The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-13

for they had all the time in the world
at their disposal and could not see why
he should be so concerned about
snatching little while at morning or
evening. or at midday for that matter.
Champagne was flowing like a river
when Rouletabille was brought in by
Matrena Petrovna. The general, whose
eyes mad been on the door for some
time, cried at once, as though re-
spending to cue:
"Ah, my dear Rouletabille.. I have
been looking for you. Our friends wrote
mo you were coming to st. Petersburg"
Rouletabille hurried over to him and
they shook hands like friends who meet
after long separation. The reporter
was presented to the company as
close young friend from Paris whom
they had enjoyed so much during their
last visit to the City of Light. Every
oody inquired for the latest word of
Paris as of dear acquaintance. -
How is everybody at Maxim's?"
urged the excellent Athanase George
witch.
Thaddeus. too, had been once in Paris
and he returned with an enthusiastic
liking for the French demoiselles.
"Vos gogottes, monsieur" he said,
appearing very amiable and leaning on
each word, with gutteraI emphasis
such as Is common in the western prov
inces, "ah, vos gogottesw
Matrena Petrovna tried to silence
him, but Thaddeus insisted on his right
to appreciate the fair sex away from
home. He had turgid. sentimental
wife, always weeping and cramming
her religious notions down his throat.
or course someone asked RouletabilIe
what he thought of Russia, but he had
no more than opened his mouth to reply
than Athanase Georgevitch closed it
by interrupting:
'Permettez. Permettez! You others,
OF the young generation, what do you
know of it? You need to have lived a
long time and in all its districts to
appreciate Russia at its true value
Russia. my young sir, is as yet closed
book to you"
Naturally" Rouletabille answered.
smiling.
We'll, well, here's your health! What
] would point out to you first Of all is
that 1t is good buyer of champagne,
eh?'-and he gave a huge grin. But
the hardest drinker I ever knew was
born on the banks of the Seine. Did
you know him. Feodor Feodorovitch? :?
Poor Charles Dufour, who died two
years ago at fete of the officers of
the Guard. He wagered at the end of
the banquet that he could drink a
glassful of champagne to the health of
each man there. There were sixty
when you came to count them He
commenced the round of the table and
the affair went splendidly up to the
fifty-eighth man. But at the fifty
ninth--think of the misfortune,-the
champagne ran out! That poor, that
charming, that excellent Charles took
up glass of vim dore which was in
the glass Of this fifty ninth, wished
him long life, drained the glass at one
draught, had Just time to murmur,
Tokay, 1907 and fell back dead! All,
he knew the brands my word and he
proved 1t to his last breath. Peace to
his ashes! They asked what he died of.
! knew he died because of the inappro-
pirate blend of flavors. There should
be discipline in all things and not pro-
miscuous mixing. One more glass of
champagne and he would have been
drinking with us this evening. Your
health, Matrena Petrovna. Champagne,
Feodor Feodorovitch! Vive la France,
monsieur. Natacha. my child, you must
sing something. Boris will accompany
you on the guzla. Your father will
enjoy It,"
All eyes were turned toward Natacha
as she rose.
Rouletabille was struck by her serene
beauty That was the first enthralling
impression. an impression so strong it
astonislfed him, the perfect serenity,
the supreme calm, the tranquil har-
mony Of her noble features. Natacha