The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-04-26
A QUIET COMEDY.

surviving partner In the Well-tnOWn
firm of Murrable, Racket, & Co., walk
ed quickly up a sheltered carriage-drive
which led to charming little house ly-
ing within mile Of Fordham, West.
chester county, New Y ork.
Murrable Racket, 4 Co., as probabl y
every one is aware. are Oyien-
tai merchants; and Mr.. Racket was re-
turning home after years absence in
India, whittier he had been suddenly
summoned III consequence Of the death
Of his uncle and partner, Mr.. Algernon
Ra: kett. This uncle had for nearly a
generation been the Calcutta represent
tative Of the finn; and after having for
more than quarter Of a century done
his best to ruin his constitution by the
r'--!!.: consumption of curries and
BASES ale, he had finally succumbed to
wholly unforeseen attack Of apoplexy.
The news Of his death arrived rather
inopportunely in New York. After a
few weeks acquaintance, Thomas Rack
EFT had married Dora, the only dau =.
ter of Mr.. Cyrus Duncombe, of Wall
street, and he had barely begun to taste
the joys of welded life when his uncle
inconsiderateIy quilted the world with
out having first settled his affairs, and
Tom was obliged to leave for India at a
days notice. Mr.. Duncombe lived at
Fordham, and as the duration Of her
husbands absence WIS quite uncertain,
it was arranged that the young wife
should take up her abode near her faith
er's house. and thus enjoy the advantages
of Independence without entirely sur
rendering Mr.. Duncombe's paternal pro.
lection.
Her cottage-for it was but little more
was model of picturesque comfort;
and Tom, as he approached it, felt no
little pleasure in the reflection that dur
ing his enforced separation from her his
wife had SO lovely home. One thought
however, worried him a little. He
was returning unexpectedly. and he Won
dered whether, under the circumstances
she had known him for so short time
as lover and hush md she would know
him again. When he left her he had
worn only his nnstacle. Now he grew
Il full beard, nd he was so Drowned and
tanned, to boot, that lie scarcely recog-
nized himself.
He was specializing upon this question
when turn in the roadway brought
him in sight of the house, and, looking
up, saw ut q window above the veranda
no less person than Dora herself. Fair
and fresh as rose at dawn she seemed
as, dressed all in white, she carefully
trimmed too luxuriant creeper which
clung around the balfopened jalousics.
The echo of his step upon the crisp
gravel attracted her attention for an
instant, and she glanced down ut him !;
bnt there was no sparkle Of recognition
in her eyes, and us re approached the
door she quietly withdrew.
''She actually does not know me-"
said Tom to himself. "'She takes me for
a stranger. l will surprise her"
Then a sudden idea struck him. 81
will pretend to b., some one else" he
thought-"a friend of her husbands
from India. She thinks 1 am still at
Calcutta. When last wrote to her |
had not the least idea that should be
able to get home before Christmas. Yes,
l will pretend to be some one else"
And suiting the action to the word,
he rang the bell, and upon a servant ap-
pearing, told the girl, without, however,
giving bis nanle, that IL gentleman from
India desired to see Mrs. Racket.
lie was shown into II cool, delightful
drawingroom, which contained = thou
sand evidences Of the taste and culture of
window stood huge vase filed with
flowers. and close to this Mr.. Bracket
took up his position, turning his back to
the door.
Within two minutes he heard the
Tustling of his wife's dress outside, and
with nervous apprehension Of what
might result from Ills stimulation he be-
gan to cough violently.
Mrs. Racket entered behind him, but
he did not face her.
IL am afraid, sir, that you find the
open window too much for YOU" she
said, hesltatingly.
".0h no, thank you," gasped Tom,
facing Ter for an instant, and then gaz-
ing more intently than ever at the tiow-
ers. "Not in the least"
"I.et me shut the window"
"Oh, no, thank you. Not for worlds!"
returned Tom, who was al ready begin
ming to regret his determinations. He
felt obliged to turn round, but when he
faced her fully he was relieved to find
that he was still unrecognized. and he
continued, "The fact is, Mrs.-Mrs.--"
I'M rs. Racket" said Dora, softly.
"Ah, thank yon, yes. The 1act is,
Mrs. Racket" declared the deceiJful
husband, that am not yet reconciled
to this disagreeablo climate Of yours. I
-ah-that is to say-a man who has ex
listed in groves Of mango, and has lived
on chutee and curry-1 dare say you
quite so, Mr.-Mr.-"
"Brackett," answered Tom, deliber-
ately. "My name is Bracket"
"What curious simi!arityp' COM
mented Dora, unsuspiciously. do you
spell it with two t's''
"With two u.s." assented Tom.
GLOW strange! Yes, l can readily
believe that people coming here from
India find our climate very trying at
first even in this hot weather. My hus-
band writes that the heat has been ex-
cessive. Please take a chair. Mr..
Bracket. Possibly you may have
brought me news of him? hope 80. I
thought his letter was not written in
very good spirits"
Tom regretted more than ever that he
had not at once disclosed his identity
but he felt it pleasant to be thus inge
niously informed by his wife that she
took so great an interest in his welfare"
EYES," he SAID, II can give you some
news of him, for two months ago was
at Calcutta.
"Indeedl' exclaimed Mrs. Racket.
with unconcealedjoy. GLOW delightfuIp
1t is 80 nice to meet anv one who has
seen him out in that country! How was
he?"
Various ideas coursed rapidly through
Toms brain. Shonld lie 60 on or should
he declare himself? He decided to 20
on.
He was," he said mysteriousy, "as
we'll as could be expected"
GAS we'll as could be expected?' cried
Dora, in alarm. Do you mean that re
has been ill?''
"Well, not exactly i'll, you KNOW" re-
sponded Tom, who was getting deeper
and deeper into the slough.
"But do not understand you. Tell
me. please at once. What has happened
to hlm?"
Mr.. Racket wondered what the end
would be. He wished she would recog-
nize him, and throw her white arms
around his neck; but he had not courage
to confess himself.
Nothing very serious" he said, after
since he has been in India he has shot a
good many tigers?"
A strange expression fitted across
Mrs. Rackett's face. ''Yigers" she ex-
claimed In horror. Tell me, mr. nracK-
ett-tell me-,
"Well, he went up the country to Jub-
halnore, and startnd on a shootino exne.