Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-06

| from Chambers journal.
A DRAWING-R00M COMEDY
Mr.. Thomas Bilbury IS the junior
partner il the great firm OF Bilbary
BIackthvrne & Co., tea merchants, O.
| Calcutta and London. The senior part
ner is Mr.. Joseph Bilbu,y, his father, who
has very nice no Sc at Kew; and uni
ycsr or tyo a. O there was third mem
Der OF the firm in the person of Thomas
uncle, Mr.. Burlington Backbone, the
Calcutta representative of the establish
ment. But, unfortunately, Mr.. Black
thorne, like many Engiishmen who live
in India, drank too much Scotch whisky
and Bass's ale, and ate too much curry
and too many Bombay ducks" the re-
suit being that at the age Of fifty five
his liver declined TO bear the strain pn
upon it, and collapsed, leaving his own
er so weak AID il that lie had barely
time ere he died to telegraph to hif
partners in England briet notice of hi;
impending fate. This alarming dispatch
arrived at particularly inopportune nc
ment. Mr.. Thomas Bilbury had ca the
day previous married a very charming
young lady, Lydia Lapples by name
and the intelligence OF his uncle's sad
condition necessitated that the newly
made husband-Who, by the way, bac
only become acquainted with bis bride
about six weeks before marriage
should without moments delay tak 9 the
train for Dover, Cross TO Calais, aud
thence go by the quickest route to Cal
cutta. The affair was pressing. Mr.
Blackthorre's death would certainly
throw the business .into confusion, ano
any hesitation on the part CT the English
partners might imperil the future OF tht
firm.
"Go at once, my dear boy" wrote
Mr.. Joseph Bilbury to bis son, who was
in the Isle Of Wight, ''and send your
vile to me. will take care of her. ano
see her settled in her new home at Rich.
mond. I would go myself, but my gout
won't allow me. And above all things
take care Of your liver
There vas no help for it. Mr.. Bill
bury, junior, felt that he must go; so &c
he did, putting the best face On the mat.
ter, and bidding very long and tender
goodbye to bis poor little wife. He es'
corted her across TO Portsmouth, put he1
into a London train, kissed her, saw bel
off, and then took the next train fa1
Dover.
She settled down in her new home or
Richmond Hill; aud he for many months
afterward worked hard at his desk IL
Calcutta, arrar girg the worldly affairs
OF his dead uEc!e, and from time to tine
serding home reports Of bis progress
ard love-l=ttels to Lydia.
Two ears, in fact, elapsed ere he was
able to return to Eugland; and then hs
returned, as be had gone out, at q mo
mept's notice. Unfore seen circum
stances suddenly left him free; and, I'M
wili1 g to lose day, he took the FRS
hon E. ward bound steamer, which, 50 i
happened, was also taking to Richmont
letter, written a few days ear!ier, il
which Mr.. Bilbury, among other mat
tiers, regretted to his wife that the pres
sure Of business would not leave h'm g
liberty for at least a Eooth.
He travelled home without aIven: uIe
landed in due course atDover, arrived il
London late at night, and, without hav
| ing written word Of warnirg to Ly did
hurried on rext morning to Richmond
Hill. Why he did not write or telegraph
we cannot say; perhaps be thought hi
sudden appearance would agre eabls sur
prise bis wife; or perhaps he wat too tx
cited to be able to think at all. But ii
any case, he never wrote nor telegr aphet
single word of PR paratlon.
1t Was fine sunny morning III sum-
mer; Nh. Thomas Bilbury had scarcel,
seen his new home, which he had taker
in hurry Immediately before his we'd.
ding; and he was walking lsisurely W
the short carriage drive leading to the
house, when, happening to cast his gaze
toward the upper windows, he caught
sight of a fair, white -draped figure
which was Watering sutne Towering
| plants that stood in row Ga tn: sill
He at once recognized the figure as that
of his wife, and was about to utter q cry
| of salutation when he suddenly became
conscious that she did rot rccognizt
him, for with graceful mo1esty she with
| drew from the window ard disappeared
as soon as she became cons cious that ht
| YVES watching her. An idea struck him
It was foolish, but rot wholly unuat
ural one. He would pretend to be some
one else, q friend. say, OF her husbands
| and would ask to see her as such. O
course she should at once recognize hi
voice; but then the surprise, and the
consequent pleasure, would be the more
complete If he thus deferred them. HI
knocked, therefore, announced that hf
had just returned from India and de-
sired to see Mrs. Bilbury. He gave nc
name, but he was admitted and shown
into the drawing room, where in some
perturbation OF mind, he awaited The
advent of the wife from whom he hai
been SO long aud so cruelty separated.
81 suppose that she will know me,
he reflected, as he stood with his back t.
the window; shut it is true that have
grown tolerably big beard since I wen
away, and that l have become consider
ably tanned. However. the beard ough
to make no great difference. I suppose
that she would know me if she saw mi
in my shirt-sleeves, or with both leg
cut off at the knees. On the other hand
she thinks I am still at Calcutta, for So.
must have had my last letter this morn
ing. 1 hope my sudden appearance here
won't upset her. I must be careful"
Here his thoughts were switched
aside by the unmistakable sound O.
rustlin3. skirts in the passage without
and as the door opened lie involunta1ilJ
turned and gazed into the garden, at tbt
anne time coughing nervously. 49, .,...
| - May; l. offer. you . chair 2 I AN
afraid that you find tie open widow to-
much for you" said soft voice bebine
him..
80 no; not at all !" he returned
facing his wife for on instant, ard ther
hastily resuming his survey Of the gar
den. -. III
Mrs. Bilbury did not in the least rec
ognize her husband. ''Do let me ordel
q fire to be lighted" she urged. ~. 80
/ 20 no; i not Tor worlds !" CALCULATED
Tom, as lie turned slowly round, con
scious at last that even his nervousness
was nd, excuse for bis rudeness. . Blu
the fact is, Mrs. -