El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-14
THE SUPPER
By Edmund JalOu1

IN HERE was d seAlAs A--9~-H -
tightly closed window shutter
\ count de Landiveze stood up
walked to the window on tiptoe and
asked softly: Who. is it2"
A voice replied: "Coss>c-"
Landireze opened the little door ana
young woman-ep-sred- wrapped In a
heavy dark LAX.
q theaght I should never have
reached here.s she said What mob.
Every moment thought they were
going to arrest me. But here am at
last"
The two men who were already In
the room Respectfully kissed her hand.
The one Landivezes was ualIs slenost'
with a young face sparkling eyes with
a hooking expression, the other, baron
Salins- Bury, stout and short win 4
nv dear friend" said Landiveze.
please let me take you upstairs
where you will find the baroness de
Baumonne in her dressing room
When Landtveze returned, sallns-
Bury said. 1T was a splendid idea OF
yours. Lsndiveze, to have US all come
together here. Now we may all mag
inc ourselves half score OF years
younger and without revolution IL
eeems a century since our lives We're
night none OF US is 70 refer 10 our
present position at all!
Yes, my invitation made that an
absolute condition wanted ali OF US
present life is such hldeous night
mare. Not one Of US knows WneFe
he viii be tomorrow.
i do" said SALISBURY. on the
high road. Ny passport IS ready ana
in a few days 1 shall be well under
way. 1 intend 10 join the count OF
Provence AT Verna- DO you remem-
Der the last evening we spent with the
Blidgignes? We were there, al TOUR OF
US, ana at the dessert that FOOL Gulrar-
dot made a long speech on the good
ness of man"
I remember. And now Guirardot
has been guilIotined long ago.
Il wonder if he still believes In the
goodness OF MANI
.'Do you remember the beautiful
princess Valmire, who was there that
night?"
yes, she was guillotined today"
And the duke de Mabrihan, and able
Both dead, as Nine. de BHdignes.
as her daughter as ROuartz-
The door opened and the two men
pretended to be laughing at something.
Let US have supper
Nine. de BaumOnne and Nine. de
Cossac entered They had both taken
of their hOOis. their clOaks, their
tricolOre cOcordes- Both were now
dressed in elegant evening dress, cut
very low, displaying their beautiful
n5clks and shoulders. Their hair was
set up high, powdered and each wore
magnificent diamonds. They were
both heavily pairtei 10 hide the tried
lines Of their faces
The baroness de BaumOnne, who for
five years had been the best friend Of
H. de Landiveze, was greatly moved
when after long interval she found
herself once more inside this "folly"
near Neuilly.
The four people went into a salon
hung with blue tapestries and silk
curtains. Hundreds OF candles in heavy }
silver candlesticks threw their light
upon 6 table set with crystal, costly I
china and silverware- On the side
board was a great display Of tempting
Oosebreasts, hams, roast par /
tridges. kidney patties, truffled chick :
ems Behind these things was a bat
terry OF bottles-champagn Marsac,
Tokay, cape wine and cOrdials, miro /
hOlenti, creme de bois de PInde, TO- |
solo de BOlOgne.
Everybody sat down
Here are oysters" said Landiveze- I
4 got them from Picquet. Rue Monitor j
gueil. We shall have to help ourselves.
Justin disappeared about an hour ago, 1
and / do not know what has become Of 4
him"
A supper began, like those they had !
so often in Olden days, when the pleas I
ure the gallantTy, the freedom Of spir- \
IT. the lack OF all worries, the wine 4
lOsseued the tongues, made the eyes \
sparkle. intoxicated the imagination i
and called forth in everyone his rarest /
qualities, his elOquence. his nerve, his 4
very soul. Suppers where words and /
caresses were exchanged, Wnere
philosophic sentence was interrupted \
by a joke, a confession Of faith by 4
declaration Of love.
Nine. de Baumonne and Nine de Cos
sac. laughed no less heartily than their
friends. Amusing anecdotes were told
II was related how the proud Nine. de i
Lestbois had married a cattle driver ]
TO get across the Swiss frontier, how 4
NJ de Puellume, bishop Of Sisteron,
had escaped to Rome, disguised as
harlequin. and travelling with troupe
Of accorbats.
And he probably never felt more
completely at home" said Salins-Bury
A moment later Landiveze sup
pressed slight yawning.
beg your pardon" he said, I
have had no sleep for five nights.
am very tired"
These gentlemen and their ladies
knew how TO eat and how to drink.
Towards the end Of the meal, Landiveze
made this tender declaration to Nine
de BaumOnne:
Most beautiful Of women. you
know what place you occupy IN my
heart and how deeply I love you. No
y oman was ever more adOreQ. NOW
the time has come when 7 must thank I
you / thank you from the bottom OF
my heart You have for years made me
the happiest of all men. and if 1 have
ever been lacking in courtesy or ap-
probation, / sincerely beg your par
lon
He leaned toward the young woman
and kissed her shoulder tenderly.
Your pretty speech makes me sus-
oect that you have been drinking too
rah
1T is necessary TO drink too much
n these days" said Nine. de Bau-
nome .Intoxication is the only
charm life has to offer us now"
Yes, indeed said Nine de Cosssc,