Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-25

| YOUR friendS'-thlS with great ScOrn-'l
| shall choose my own companions also,"
and with this she swept from the room.
After some cogitation she evolved the
following letter:
DEAR Mr.. LoRNToN-I am in a fix and want
your assistance. 1t is really an absurd confession
! to make, but am in need of a Christmas din
ner. George has foolishy made engagement
for tonight that lie cannot break; we have no
servants and, if we had, 1 do not feel q bit like
dining at home. Will you take pity on nc, and
give me something to eat at some nice quiet
place. although l suppose all places viii be quiet
tonight? OF course If you otherwise engaged
do not hesitate to tell me, and will try and put
up with my solitude Yours very truly,
Bearer waits. MARIA DEERHuRsT.
This note she dispatched by cab to
Lornton's club and she was not long in
receiving his reply, which was somewhat
gushing, as Lornton could not but feel
fiattered at the apparent interest Mrs.
Deerhurst took in him. He would order
dinner, he said, at the New Restaurant,
and await her there at 7:30 Lornton was
one Of the class of young men whose sole
aim in life seems to be to display their de-
votion to other mems wives. He was
really quite of the tame cat order of cav
alters, although in his own mind quite a
Don Juan. At heart he probably meant
no harm, and the very last thing he would
think of would be that his marked atten-
ton to q married woman should in any
way compromise her. Mrs. Deerhurst,
who was a clever little woman, had no
doubt, thoroughly probed Lornton's char
acter; he was useful to her in dozen diff
ferent ways, escorted her to various places
of amusement in the absence of her hus-
band, sent her books, flowers and music;
and, however much her friends may have
misconstrued his attentions, she felt per-
fectly safe with him. He never bored her
with any pretense Of love making; indeed
he was, alone with her, rather shy than
otherwise, and apparently was quite con-
tent to be her slave and execute her slight
commands Still, now that she had
achieved her purpose, Mrs Deerhurst re-
GREETED what she had done, and half a
dozen times before the evening came was
on the point of making some excuse and
not going.
There was no knowing how the man
might take her request; his escort to the
opera was one thing, but dining alone in a
private room quite another. True. he had
always been most respectful, and she had
no reason TO suppose that he would take
advantage of the situation. Yet sometimes
these quiet youths forgot themselves, and
she admitted to herself that if he should
she could hardly blame him; she had GER
tainly given him every encouragement
Then she determined that she would send
to the club for her husband and insist on
his giving up his friends. 1t was, she felt,
humiliating, especially as he seemed so
bent on keeping his engagement. Recol-
lection of her husbands obstinacy, how
ever, proved too much for her rather late
good resolutions, and 7:3O saw her in a
cab on her way to the restaurant. Mean
while, Deerhurst was at his club, and in a
not much more enviable state of mind than
his spouse. He, too, felt that he was about
to do very stupid thing. Mrs. Vernon,
he reflected, was very jolly woman, but
he saw her quite often enough without
going the length of dining with her tete-
a-tete. And faint suspicion, very man.
like, but very mean, crossed his mind that
she was not quite all she should be il ac-
cepting his invitation. He, too, would have
given a good deal to have been able to
make some decent excuse and have put her
off. He fidgeted about the club until it
was time for him to go and dress, and just
as he was leaving he was really more pleas.
ed than annoyed TO receive note from
Mrs. Vernon. She could not come An
old aunt had been taken i'll, and she had to
go to her at once. The regrets expressed
by the writer were hardly believed by
George Deerhulst She, too, he was sure,
was only making fiimsy excuse; she had
evidently thought better Of the proposed
breach of the convenancca, and had de-
sided not to risk it. With a light heart
George dashed home in a cab, but he was
too late Mrs. Deerhursa had sent for
hanson, but the servant had not head the
address given to the cabman.
Il suppose she has gone to her SISTERS"
said Deerhu1st to himself. II would go,
too, only hate the whole lot SO. l sup
pose must go and dine alone at the club.
l wonder where the deuce Euddleby is to
be found?"
Slowly he walked back to his club feel
ing very Disguised, as naturally on such
nights the clubs are deserted; even the
most lonely of men find some hospitable
mahogany under which they are welcome
to place their legs. There was not a soul
he knew there and he was obliged to order
a lonely dinner, to the evident annoyance
Of the walters, who had looked forward to
enjoying themselves in the lower regions.
While he was waiting for it to be prepared
who should run into the room but little
Dick Merton.
"Hallo, George, what are you doing herep
You look as lively as hermit
Deerhurst exp aimed that guest had
thrown him over and that he was doomed
to a lonely evening.
Nonsense, my boy" said Dick; scome
and dine with u.s. Wife's in the cab out
side, and she'll be delighted. Come along"
Deerhurst, nothing 10th, apologized for
not being dressed and followed Dick out.
| Z y
Mrs. Deerhurst arrived at the New Res
taurant and was shown into the room en-
gagged by Monsieur Longtoun," that be-
ing the nearest the German waiter could
get to I4ornton's name. Lornton had not
arrived, so she sat down to wait She more
than ever began to regret the foolish step
she had taken. The taWdry looking fur
niture of the room and the chimney glass
with dozens of names scratched all over 1t
made her shudder. The waiter, too, wore
an impertinent grin rs he asked her, with
familiarity bordering On contempt, if he
should get her any refreshment When
he had left the room she suddenly made up
her mind not to stop, She flung open the
door and almost fell into the arms Of her
husband and the Mertons
''Maria.'
"Georgel"
Little Dick Merton, glancing at the Ia
BILE, which was laid for two, took in the
situation at glance.
'My dear Mrs Deerhurst," said he, Civ
ing his wife pinch that almost made her
scream, $50 sorry we are late, but had to
stop at the club On the way, where picked
up your husband. Hal hal George, confess
this is surprise You little thought you
were going to dine with your wife. Come
along. This is the wrong room; ours is
No, 49,"
George was surprised; so was Mrs, Mer-
ton.