Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-29
MIR. BOUNDER'S GUESTS.


Mr.. Alexander McCanister to the wife of
his bosom as he cracked his matutinal egg.
"My dear Alexander, how can you sug-
gest such thing?'' cried Mrs McCanister.
''The girls are looking forward to the races
so, and Tom is bringing some friends from
Oxford. What on earth will he do ?''
1T Gamma be helped" replied her better
halt, in doleful voice 'sthings are verra
bad. What wi the Oriental bank and the
failures, Pm afraid Tom'll hae to do as the
dog did when they cuttit off his tail-do
without it,
s'Well, you must tell the girls yourself
when you come back tonight. I'm sure
shan't," said Mrs. McCanister, almost in
tears. ''They will be simply frantic.''
Mr.. McCanister munched his breakfast
and studied his Times in silence, for he
knew very well that his wife would never be
able to keep so terrible secret until his
return from the city.
McCanister was the senior partner in the
great house of McCanister, Caddy & Co.,
tea merchants and colonial brokers, and
was one of the richest and almost the stin-
giest man in the 'Lane." Needless to say
he had never had penny in the Oriental
bank, and had made a pretty good thing by
.., h.,+ lilo esael
of his canny countrymen. the more money
he made the meaner he grew. He had a
large house in Bayswater, and good sized
villa close to Ascot, which his family had
hitherto filled with their friends for the
race meeting. But McCanister had deter
mined to rebel this year. The expenditure
during the race week he considered positive
ly sinful, and his son Tom, of whom he
stood in some little dread, was in the habit
Of bringing down set Of staggering young
undergraduates who drank his champagne
with horrible freedom, and treated him
with the scantiest ceremony. So he made
up his mind that they should enjoy free
quarters at his expense no more.
Great was the grief and CONSERVATION in
the McCanister family when the news was
made known to them. The girls spent the
day in fearful Mysteries.
But McCanister was master of the situa-
ton. Neither prayers nor tears could move
him from his purpose, and in spite of the
exceedingly high figures he asked for the
house, and the exceptional dullness of the
season. offers poured in by the dozen.
just at this period Mr.. McCanister was
seized with the premonitory twinges of an
attack of gout. For a few days he was
Laid up, and as soon as he was able to move
about, his doctor recommended trip to
Carlsbad Or Vichy. McCanister vas rather
glad of the excuse, for once out of London
his womenkind would not have the same
opportunity of nagging at him about Ascot,
so he gave orders for an early start. The
ladies, too, were somewhat relieved, as they
could now plead an excellent reason for the
letting of the house.
Most of the regular staff of servants had
been left in Wallace Lodge, as McCanister
called his villa, under the command of NIr.
Bottles, the family butler Bottles was a
man Of few words and highly respectable
appearance. He had, so he always said,
served in very aristocratic families and he
accordingly despised his cheeseparing mas
ter not a little. He was, however, devoted
to Mr.. Tom, onwhose free-handed generos-
ity he founded hopes of very snug berth
when McCanister senior had been gathered
to his fathers.
1t was Friday before the Ascot week, and
Mr.. Bottles was standing On the doorstep
of Wallace Lodge, lazily staring down the
drive. He was expecting Master Tom, who
had arranged to call and take some luggage
away on that day. Presently the youthful
scion OF the house of Canister drove up, and
Bottles advanced to greet him.
Master Tom was apparently in very
bad temper. Bottles went up stairs to help
him pack, and was soon made acquainted
with his grievances.
'Did you ever know anything so riling?'
exclaimed the young man, as he threw
coats, waistcoats and boots about the room
IN a hopeless endeavor to find what he
wanted. 'I've had note this morning
from Lord Dado to say that, owing to fam
lily bereavement, as he calls it, he is not 60
ing to have any party at Ascot, so Pm land
ed on the street %
That's very awkward, sir,'' said the
sympathetic Bottles
II should think it was awkward WHAT'S
more don't believe that there is ANYTHING
wrong. His great aunt has, I suppose, got
the toothache, and so he has made that an
excuse for doing things cheap.''
Bottles continued packing in silence. He
presently remarked, however. sIt's an odd
thing, sir but we shall have a yerv small
party here"
why, l thought Lord Nonsuch was
bringing a heap of peoplep'
Bottles produced telegram and handed
1t to his young master, who read as fol
lows
er Wallace. W -'''0'-
Lodge, Ascot.
My brother taken dangerously i'll in Par
IS oil there at once. Have, of course can.
celled all invitations. e''-'
why, there'll be nobody but old Bound-
er and his son !" cried Tom.
PITY you can't stay here, too, sir'
- don't even know the old rufian.,,
.Terhaps that wouldn't matter, Sir"
What on earth are you driving at. Rot
ties? p asked Tom; for he began to ii have
ann notion that there was some deep pur-
pose IN the astute butler's mind. -
why, slr, Mr.. Bounder won't know .anv
one Of them ?'' - - - ~ Do
But how about the telegram p,
.sOh, Pll see to that, sir p