Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-11-19
TH1EE] 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 mayonnaise which he had eaten at
supper. His familiar friend, Jack We'll
man, who shares his diggings, remarked
that the lobster was extra sec, cuves re-
serves, of very good brand, and
would not have hurt baby unless con-
sumed in excess Talking of which"
he added, "shall you run to fizz at your
picnic ?'
"Picnic - said Mr. Mathew, in care
less tone; what picnic? [ remember
something about bean feast to which
some one / know has asked me to 60
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, were 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 provide
boats and lunch?"
Jack ~ said Mr. Mahew, in conf
dental if rather nervous tone, 81 be-
lieve you are right; it's coming back to
me now % and he laughed uncomforta
bly,. "I'm not quite sure it will suit
me. All the same"
Cant you get out of it ?"
Il really must ii | can; | am deuced
short 1t will be a matter of e10, at
least-ready money, too, for most of
it,
''Cheap at that
what am I to do? Tell me a good
excuse. You've not got headache"
write and say You can't find a cha
peron. You have only asked girls and
a 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 a little pile of notes,
drank lemon squash, and departed to
Lincoln'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.. WelmaE pointed with an air of
friendly concern to little pile of enve-
lopes, directed in ladies' handwriting,
which lay beside his friends plate.
Tender regrets" said Frank Ma
hew. airily.
"OHers of chaperonage. you bet, re-
piled Welman, and Frank Mathew read
the first one aloud, with frightening
face, which would not have fattered the
writer:
DEAR Mr.. MAuEw: It will be all right
about the picnic, as [ can easily find
chaperon. Hoping it will be fine. yours
very sincerely, BLANCHE SMYTIIE.
1T may not be fine he muttered.
sfWhat do thew say from America?
Wait bit, though"
My DEAR Mr.. MAUEw: We are
much looking forward 10 your picnic on
Saturday, and shall come, whatever the
mackintoshes. My cousin, Mrs. Thomp-
son, will do propriety. So that is all right.
Are there many coming? / thought you
only wanted me. Yours very sincerely,
ROSE DE JONES.
"Confound Mrs. Thompson! Here's
another Of them"
Ny DEAR Mr.. MAHEw: (..Wonder
why she underlined the dear What can l
have said?' You have forgotten you
asked mamma to chaperon us at your pic
ME, and she has ordered new shady hat
aon purpose. Yours in haste,
sold 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 Ma
hew, with his teeth set. 81 fancy [
asked BOTH
DEARF FRANK (..Frank forsooth') Don't
forget you promised Ethel you would have
plenty OF boats, and let Capt. Maudsley
scull her. I think I'll come in punt with
you, as you want ne to do SO much. Get
Sone OF your young married friends to
chaperon the party, and give her someone
to entertain her IN a separate boat. Yours
in frantic haste. 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! | heard her saying to
Mrs. De Jones she wondered how Lady
: Braginton could invite such girls to her
ball"
.My dear Jack" said Mr.. Mahew
with a still longer face, IT don't at all
want to offend Lady Robinson, and [
don't want to 60 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?'
"Onlv one, from the governor"
us 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
81. But Lady Robinson"
But your dead relative, who was
he?"
.sGen. George Mahew; retired,
cracked, distant cousin; lots of money,
cuts with his family. Shall | write to
the Curreys and say [ won't take
them ?''
'sWhen is the funeral?''
Saturday next. Dash itall, old man
don't call it that; Well make it lively
somehow"
THE funeral, my gentle ass I mean
the luneral-your deceased cousins ?'
''I'm not going to it. | never saw the
old fool; besides it is on Saturday"
''The very thing, my dear fellow. If
you really want to cut this picnic write
your regrets all around. Sudden
1nonrninc' and duty to Yonr family ,