Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-12
A DRAw1NG-RooM COMEDY.


Mr.. Thomas Bilbury Is the junior partner in
the great firm Of Bilpury. Backbone Co..
tea merchants, of Calcutta and London. The
senior partner Is Mr.. Joseph Bilbury, his father.
who has very nice house at Kew; and until u
year or two ago there was third member of
the firm in the person Of Thomas uncle, Mr..
Darlington Backbone, the Calcutta repre-
sentative Of the establishment. But, unfortu-
nately, Mr. Backbone, like many Englshmen
who live In India, drank too much Scotch
whisky and Bass ale. and ate too much curry
and too many Bombay ducks" the result be-
cned to bear the strain put upon 1t, and col
lapsed, leaving Its owner SO weak and Ill that
he had barely time ere he died to telegraph to
his partners In England brief notice Of his Inn
pending fate. This alarming dispatch arrived
at particularly inopportune moment. Mr..
Thomas Bilbury had on the day previous mar
ried 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, had only become
acquainted with his bride about six weeks be-
fore marriage-should without q NOR sent's de-
lay take the train for Dover, cross to Calais.
and thence go by the quickest route to Calcutta,
The affair was pressing. Mr.. Blackthorne's
death would certainly throw the business into
confusion, and any hesitation on the part of the
English partners might imperll tho future OF
the firm.
'.Go at once, my dear boy" wrote Mr.. Joseph
Bllbury to his son, who was In the Isle of
Wight, land send your wife to me. win take
care OF her, and see her settled In your new
home at Richmond. / would go myself. but
my govt won't allow me: And above all things,
take care of your liver"
There was no help for It, Mr.. Bilbury.
junior, felt that he must go; 30 go he did. put
ting the best face on the matter, and bidding
very long and tender goodbye to his poor
little wife. He escorted her across to Ports
mouth, put her into London train, kissed her.
saw her OIL, and then took the next train for
Dover.
She settled down in her new homo an Rich.
mond Hill; and he for many months afterward
worked hard at his desk In Calcutta. arranging
the worldly affairs OF his dead uncle,
and from time to time sending home reports Of
his progress, and love-letters to Lydia.
Two years, In fact, elapsed ere he was able to
return to England; aud then he returned, as he
| had gone out. at . moments notice. Unfore-
seen circumstances suddenly left him free; and,
unwilling to lose day, he took the first home
Ward-oound steamer: which. so It happened.
| few days earlier, In which Mr.. Bilbury, among
other matters, regretted to his wife that the
pressure Of business would not leave him at
liberty for ct least month
He travelled home without adventure, landed
IN que course 1t Dover. arrived in London late
at night, and, without having Written q word Of
warning TO Lydia, hurried ON next morning to
Richmond Hill. Why he did not write or tele-
graph, we cannot say; perhaps he thought his
sudden appearance would agreeably surprise
able to think at all. But IN any case, he
neither wrote nor teiegrapheda single word Of
preparation. GA e.i-st.sYs 81 80.
It was ane sunny morning in summer; Mr..
Thomas Bilbnry had scarcely seen bis now
home, which he had taken Ina hurry immedi-
ately before bis wedding; and he was walking
eagerly up the short carriage drive leading to
the mousse, when, happening to cast his gaze to-
ward the upper windows, he caught sight Of .
fair, white-drs figure which was watering
some howering plants that stood In row on
the Sill. He ct once recognized the figure as
that OF his wife. and was about to utter cry Of
salutt-4On when he suddenly became conscious
that she did not recognize him. for with grace
mi modesty she Withdrew ffom the window and
disappeared as soon - she became conscious
that he was Watching her. An idea struck
him. 1t was foolish, but not wholly un-
natural, one: He would pretend to be some
one elsa friend, say, Of her husbands, and
would ask to see her as such. OF course she
would at once recognize his voice; but then the
SURPRISE and the consequent pleasure would
be the more complete II he thus deferred them.
He knocked, therefore, at the door, and to the
servant who appeared announced that he had
just returned from India and desired to see Mrs.
Bilbury. He gave no name, but he was admit
ted and shown into the drawing-room, where,
In some perturbation OF mind, he awaited the
advent OF the wife from whom he had been so
long and so cruelty separated.
II suppose that she will know me-" he re-
1ected, as he stood with his back to the win
dow; sbut 1t Is true that have grown q toler-
ably big beard since l went away, and that
have become considerably tanned. However,
the beard ought to make no great difference.
suppose that she would know me If she saw me
In my shirt-sleeves, or with both legs cut OF at
the knees. On the other hand she thinks that
am still at Calcutta, for she must have had
my last letter this morning Hope my sudden
appearance here won't upset her. must be
careful"
Here his thoughts were switched aside by the
unmistakable sound OF rustling skirts In the
passage without; and a. the door opened he in
voluntarily turned and gazed into the garden,
at the same time, coughing nervously.
MAY l o0ef you chair2 am afraid that
yon ind the open window too much for you"
said soft voice behind him.
"Oh no; not ef ALL" no returned, facing his
wife for an instant. and then hastily resuming
his survey Of the garden. :esss4s 80
Mrs. Bilbury did not In the least recognize
her husband. "Do let me order 1re to be
lighted, she urged. -. - So
40 no; not for woridap calculated Tom. as he
turned slowly round, conscious ct last that even
his nervousness was no excuse for his radeness.
"But the fact Is, Mira
"My name is Mrs. Bilbury!"
"Oh! thank you-yed The fact il, Mrs. Bill
bury that am not yet entirely reconciled to
this abominable English climate. I-ah-that
b 70 say, man who has existed In groves OF
mango-ah-and has lived on curry and chut-
nee-ah-with the Thermometer Standing dog
gedly at hundred and two In the shade, is-ah;
but dare say you understand"
"Oh. perfectly. Mr.. ~. I think I have not
the pleasure of knowing your name"
WHO ana II" thought Mr.. Thomas Bilbury.
my name, he said, after eight pause, lis
Tilbury."
'sWhat curious SIMILARITY" said his wife.
''Yes; can readily believe that people coming
homo from India dnd this climate very irving
at first, even In summer. Ny husband writes
that the heat in Calcutta has been excessive
Possibly, Mr.. Tlbury, you may have called to
give me some news Of himI hope so. I
thought that bis last letter was not written In
very good spirits,''
THAT Is satisfactory" thought Mr.. Bilbury.
1.-THE lapse OF two years has not altered her love
for me-"
eyes" he said aloud; 'T can give you some
news Of him, for, month ago, was at Cal
cutta."
"Indeed7 How delightful! Do sit down.
Mr.. filbury. 1t Is very pleasant to meet any
one who has seen my husband so recently, for +
gather from what you say that you have seen
him. How was hep"
Mr.. Bilbury was by this time much exercised
In his mind as to what to say next. On