The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-26
TuEMAJoR's LUNCHEON.

It was . bright, sunny day In July,
and although people seemed to find It
hot, yet 70 me the atmosphere had only
Just the chill of, for I was lately home
from heightened sojourn in Bombay.
I had been 10 the India office to see one
ct Ahe officials On q little matter Of dc.
tail connected with my furlough, and I
had two or three hours ts spare before
my trair-I live at Sevenoaks, afid had
return ticket by the London, Chatham
ana bover-wss due to start, and
didn't exactly tr-w how to employ the
time. Istrolled across the parade, as
cended the steps by the Duke Of fefks
column, and stared at the statue they had
just put up Of Outram horse standing
on tl,*ee legs, and Outrsm looking back
leaning on the dank of his horse. Well,
I hadn't much fault to find with the
statue, except perhaps as to the horse
being little heavy, and that I'd have
made him splashhs ont with his near
fore leg, seeing that hfs fkIsrs leaning
over the flank; but, notwithstanding,
it's spirited thing, and that's good
deal to say in these days. When I had
q good look Ht Outram / turned into
Pail Mall and took long stare at the
print shops, and then l sauntered along
the 0Pcr. aolounade, fragrant whiff of
some cooking going on at the restaurant
there making me all of q sudden feel as
i'll was hungry.
Perhaps you will say I was in the
right quarter TO be satisfied, but didn't
feel SO. i sm, like John GiIpin. of q
frugal mind. haven't tciled all these
years in foreign land under o blazing
sun to dissipats my modest hoard on
cooks and restaurants, moreover, my
appetite is masculine one, and is not
to 5s appsssed by outlets as big as half
crowns. Should I tske the "bus" to
Paddington and lunch with thy sister
Emily? Paddington is a long way; En-:
lily ss likely as not wauld be out, and il
at home she wauld probably be lunch-
ing off cream cheese sha Osborne bus
cults and q glass of Gladstonisn els,et.
Should I retreat to my station, and re-
fresh myself calmly at the dining room
there and await my train? There was
something ignominious in the idea.
Here was in one Of the most wonder
full cities in the world, and all could
find it in my heart to do was TO get out
of it as quickly as possible.
Irresolute stood at the corner of the
Haymarket. not having made up my
mind which way to 60. I hadn't stood
there before an old Irish-w0ilan asked
me the way to Bethnal- green. i was
rather furried at this, as, although
have good general idea of the dircc-
tion Of Bethnal. green, I found it diff
cult to methodizs In with suffi-
ient rapidity for the old Irish.
soman; who gave me q glance Of
contempt and passed on. Before I had
recovered from this, two very nlce-look-
ing girls, moved, I supposed, by my
fatherly appearance, besought me, With
charming smiles, to direct them to the
academy. Now, in my young days the
academy used to be at the national gal
lery. and although I ought 10 have
known very we'll that it was now at
Burlington house, yet somehow never
realized the fact, and so sent off these
two very nice young creatures entirely
in the wrong direction. My heart
smote me the next moment, and was
about to rush across the street to stop
them and put them in the right way
when l was seized by ford young
Irishman, with all the superfuous en-.
ergy and fluency of his country who in.
sisted upon my directing him TO the
chief commissioner of the civil service,
aud was very angry with me when as
sured him there was no such function
ary. He insisted on producing an Of
fetal envelope addressed to Michael o.
Donovan, Esq, at some howling will
derness in Tipperary, which certainly
bore in the corner the words "Civil Ser
vice Commissions"
"And would there lie commission
widout a commissioner ?" cried Michael
triumphantly, but scornfully; and then
I saw what he wanted, of course, and
sent him to Deans yard, but don't
know after all, whether he wouldn't
have committed an assault upon mo
with the idea he'd got that was 'desa-
wing him. 1 hope to goodness the civ
il service commission hasn't moved too,
or I shall fear to find my tall Irish
friend waiting for me at the corner of
the Haymarket with Q big stick next
time l pass.
But next minute I was paid for all,
when such sweet voice fell upon my
ear, and a lady with little boy in her
hand asked me the way to Regent street.
She had one Of those softly-mouldetl
sympathetic faces that give one heart
ache when one finds that the owners OF
them are married, not with any idea Of
selfish appropriation, but with the
thought that such sweet candid Great.
ures should he set apart for the love
and alteration Of all mankind, and not
monopolized by some one unworthy
wretch. She asked me the way to Reg.
ent street and happy was that knew
it. After that / deserted my post and
dartctl across to the other side.
hadn't got more than half dozer
yards when I felt hand lai,l upon my
arm, and saw at my side very good
looking, we'll. dressed man.
My dear fellow" he said, "how Art
you?"
didn't know but what knew th,
man. for one meets so many people Q
his kidney; and for aught I could tell
might have been Hospitality entertaine,
by him somewhere or other up the coun
try, SO that I didn't like to confess IN,
ignorance Of his name and quality. An