New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
A BLUE SERGE SUIT.
CHAPTER I.


cot this suit because was going to the sea-
eide NV wife said was TO 90: that was look
inc tired and worm and that l wanted changc.
Now | don't at all care about gong lht" .e
country. London Is the pleaSanl1St pace III ne
world and II seems folly to leave IL lor pace
that is certain to be less pleasant And hld
not been away for ycarS--not since was marrIeu'
in fact; but this year my wlie Sald was TO go
and She strOkcd back my hair from my forehead,
and said my temples were thropDihg' ana thdi
showed that l ought 10 be al the seaside anu
she kissed ION the TOP oil the he;'a Oh ,ne piVV
where the hair very thin, and sad perSuaSlNeN'
WED better spend the money that way IMAM III
doctors bills, Walter, and you can easily take
II can.TI said, and l will hut don't know
WHY | should go away simply because everybody
els docs. The air OF Hisheate Is healthy enough
for any body, and We can make some excursions
from here. We can hire carriage ana drive out
through llcndOn, anywhere in that direction. And
III take you to the Crystal Palace. And l
haven't seen Epping Forest for ever so long.
There's use arguing with my wlfe-she never
gives in. I'm told that most women are like her
In that. She persuaded me finally that was TO
60 down to Eastclil, and after | had been there
day or two | WAS TO look out for lodgings, and
she would come down with the two children.
They didn't want the change, She said; 1t was
for my sake We, were going But She couldn
bear 10 think of leaving mc alone When we had
settled on Eastchn my wife left me in peace for
few DAYS. Then one morning at breakfast she
said suddenly:
Have you ordered your new clothes yet, Wal
ter?n
my next suit Tor another sin weeks
Well but, Walter" She said YOU must have
a light suit for the seaside. You can't 90 about
all the time in black you must have Jacket
suit, for when You are sitting on the pebbles or
4" Mrs Binn,7 | said, IAN supposed to sit
on pebbles or TO 90 about wadng, exposing my
ankles. AZ my time Of life ?"
put this quite pathetically. But it was no
use saying anything my wife would have ordered
the suit herself il hadn't gone round TO the
tailor's
lie was very pleased to sec me, and rubbed his
hands defercntaly as | sat down.
- little sooner than usual this time sir, he
eid The same thing, l suppose, sir Black
Mr. Tape said /, regret that it is not the
samc thing. My wife insists on my having
summer suit-a light suit You know, for the sea
lie showed me no end of patterns of light
materials, but | couldn't satisfy myself. | am
shy let me say rc-mrticularly about wearing
new clothes. My wife says am afraid that people
Will pinch me as my schOolfcllOwS did when was
boy Even when | get INTO new black coat Just
ihe same the one am leaving of. don't like it,
And 10 wear those stripes and things. AT last the
tailor suggested Il blue serge. That wasn't so very
different. he said, and WAS quite the correct thing
Tor the seasidc-qultc nautical in fact. so ! fixed
3n suit of navy blue, three SUlncas and half.
per cent discount for cash. ana was pleased when
got home 10 find my wife was satisfied. When
4 came home. too. she said that it fitted me very
we and that | looked ever 50 much younger
Then she kissed me on the bald patch my head
20 remind me, / suppose, that I'm not so very
1t, pity we're not going into Wales or Scot
and she said or you could have worn Knlckcs-
Ny dear" said. I'm sure wouldn't. You
pay tempt nc TO a blue serge suit. bat We must
sraw the hne somewhere. | draw II long way
his side Of knlckcrbOckcTS."
Well the day came at last that was to take me
70 Eastcln. Ny wife bad fixed on Eastcliif be
cause she has an old maiden aunt who lives there.
This aunt has promised 10 do something for the
children by-anG-by and we have hopes that their
parents won't be forgotten. The neNr day was
Der birthday. ard my wife had bought Ter small
pair Of earrings and was TO be sure not to forget
70 call and deliver them. with all sorts of messages
md inquiries. | had another small piece OF bust
hess too copy OF an agreement had Ia DC sent
Town from our firm 10 the leading solicitors AT
EaStclin. and as their head clerk one Of NY
greatest friends--wc had been IN the same Office
n London-I readily undertook the commission.
T., got down too late that night 10 10 more than
ook nj the sea before ] went 10 bed but the next
morning was out walkn2 on the bach very early
The sea looked very cold. and ! determined TO
put OF my bath till after breakfast. was bound
10 battle you see, whether liked II or not, for
nv wife had told me that was 10 and when she
.amc down She would be sure 10 ask me how many
lips had had, and hold that 4 man should not
ell ibs-nOt even TO his wife. About half-past o
.hc sea seemed 10 look Il Little more comfortable,
md / started out to take my first plunge After
xard / decided 20 60 and call upon my witcs
.unt just as started. however, found ont that
| hadn't the earrings. Ihcy were IN SEAL box
ike a pill box. and | had taken my compound
.olocynih pills instead. wa, mortified 10 think of
;hc scene there would have been had | presented
! still worse mistake. When went pack 10 NY
room | saw the agreement which | was 70 leave
with Mcs>rs Croylard. Hardness y flillp. So
[ put il in my pocket. and as found thor office
eas on my way 10 the old lady'S house. de-
ernincd 10 leave il as was going there. Accord
Egly went 10 the beach. $3.50
Now always say ! am fond of the sea. like
tcadnc sea tales and poetry about the mighty deep
ind can dcclaim ByrOm'S lines beginning Roll OF.
.hou deep and dark blue ocean. roll. But II
ilways seems to mt that the ocean rolls. on quite
Is comfortably when am on shore and enjoy
y great deal better. When was boy al school
had 70 learn some verses which haven't forgotten
fct:
suavc. mari masno tuIbanibus acquora VENTS,
j. magBum alicrius spcctarT la1orem
Underline T. terra ana you have ny sentiments
But though don't like being on the sea | like
being Ia il still less Sca-balhn9 !, Il dTadiully
.old. damp, claminy Scrt OF amusement, but
suarrclling with your wife isn't amusing al all |
10 determined TO take plEngc. just a. | was
sctting into The water man about my size and
build got OdI OF the next machine. lie walked /
but gayly into deep water and then swan ont 10
goa. If | could swim like that thought, there |
would &c some sense IN sea bathing; but had 10
stand about on the beach. which was pcbbly and
burt ny feet good deal. Then a wave broke
ovcr me and filed my mouth with water, and /
was glad 10 get back into the machine again and
dress myself | very quick over my dressing
IS began 10 be afraid Of being late al my aunts
Nv boots seemed 10 be unusually painful; | sup
posed il was owing TO the pebbles on The beach
when had bathcd ] gave up the idea OF calling
IN the lawyers. but fortunately ! met my old
friend uool,ius the head clerk Of MeSsrs Croyland
md Co.. and gave him the packet had
Are you down bcrc for business or pleasure"
.c said ] knew hc wanted to chail--llOpilns was
llnav, great al cAaI
Hopkins is a bachelor, or would have said, For
ny wlfe's pleasure.
All, should think So" he said How much
'or the get up .,..., ,..,..
Glcn he tries be lOculic