Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-07
CHAPTER v.

1t was brave and lustrous banquet;
and noisy one, too because there was
an orchestra among some plants at one
end of the long dining room, and after
preliminary stiffness the guests we're
impelled to cOnyerse-necessaril at
the tops of their voices. The whole
company of fifty sat at a great oblong
table, u 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
ings; 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 likenesses superb.
The arrangement of the table was
yistbly 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
yaSSals and retainers-Superinte
cashiers, heads of departments, and the
Ike-at the foot, where the Thames
lady took her place as a consolation for
the less important. Here, too, among
the thralls and bondmen, sat Bibbs
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, necessarily. 1t rose
over the throbbing of the orchestra and
| the clatter and clinking of silver and
china and glass, and there was a
mighty babble
And through the interstices Of this
| clamoring Bibbs could hear the con-
tinual booming of his fathers heavy
voice, and once he caught the sentence,
Yes, young lady, that's just what did
| it 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
| before!' 1t was his familiar flourish.
an old story to Bibbs, and now iovially
| acclaimed for the edificatton of Mary
| Vertrees.
1t was a great night for Sheridan
| the very crest of his wave. His big,
| smooth, red face grew more and more
rQ Il n va
| 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 at
everyone. His idea was that when
| people were having a good time they
were noisy; and his own additions to
/ the hubbub increased his pleasure,
| and, of course, met the warmest en-
| enlargement from his guests. He kept
| time to the music continually-with
his feet, or pounding on the table with
| his fist, and sometimes with spoon or
| knife upon his plate or a glass, with
out permitting these side-products to
| Interfere with the real business of eat
ing and shouting.
Tell 'em to play Nancy Lee'r he
would below down the length of the
| table to his wife, while the musicians
were in the midst of the "Toreatlor"
song, perhaps. ASK that fellow Il
| they don't know Nancy Lee'!' And
when the leader would shake his head
apologetically in answer to an obedient
/ shrek from Mrs. Sheridan, the "Torea-
DOR continuing vehemently, Sheridan
would roar half-remembered fragments