Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-08
A BLUE SERGE SUIT.
CHAPTER I.

kCI TINS SllI OrCausc was kOlus 70 the seaside.
Ny wife said was TO 90; that was looking tired
and worn and that wanted a change Now 7
don't AZ all care about going into the country Lon
don f. the pleasantest pacen the world and II seems
folly 10 leave for place that Is certain TO be
pleasant And had not been away for years-not
since was married. IN fact: but this year nv wife
said was 10 20, and she stroked back nv hair
from my forehead and said my temples were throb-
hing and that showed That ought to be at the sea
side. And she kissed me on the top of the head on
the place where the hair Is very thin and said per
suasively. "Wed better spend the money that wav
than In doctors bills, Walter and you can easily
take three weeks holiday"
Il cam said, "and / will; but I don't know
why should 20 away simply because everybody
else uoes- Inc air OF Highgate Is healthy enough
Tor an! oody, and We can make some excursions
from here. We can hire a Carriage and drive ont
through Hendon, anywhere In that direction And
III take you TO the Crystal Palace Ana hayenr
seen Epping Forest for ever 80 long,
There's no use arguing with my wife-she never
gives In I'm told thai most women are like her
IN thai. she persuaded me finally that was 10
go down TO Eastclir, and after / had been there a
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; Il was for nv
sake we were going. But she couldn't bear TO
think OF leaving me alone. When we had settled
ON Eastclin my wife left me In peace for few
days Then one morning at breakfast she said
suddenly:
"Have you ordered your new clothes vet. Wal
teri"
View clothes. my DEAR" said 81 don't get
my next suit for another six week4r
well, but, Walter" she said ssyOu must have a
light suit for the seaside. You can't go about all
the time In black; you must have a tackeI-suit
Ior when you are sitting on the pebbles OF rowing
..Mrs. Birin," I said, IAN supposed to sit on
ProI I or 10 go apout wading, exposing my
lput this quite patheticaIly. But It was no use
SAVING anythlDgi my Vile would have ordered
tsilor's.
he was very pleased to see me. and rubbed his
hands deferentially as sat down.
"a little sooner than usual this time. SIR" he
said. "Ihe same thing, suppose, sir. Black d.
agonal coat and vest"
"Mr. Tape," said i. II regret that it "a Lot the
same thing My wife insists on my having sum-
mer suit-a light suit, you know, FOR the seaside"
terials, but couldn't satisfy myself. / am shy
let me say geographically about wearing new
clothes. Ny wife say am afraid that people viii
pinch me as my schOOlfellOws did when / was a
hoy. Even when get into q new black coat Just
the same as the one am leaving OF, don't like
IT. And To wear thOsr stripes and thingsi Az
last the tailor suggested blue serge. That wasn't
50 very different, he said, and was quite the
SO fixed on a suit OF navy blue, three guneas
and a half, per cent discount for cash, and was
pleased when got home TO ind my wife was
satisfied When II came home, TOO, she said that
II fitted me very well. and that looked ever SO
Al1cn younger. linen she kissed me the bad
patch on ny head-tO remind NE, suppose, that
am not 50 very young.
'Irs pity we're not going into Wales or Scot
land" she said, cor you could have worn knicker-
bOckers.-
"My dear" 1 said, 'Im sure 1 wouldn't You
may tempt me TO a blue serge suit. but we must
draw the line somewhere. draw IL a long way
this side OF knickerbOckers."
Well the day came at last that was to take me
10 EasJcl1- Ny wife had fixed on Eastclffr be-
cause she had an Old maiden aunt who lives there.
This aunt has promised 10 do something for the
children by-and-by, and we have hopes that their
parents wont BE- forgotten. The next day was
her birthday, and my wife had bought her a small
pair OF earrings, ami was TO be 10 forget
10 call and deliver them with all sorts OF messages
and inquiries had another small piece OF busl-
hess, tOo; copy Of an agreement had 10 be sent
down IrUm our IRA 10 the leading solicitors at
Eastcllr, and as their head clerk was or my
greatest friends-we had been In the same ONCE
got down too late that night to do more than
look al the sra before went to bed, but the next
morning l was out walking on the beach very
early. The sea looked very cold, and determined
10 put on my bath Till after breakfast. i Was
bound 20 battle, you see, whether liked IL or not,
Tor my wife had told me that / was TO- and when
she came down she would be 70 ask me how
many dips had had, ana he'd that man should
not tell nbs-nOt even TO his wife. About half-pas
10 the sea seemed 10 look a little more comfOrIa-
bic, and started out 10 take my first plunge.
AfIerward decided 10 go and call upon my wife'S
aunt; just a. started, however. found out that
hadn't he earrings They We're in q small box
IKE plll-oox, anu had taken my compound col
Ocy nth pills Instead i was horrtfied 10 think OF
the scene there would have been had presented
the wrong box; didn't think 1 was going to
make Sill worse mistake. When / went back TO
my room i saw the agreement which was to
leave with Messrs. Croyland, Hardness & Fillip
80 put IL In my pocket, and as found their ONCE
mined To leave II as i was going there. Accord
ingy went TO the beach
Now l always say am fond Of the sea- i like
reading SEA tales and poetry about the mighty
deep and can declaim Byron's lines beginning
"ROlI on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll ="
But II always seems 10 me that the ocean rolls ON
quite as comfortably when / am on snore, and 1
school had 10 learn some verses which haven't
forgotten yet:
suaye mar masno turbantibus aeauOra vents.
Underline az terra" and you have my sentiments
But though i don't like beng on the sea- like
being IN It stu less sea-bathing is a dreadfully
cod, damp. clammy sort OF amusement, but quar-
relng With your wife isn't amusing at all so 1
determined 10 take plunge. just as was get
ting into the water man about my size and build
got out OF the next machine. He walked out gayly
into deep water and then swan out TO sea- Ii L
S,n.. Ssn.. nH n nat mere wouid be
about on the beach, which was pebbly and hurt
my Ieet good deal Then wave broke over me
and nlled my mouth with water, and was glad
70 set back INTO the machine again and dress my
self was very quick over my dressing, as be-
gan 70 De afraid OF being late at my aunts NV
boots seemed 10 Be unusually painful; / supposed
IL was owing 10 the pebbles on the beach when
had oathsd gave up the idea OF calling on the
kins, the head clerk Of Messrs. Cruyland & Co.
and gave him the packet had
he said knew he wanted TO chan-Hopkins was
always great at char.
"fOr pleasure chiefly" answered
Hopkins Is a bachelor, or would have said ssFor
my wifes pleasure"
-Ah, should think sO.D be said sIIow much
for the get up?"
Hopkins, IKE many other people, il often vulgar
when he tries 10 be Jocular.
1T MS you ike re pa-a-per on re wa-al he went
on Jacobs Co., suppose" Then he examined
the coat more closely.
Its very queer" he said; "the cloth is the best
serge made, but the rt-why my dear fellow your
arms are sticking out OF it dreadfullyn
TWAS quite true, though never noticed before
that the sleeves We're so short. am not quick at
Observation but IL struck me as rather strange
that my Vile had not remarked II.
However, arranged 70 see Hopkins In the even
Ing for chat over old times, and went on 10 nv
aunts know my w1fe's aunt Is not really NV
aunt, but then what relation Is she? call her INV
auntl. She wasn't In a very good humor when
called. i don't think elderly maiden ladle, are
very keen about celebrating their birthdays They
Keep them once In four years fancy First my aunt
scolded me Tor being late, then for walking fast
and making myself hot Then she became amiable
again, and said she was glad We were coming down
here; she should be 80 glad 10 see her niece
sand your nieces husband, TOO, aunt hone
said. with an attempt AT being pleasant
Don't be ridiculous. sir" she replied. 81 mean
your little girl OF course"
Tnls cool way OF skipping q generation was
rather too much for me, but said nothing.
Ny aunt looked at me for q moment, "Nr
BlHln, don't Ike your extravaganza married
ought not to wear extensive flowers in hts