The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-26
THE STORY OF A PICNIC.

One morning not very long ago
Frank Mathew woke with headache.
This he ascribed to the heat Of Lady
Bragictou's ballroom the night before
and the lobster mayonaise which he
had eaten at supper. His familiar
friend. Jack Wclman, who shares his
diggings, remarked that the lobster
was extra sec, cuvee reservee, of a
very good brand, and would not have
hurt baby unless consumed in ex-
cess. Talking Of which," he added
''shall you run to fizz at your picnic?"
''Picnic!'' said Mr.. Mathew in a care
less tone; "what picnic? 1 remember
something about bean-feast to which
next Saturday. l fancy I accepted;
but my headache made me forget.
Where is it?''
Jack Welman, who always presides
at breakfast, poured him out third
cup of tea, and shook his head.
''My dear fellow, we're you as bad
as that? Really don't you know that
you are giving picnic, and have
twenty people, at least-seven girls to
my Notwithstanding to Maidenhead
on Saturday next and have got to pro-
vide boats and lunchp"
''Jack!" said Mr.. Mathew Gin con-
fdential, if rather nervous tone,) Il
believe you arc right; it's coming
back to me now!' and he laughed un-
comfortably. "rm not quite sure it
will suit me. All the same"
Cant you get out of itp'
II really must if I can: 1 am deuced
short. 1t will be a matter. of ten
pounds, at least-ready money, too,
for most of it."
''Cheap at that"
What am l to do? Tell me a good
excuse. You've not got headache"
Write and say you can't find a
chaperon. You have only asked girls
and lot of young fellows; you must
have some one to give an air of re-
spectability, though you did issue your
invitations in rather an informal way.
How many boatfuls will there De? You
might say you must have a dowager
in EACH"
Mr.. Welman went to the writing
table and wrote little pile of notes,
drank a lemon squash, and departed
to Lincoln's inn for the day, where
doubtless he rendered valuable assist
ance to the conveyancer with whom
he was reading. Postal delivery in
London is sometimes fairly rapid, and
next morning Mr.. Welman pointed
with an air of friendly concern to a
little pile of envelopes. directed in
ladies' handwriting, which lay beside
his friends plate.
Tender regrets" said Frank Ma
hew, airily.
OFFERS OF chaperonage, you bet."
replied Welman, and Frank Mathew
read the first one aloud, with a length
ening face. which would not have
dattered the writer:
DEAR Mr.. MAHEw: It will be oil right
about the picnic, as I can easily find
ohaperon. Hoping it will be fine, yours
very sincerely, BLANCHE SMITH"
ut may not be fine" he muttered.
''What do they say from American
Wait bit, though"
my DEAR Mr. MAHEw: We are much
looking forward to your picnic on Satur-
day, and shall come whatever the wealth
or, though we had better all have mackin-
toshes. My cousin, Mrs Thomson, will do
propriety. So that is all right. Are there
many coming? I thought you only wanted
me. Yours very sincerely,
ROSE DE JONES'"
"Confound Mrs. Thomson! Here's
another of them"
my DEAR Mr. MAHEw: (sWonder why
she underlined the dear What can have
saidaO You have forgotten you asked
mamma to chaperon US at your picnic, and
she has ordered new shady hat on
purpose. Yours in haste,
MAY ROBINSON"
''Old Lady Robinson in new
shady hat; my prophetic soul! Look
here, Jack, don't grin-it's no joke.
I've overdrawn already, and the
quarters only half through"
There's another" said Welman,
grimly. 'in pink envelope"
Zone of the Currey girls" said
Mathew, with his teeth set. II fancy
l asked both"
DEAR FRANK Drank 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 some one
to entertain her in separate boat. Yours
in frantic haste, DORA CURKEY.n
mice style of girls that said Mr..
W~lham. ''You seem to have made
the running all round. Lady Robin
con- will he ma rticn1arlv rlod "a