The sun., 1884-01-10
A QUIET COMEDY.
iarper's Bazar.


I'm of Murrable, Racket, 4 Co., walk
quickly up sheltered carriage-drive
shich led to charming little house Iy-
hg within mile of Fordham, West.
! lester county. New Y ork.
Murrable Racket, Il Co., as prob,bly
very one is aware. are Oren-
merchants: and Mr.. Racket was re-
'lrning home after a years absence IN
india, whittier he had been suddenly
nmmoned in consequence Of the death
u his uncle and partner, Mr.. Alsernon
pa 'kett. This uncle had for nearly
generation been the Calcutta represen-
ative of the firm; and after having for
more than quarter of a century done
lis best to ruin his constitution by the
eckless consumption of curries and
Sass's ale, he had finally succumbed toa
wholly unforeseen attack of apoplexy.
The news of his death arrived rather
nopportunely in New York. After
lew weeks acquaintance. Thomas Rack
'att had married Dora, the only daugh-
er of Mr.. Cyrus Dunclmbe, of Wall
treet, and he had barely begun to taste
j he joys of welded life when his uncle
.snconsiderately quilted the world with
put having first settled his affairs, and
/ ON was obliged to leave for India at
fay's notice. Mr.. Duncoinbe lived at
Fordham, and as the duration of her
husbands absence was quite uncertain,
: was arranged that the young wife
: 5uld take up her abode near her faith
IS house. and thus enjoy the advantages
independence without entirely sur
,ndering Mr.. Duncombe's paternal pro-
der cottage-for it was but little more
was model of picturesque comfort;
d Tom, as he approached it, felt no
tle pleasure in the reflection that dur
l. his enforced separation from her his
re had SO lovely home. One thought
swever, worried him little. He
Us returning unex xpectedIy, and.he won.
sred whether, under the circumstances
te had known him for so short time
~ lover and hush md she would know
An again. When he left her he had
prn only his mustache. Now he grew
ffull beard, and he WAS SO Drowned and
saaet, to boot, that he scarcely recog-
Tied himself.
II He was speculating upon this question
hen tnrn in the roadway brought
| N in sight of the house, and, looking
u, saw at window above the yeranda
1 70 less person than Dora herself FAIR
IND fresh as q rose at dawn she seemed
liz, dressed all in white sshe carefully
Trimmed q too luxuriant creeper which
Hung around the haIf-opened ialousiss
he echo Of his steD upon the crisp
|, 9ravel attracted her attention for an
ihlstant, and she glanced down at him;
rnt there was no sparkle OF recognition
n her eyes, and as ; e approached the
oor she quietly withdrew.
''She actually does not know me-"
aid Tom to himself "She takes me for
+ stranger. l will surprise her"
{ Then sudden idea struck him. "I
Ill pretend 10 be some one else" he
1ought-'a friend of her husbands
-Om India. She thinks [ am still ut
3alcutta. When last wrote TO her |
5ad not the least idea that should be
bic to get home be ore Christmas. Yes,
| will pretend to he some one else"
! And Sutlng the action to the word,
lie rang the bell, and upon servant ap-
bearing, told the girl. without, however,
living his name, that gentleman from
india desired TO see Mrs. Racket.
II He was shown into coul. delightful
lirawingroom. which contained thou
land evidences Of the taste ana culture of
trs fair mistress. Opposite the open
tyindow stood a huge vase filed with
.7ers. and close to this Mr.. Bracket
b,5k up his position, turning his back to
-te door.
Within two minutes he heard the
elstling of his wife's dress outside, and
Iith a nervous apprehension of what
Blight result from his stimulation he be-
I'm to cough violently.
tMrs. Racket entered behind him, but
.e did not face her.
a"I am afraid, sir, that you find the
ben window too much for you" she
hid, hesltatingly.
\ "Oh no. thank you." gasped Tom,
sscing her for an instant, and then gaz-
Ing more intentIy than ever at the fow-
sirs. "Not in the least"
"I.et me shut the window"
ooh, no. thank YOU. Nor for worlds!a
teturned Tom, who WAS already begin
hing to regret his determination. He
.selt oblige to turn round, but when he
fced her fully he was relieved 10 find
..iat he was still unrecOgniZed. and he
continued, "TEe fact is, Mr5.-Mrs.-"
"Mrs. Racket" said Dora, softly.
"Ah, thank You, yes. The tact is,
Mrs. Racket" declared the deceiurul
husband, that am not vet recon lied
70 this disagreeable climate Of yours. |
s-ah-that is to say-a man who has ex-
listed in groves of mango, and has lived
on chutee and curry-I dare say you
understand"
.sOuite so. Mr.-Mr."
Bracket" answered Tom, deliber-
ately. "My name is Bracket"
"What curious similarity" COM
mented Dora, unsuspiciously. DO you
spell it with two t's"
"With two t's," assented Tom.
"How strange! Yes, / 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 so. /
thought his letter was not written in
livery 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-
Haiously informed hy his wife that sire
EOOh EO EICdb du iHtCIS5t III Ills WSildI6s
"Yes," he AID. 81 can give you some
] Jews OF him, for two months ago 1 was
IL Calcutta
S"Indeedp exclaimed Mrs. Racket,
nth unconcealed joy. "How de!ightfulv'
Il is so nice to meet anv one who has
BEN him out in that country! How was
/ sep'
h Various ideas coursed rapidly through
som's brain. Shonld he 90 on or should
e declare himself? He decided to gc
n.
"He was" he said mysteriously, 'as
-eil as could be expected."
"As well as could be expected" cried
Fora, In alarm. Do you mean that he
Jas been ill?'
"Well, not exactly i'll, you know" re-
bonded Tom, who was getting deeper
md deeper into the slough.
"But do not understand you. Tell
tne. please at once. What has happened
10 hlm?"
4 Mr.. Racket wondered what the end
would be. He wished she would recog-
h;ze him, and throw her white arms
around lis neck; but he had not courage
II q. oopfncr him, Golf