The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-18

know, and got quite thick together. Major Bilkins, it appeared. vas the mans name; he vas nice, agreeable fellow, and we walked on together in . vesy .micable way. Bdkins hoped I'd come and look him up at his little place in Surrey, and gave him my card and said I'd be glad 10 see him at Sevenoaks.
 And what are you going to do nowr' said the major. "Come and lunch with me at the Oriental"
 Now, there are six or seven men to whom I've deadly hatred. who lunch at the Oriental daily, besides which ooe gets quite enough of the Orient in India !: and so told him
 Quite right" he said. "I like to get out of the regular grove. What do you say to going into the city and having a bit of fish togesher5 know a capital place-Chuffin s, close to Billingsgate, and handy for our trains. Take the penny boat from Hungerford, eh P
 willingly agreed to this, for like to make the acquaintance of new phases of life under competent guidance, although 1 haven't enterprise enough to cut out nything of the kind for myself
 The tide was well up and we had, a pleasant sail down the river. There Is no more charming vista than that from Hun gerford bridge. The embankment makes handsome sweep just there, and the bridge of Waterloo, surely the hand somest in England, and Somerset house, and St. PAul's looming over all but lower down the embankment gives a sadly tame and for nal aspect to the river. A stone wall, accentuated with lamp-posts and door-knockers, is an unworthy mon- ument of British taste You might have taken hlnt from the Hindoo ghauts, or landing places, to advantage.
 We landed close to London bridge, and the major introduced me to Cbuffin's A very nice place, with an ordinary and a regular chairman, and characters that. if were one of your pen-snd-ink artists, l should have great pleasure in sketching for you. w: had no end ol fish of the very best But the major seduced me into extravagance. A pint Of champagne with our fish. some brown sherry and, to wind up, some capital iced punch, an iniquitous sort Of proceeding for a man who had a family dinner awaiting him at seven; but got into the spirit of the thing, somehow, and the majors conver- sation was really quite bright and en- thralling.
 must leave you now,a said the major, calling the waiter and picking out nine penny cigar. He took \ handful Of change out of his pocket. You'll allow me to settle for this little affair ?
 a Tae.fAnt shsvI 0f st v not on any account
 Oh, nonyense! Well, won't press it," he said, seeing l was determined. l" Let's sec, two-and sir, five, seven-and- six and six for the waiter, eight shillings a piece shall settler
 Do, if you please" said, handing my friend half a sovereign.
 The major gave me atwo-shilling piece and lounged away to the little desk where they took the money, made his financial arrangements, and vanished with a part ing wave of the hand.
 For myself confess that felt littie muddled with the good things of which had partaken. ordered a brandy and soda and screw Of tobacco, and induleed in a long clay pipe-a thing very much affect when have chance.
 Presently, as the time for my train ap- preached, knocked out the ashes ofJmy pipe and made my way to the door.
 "I have to pay for a brandy and-soda and tobacco" said.
 "YeA sir," said the waiter, who hover ed about to check of the payers, and two dinnerA champagne, sherry, punch eighteen shillings, if you please, sir.r
 But" l demonstrated, "my friend paid for all that"
 ~I beg your pardon, sir" said the young woman at the desk, "he left word, sir, that you would settle for every- thing"
 Well, they wouldn't let mo go without paying, and l went homo rather cres.- fallen. wrose to Major Bilkins, at Blickiey park, Saney. but my lesssx came back in due course marked in rod sod | other colored inks all over it. Not known ty-" ever % many places.
 Oh, Major Bilkins, didnt mind l paying 90 much for your feed and giv- ing you a little pocket money, but it | vas rather too bad to hand me for change out of my half sovereign a forin that proved to be duf5eE. eE."-BsjRyavia.