claimed, blushing for no accountable
reason.
Come. I'LL the Cup and In the Fire Of
Spring
The Winter Garment Of Repentance fling
AT this point Mrs. Blenk!nsop, keep
ing her finger in the book. raised a
glass of claret to her lips.
Now, please'" she said with smil
ing signal.
The guests obediently followed her
example
Rather sour" observed the lady
who was total abstainer TO her
neighbor, referring to the lemonade
Mrs. Blenkinsop read on steadily,
and feeling OF gloom crept over the
company. They fought against il val
iantly. One young man, determined to
make the thing CO." quafred loosely
at the wrong time, was reproyed by u
severe frown from his hostess.
When she dashed in to the verse
beginning, And If the wine you drink,
the lips you press" there was a lit
tie agitation over Mr.. Blenkinsop try
ing to persuade his aunt to have her
goblet replenished
| Not on any account, George! I'll
pretend" said the auEt, amiably.
The ruby vintage drink" continued
the fair reader
only half glass, Mr. Blenkinsop!"
pleaded another lady, in an audible
whisper
The gloom intensified. The visitors.
with exemplary patience, slipped at the
same second whenever Mrs. Blenkin-
sop gave the signal, like well-trained
supers.
I've enjoyed 1t avfully! II was
jolly" said Willie Trevor, jumping up
to congratulate his hostess when the
end came at last.
II was the truth. He had been whis-
pering to Miss CCpsley, to say nothing
of holding her hand, from the first line
to the last.
The Greek classics will never be
equaled," observed Mr.. Blenkinsop's
aunt, slightly confused between Ho-
mer and Omar.
My little room has been turned into
a Persian garden" said the gratified
Mrs Blenkinsop.
Omar Khayyam in West Kensing-
tom" exclaimed the temperance lady
with enthusiasm. as she drained her
lemonade to the dregs.
Mr.. Blenkinsop slipped out OF the
room.
lit wasn't what l call amusin'!" he
said to himself YEARLY, and went
downstairs TO get whisky and soda