Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-03

tions OF longing to see her, she and her
aunt would run up for the day from the
Isle of Wight to have a long day in town,
as there was some shopping to be done and
little sightseeing combined, and the day
following | was to meet them at the
station.
1 did so, and remarkably pretty in her
Juno fashion Mabel looked. | was rather
surprised, however, when | asked her if
she were going to Tyburnia first. She
answered, "Oh no, / let the house as it
stood for two months to some Devonshire
people. No use in letting a house stand
idle or money either" she said, and |
really thought | could discern a sort Of
Getty" ring in her voice. This new dis
covery led to some reflection on my part.
We have covered, l should imagine,
enough ground to satisfy the greatest
glutton in go-as-you-please contest
in going from shop 20 shop, and had
done two picture galleries, when,
thoroughly exhausted, | was wondering
how soon Mabel and her aunt, who seemed
in the pink of condition for staying pow
ers, if | may talk like sporting paper,
would let me have an interval of repose
when my tinancee remarked:
:" / am hungry !"
Her aunt's Aorid face lit up with sympa-
thetic and delightful ardor.
''And I'm hungrier than Eve ever BEEN"
she said
"Well, Fred will take us somewhere to
luncheon" said Mabel, with radiant
smile, and we proceeded, with much sim
ulated enthusiasm on my part and much
real ditto on that of the ladies, to noted
restaurant. Why was my enthusiasm sim
ula:ed, seeing my love of good eating
equaled that of my fair companions? Be
cause 1t was always with the proviso of be-
ing at somebody else's expense when my
funds ran low, which Just at this time they
did, when, with the usual perversity of
woman, my betrothed must take it INTO
her head to come to London.
Now, l had been paying cab fares and
exhibition admissions, and therefore rue
fully calculated that by the time recher-
che luncheon and some dry Mumm had
been consumed very little of the small sum
in my purse would remain there Mabel.
as her remark anent the house showed.
was a young lady of business, and nothing
could work more prejudicially to my pros
poets than to hint my temporary position
to her, which good many men, with less
majestic, though as well-dowered fiancees,
could have done. No, it was case of
grin-and-bear-it, and with Spartan forti-
tude | led the way into the restaurant and
ordered a most charming luncheon, to all
the courses of which the two ladies paid
| marked and appreciatiye attentions As /
had to pay for the feast saw no reason
why | should not enjoy my share of it, and
| was not so romantically in love as to
have my appetite spoiled. The champagne,
too did me good, and l much respected
Mabel and her admirable aunt for being
superior to the usual feminine taste for
sweet wines. So altogether we were very
comfortable.
Alas the mauoids quart Gheeae was APP
preaching, and Mabel was too fond of her
oppressive punctuality to let me enjoy my
ease, as we of the B. p Office were wont to
do. She began to recapitulate the pro-
| jects she had for the rest Of the afternoon.
| carelessly called for the bill, and while
the waiter was gone for it surreptitiously
opened my purse to find that, as | now re-
membered, the one fve-pound it had con-
tanned had that morning, when dressing,
been put into and left in my writing desk
This hideous discovery, to use vulgar
phrase, completely habbergasted" me.
My two fair guests were trifing with des-
sert and too intent on their occupation to
notice my change of countenance What
was to be done? Money must be had and
Immediately, and the nearest pawnbroker
must be sought. Summoning all my his
trionic power (which has been pronounced
in ameteur circles CONSIDERABLE, | OBJ
served, with sudden start of recollection,
that to my great annoyance / had an of
fetal appointment at the Office, and "busi-
ness is business, dear Mabel" l said, which
was a sentiment peculiarly intelligible to
the heiress of Uncle Plumley. So she
graciously approved of my short absence,
and / hurried out, followed by the not un-
suspicious glance of the manager, only re-
assured by glancing at the rich attire and
placid contentment of the two
ladies left at the table. Once out of the
restaurant, l bolted at headlong speed
down a side street, where | espied the fa-
miliar three golden balls / resolved in
my mind, as l hurried along, the feasibil-
ity of raising the required amount on my
watch and chain, but reflected that its
absence would he Immediately detected.
The only available resource was, there
fore, the opal ring, and must trust to my
glove, until [ redeemed the gem, to con-
ceal from Mabels eyes the absence of her
gift. | got five pounds on the ring, and
with the money and ticket hastened back
to find the ladies still trifing with fruit.
Clearly Mabel was not woman to live on
bread and cheese and kisses.
How quick you've been, Fred" she
observed.
"Could | be long away from you, dar-
ling ?" said l, passionately, carefully keep
ing my gloves on and hoping her brilliant
eyes-which were deuced sharp-would
not note the absence of the raised circle
) under the kid. l paid the bill and we
started for another exhibition, after which,
, to my intense relief, l took the pair to
) Waterloo and saw them off for Southamp-
! ton. | then remembered that / was due
at whist party at Everton's, and, resolv-
ing to postpone the redeeming of my ring
and intent on winning the "fiver" for
that purpose, | set off for his lodgings
where found several fellows and Eyerton
in high feather.
: Hang whistw he exclaimed, "we'll
play loo,' to which there was chorus ol
assent; " the night is yours and drink is
l plenty" he continued, and there was an
! array Of beverages fit for Gargantuar
throats. So, after preliminary hquoring
! up, We began to play, and the game went
on into the small hours with varying for
tune, most of us certainly having more
) than was good for us. Luck ran for some
time in my favor, then turned, and ]
found myself in a somewhat hazy condi
tion, scrawling o U7s. However, to my
great relief, it turned again, and my l
: US were handed back, followed by cash
: When the play ended l rose a fair winner
but indubitably half-seas over. However
| | got hanson, paid double fare, and
: somehow got up stairs and into bed, virtu
ously resolving the first thing in the morn.
ing to redeem my ring.
: But when morning came splitting
headache allowed me only to send mes
sage Of excuse to the office and lie groan
ing in bed till the afternoon, when, after
much soda water, | crawled, seediest OF