Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-11-22
THE STORY OF A PICNIC.
From the st. James Gazette

ascribed to the heat Of Lady BraglntOn'S
ballroom the night before and the lob
ster mayonnase which he had eaten at
supper. His familiar friend, Jack Wei
man, who shares his digglngs, remarked
that the lobster was extra sec, CuVes re-
serves, of a very good brand, and
would not have hurt a baby unless con
sumcd in excess Talking of which"
he added, "shall YOU run to fizz at your
picnic ?'
Picnic - said Mr.. Mathew, in d care
less tone; "what picnic? | remember
something about bean feast to which
some one ! know has asked me to go
next Saturday. / fancy accepted; but
nay headache made me forget Where
is itr'
Jack Welman, who always presides at
breakfast, poured HIM out third cup
ot tea and shook his head.
"My dear fellow, were you as bad as
that? Really, don't you know that you
are giving picnic, and have twenty
people at least-sevcn girls to my
Notwithstanding to Maidenhead on
Saturday next, and have got to provide
boats and lunch?"
Jack ~ said Mr. Mathew, in a conf
deatial if rather nervous tone,"l be-
lieve YOU are right; it's coming back to
bly,. "I'm not quite sure it will suit
me. All the same
Cant you get out of it?'
II really must if can; | am deuced
short. 1t will be q matter of ElO, at
esst-ready money, too, for most of
it,
Cheap at that"
What am to do? Toll me good
excuse. You've not got headache.
Write and say You can't find cha
peron. You have only asked girls and
lot of young fellows; you must have
some one to give an air of responsibility,
though you did issue your invitations in
rather an informal way. How many
boatfuls will there be? You might say
YOU must have dowager in each"
Mr.. Welman went to the writing
table and wrote little pile of notes,
drank lemon squash, and departed to
Iincoln's inn for the day, where doubt
less he rendered valuable assistance to
the conveyancer with whom he was
reading Postal delivery in London is
sometimes fairly rapid and next morn
ing Mr.. Welman pointed with an air OF
friendly concern to a little pile Of enve-
lopos, directed in ladies' handwriting,
which lay beside his friends plate.
Tender regrets" said Frank Ma
hew, airily. ...
Golfers of chaperonage, you bet, re-
piled Welman, and Frank Mathew read
the first one aloud, with a lengthening
face, which would not have tiattered the
writer:
DEAR MIR. MAHEw: 1t will be all right
about the picnic, as | can easily find
rhaperon. Hoping it will be fine yours
very sincerely, BLANCHE SMYTIIE.
"lt may not be fine" he muttered.
What do they say from America?
Wait bit, though"
Ny DEAR MIR. MAHEW: We are
much looking forward TO your picnic on
Saturday, and shall come, whatever the
weather, though we had better all have
mackint0SheS. My cousin, Mrs Thomp-
SON, will do proprlety. SO that is all right.
Are there many coming? | thought you
Cuty wanted me. Yours very sincerely,
ROSE DE JONES.
''Confound Mrs: Thompson! Here's
anothcr of them"
My DEAR MIR. MAHEw: C''Wonder
why she underlined the dear What can l
have said? ply You have forgotten you
asked mamma to chaperOn us at your pic
mic and she has ordered Il new shady hat
on purpose. Yours in haste,
MAY ROBINSON.
''Old Lady Robinson ina new shady
hat; my prophetic soul Look here,
Jack, don't grin--it's no joke. I've
overdrawn already, and the quarters
ouly half through"
There's another" said Welman
gvimly, Gin pink envelope"
cone of the Currey girls" said Ma
how, with his teeth set. II fancy |
asked both"
DEAR FRANK (''Frank forsooth") Don't
forget YOU promised Ethel YOU would have
plenty OF boats, and let Capt. Maudsley
Scull her. | think I'll come in punt with
you, as you want me to DO so much. Get
one of your young married friends to
chaperon the party, and give her someone
~ entertain her Ill u separate boat. Yours
in frantichaste DORA CURREY.
"Nice style of girl that" SAID Mr..
Welman. you seem to have made
the running all round. Lady Robin
son will be particularly glad to chaperon
the Curreys! l heard her saying to
Mrs De Jones she wondered how Lady
Braginton could invite such girls to her
ball"
MY dear Jack" said Mr.. Mathew
with still longer face, q don't at all
want to offend Lady Robinson, and
don't want to go in punt with Miss
Currey. What am | to do?"
Cant say. Drown yourself, or have
some lobster before starting-to keep
up your spirits. Any more letters?''
"Only one, from the governor"
SIS the old man friendly?"
"Severe rather-paternal reminder of
the shortness of life as instanced by the
death of an elderly relative at the age
OF. But Lady Robinson"
But your dead relative, who was
bs?''