The Ordway new era., 1916-09-01

CHAPTER v.

It was a brave and Iustrous banquet
and noisy one. too, because there was
an orchestra among some plants at one
end Of the long dining room. and after
4 preliminary stiffness the guests were
1mpelled to converse-necessarily at
the tops of their voices. The whole
company OF fifty sat at great oblong
table, continent Of damask and lace,
with shores of crystal and silver run
ming up to spreading groves of orchids
and lilies and white roses-an inhab-
tied continent, evidently, for there
were three marvellous, cleaning build
lngs; one in the center and one at each
end, white miracles wrought by some
inspired craftsman in sculptural icing.
They were models in miniature, and
they represented the Sheridan build
ing, the Sheridan apartments, and the
pump works. Nearly all the guests
recognized them without having to be
told what they were, and pronounced
the llkenesses superb.
The arrangement Of the table was
visibly baronial. At the head sat the
great Thane, with the flower OF his
family and of the guests about him;
then on each side came the neighbors
of the "old" house, grading down to
vassals and retainers-superinten
cashiers, heads Of departments, and the
Hke-at the foot, where the Thames
lady took her place as consolation for
the less important. Here, too, among
hn IIo nd
Sheridan. a meek Banquo. wondering
how anybody could look at him and
eat
Nevertheless. there was a vast, con-
tinuous eating and the talk went on
with the eating. incessantly. 1t rose
over the throbbing OF the orchestra and
the clatter and clinking OF silver and
china and glass, and there was q
mighty babble.
And through the interstices of this
cIamoring Bibbs could hear the con
tinual booming of his fathers heavy
voice, and once he caught the sentence.
Eyes, young lady, that's Just what did
1t for me. and that's just what II do it
for my boys-they got to make two
blades o. grass grow where one grew
beforer' 1t was his familiar flourish,
an old story to Bibbs. and now jovially
declaimed for the edIfcation Of Mary
Vertrees.
1t was great night for Sheridan
the very crest Of his wave. His big
smooth, red face grew more and more
radiant with good will and with the
simplest, happiest, most boyish vanity
He was the picture Of health, of good
cheer, and of power on a holiday.
He dominated the table. shouting
Jocular questions and railleries al
everyone. His idea was that wher
people were having good time theJ
were noisy; and his own additions tt
the hubbub Increased his pleasure
and, Of course. met the warmest en-
couragement from his guests. He KEEP
time to the music coptinually-witi
his feet, or pounding on the table witt
his fist, and sometimes with spoon ol
knife upon his plate or glass, with
out permitting these slde-products u
interfere with the real business of eat
ing and shouting.
"Tell 'em to play Nancy Lee'v' h
would below down the length OF tbs
Z table to his wife, while the musician
were In the midst Of the "Toreador'
song, perhaps. "Ask that fellow Il
they don't know Nancy Lee" And
when the leader would shake his heaf
apologencaiIy In answer to an obedien
shrek from Mrs. Sheridan, the .'Torea
DOR" continuing vehementIy, Sheridan
would roar halfremembered fragment
of Nancy Lee" naturally minglin;
some Bizet with the air Of that uxori
ous tribute.
No external bubbling contributed t
this effervescence; the Sheridan's tabl
had never borne wine. and. more be
cause Of timidity about It than convic
\ 1i0n, II bore none now. And certain
" no wine could have inspired NOR
turbnlent good spirits In the host No
I, evsn Bibbs was an alloy In this night
y appihess, for, - Mrs. Sheridan ha.
" had ..pJans for Btbbs" plan
ere s0inf to straighten %
fk1nS1 thtt hid gpns SyfrnqG,