The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-04-19

| A G0MEDY on P0pc
was - the Practice of the good peopII
OF Bumpingtonshire to fill their house
Tor the annual hunt ball, and none wer,
more assiduous IN this than the Hardup
Of Soakington Hall. The Hardups wer
young married couple who had Hvet
some few years in the neighborhood ant
were both wealthy and Hospitality dis
posed. Nothing. in fact, pleased then
better than entertaining a houseful O
CHEEKY people. On the particular coca
sion with which we have now TO deal
the Hardups were anxious to eelipse tn
eonviviallty OF all previous GATHERINGS
and Mrs Hardup had every reason to b,
satisfied wits her success down to the
day before the party was fixed to as
semole. On the morning of that day,
however, she received the following
epistle from her cousin, Reggie Bunkum,
one Of the most highly priced of her ex,
pected guests:
DEAR Cls-l can't tell you how sorry lam
% nave 10 cry ''off at the last Inome1t bul
olo otandlsh, who has come TO us as under
secretary, has done me the honor OF Selecting
tne 70 De ms private secretary. He wants me
70 get INTO harness at once, so 1 can't posi-.
ny 81 away, as you win understand. But
r : Wlsn you would ask my friend, Charlie
I Ht1,1eitoni TO take my place You have
BEARD me speak of him before. though Won
Jon know him. He is such sport that am
sure you VIII be delighted with him. He h
Iu5se Iirst rats on the banjo and has d never
suulhS repertoire Of comic SONGS. Further
.nots ne Is capital 'conjurer' and, mind
you, cont forget to make him do the three
80 n barrel You'd declare there really
neIs three II you didn't know. You must
not be surprised if he turns up at some time
= tramp or in some such outlandish
eharaetar. a line to the Bachelors Club will
md nm shall think of your festive party
"ush am grinding away at estimates and
Sneh hke denominations. Love to Jack.
Aour anectonate cousin,
'REGGE BUSKuM.n
u am sorry that Reggie is not com
ing, remarked Mrs. Hardup to her hus
oand- But it can't be helped. Isup-
pose. however, that we may as well ask
MIR. Twi zleton. He sounds as if he
would be fun.
oh by all means" responded the
genial Jack Hardup. "Write and tel
nm nm well meet him by the $3.50 at
Bumpington, if he can come, and ask
MIN to send wire in the morning.
Airs- Hardup accordingly dispatched
so-ees--SoI- M TwizzzIefo1. The next
morning she received a telegram accept
ing her invitation, and the same after
noon IN due course carriage was dis
patched to Bumpington Junction to meet
the expected guest.
Mr.. Twiz Teton was, of course, freely
eanvassed at Mrs. Hardups tea table that
afternoon. Reggie Bunkum's account
OF ms friends Accomplishment naturally
raised lively auticipations, and the ap-
pearance of the new conner was awaited
with much curiosity. No one saw him
arrive, for the train was late, and when
the carriage returned from the station
the Hardups and their guests were dress
ing for dinner; but when, after the COM
pany had assembled in~ine drawing
room, Nh. Twizzlet0n was announced
and made his appearance, blank amaze
ment iell upon all present. The new
arrival was, to all appearance, about 60
years Of age. His dress was such as was
worn by elderly gentlemen of fashion in
the days Of Mr.. Pickwick. A black
satin stock enveloped mis- neck. He was
gorgeous in velvet waistcoast coplous-
~ adorned with coral buttons. From
his fob dangled heavy bunch of old
fashioned seals and trinkets. The odd
lty Of his appearance was further en-
HANGED by pair of green spectacles, the
object OF which the more acute observers
present at once took to be 10 complete
his disguise.
Only one explanation of this unex-
peetion spparition seemed possible.
u suppose" whispered Mrs. Hardup
TO her husband, when she had welcomed
her guest and introduced him to the
lady whom he was TO take in TO dinner.
that this is one of the DISCUSSES in
which Reggie warned US that his friend
might appear"
Apparently SO, returned Jack; 'sbut
it's rather queer form to lead off with a
practical joke of this description. What
en- earth are we TO say 70 himl''
Fortunately dinner was at once an
nouneed, aud put an end TO the mo-
nlentary awkwardness which Mr.. Twlz-
zleton's little joke had caused. The
of the company were, like their
host, uncertain what line to take with
this practical joker, and, as a conse-
quence, he was left during the progress
Of The meal mainly to the society of Mrs.
Carnegie, whom he he'd brought n tr,
dinner. This lady was the well pre-
served and vivacious widow Of an Indian
Judge, and fastered herself that she was
fully match for the eccentric individual
by her side. They had not conversed
very long, however, before A1r. Twiz-
zision fairly puzzled her.
Il rope, Mr.. Twizzleton,p she re-
soon after they were settled in
their places, that your sight is not so
bad as to prevent your dancing this
EVENING""
dancing, my dear madam" replied
Mr.. Twizzleton; Il fear my infrmity of
sight Is not the only obstacle to that. It
is thirty years since considered myself
3 dancing man, and to be asked to dance
was the last thing I expected when l
came here"
'Jndeedr ~ returned the widow, with
an arch glance. "Did you expect to be
left in charge Of the hall while the rest
Of US disport ourselves at the Bumpkin-
ton balln
',Ah, madam, l see that you are jok-
ng, !" replied the imperturbable Twizzle-
on. MY engagement with our charm
ng hostess, whom l am agreeably sur
prised to see looking so well, is the only
l can look forward to to
iight.p
''Well," said Mrs. Carnegie, with a
title toss Of her head, ''of course you
will have to dance with Cicely, but it is
! little cool to inform me that you intend
% favor nobody else-even though she
be our hostess.p
M. Twizzieton assumed an air of as
which would have done credit
10 any actor on the boards
81 dance with herl" ne exclaimed.
Surely, madam, misunderstood you.
cannot believe that a lady would
dream Of dancing under such circum-
stances
"And why not prayin inquired the
Ridow.