The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-18
A TETE-A-TETE DINNER.

ANY letters for me- porter" said Capt.
Deerhurst as he entered his club at noon
on Christmas day.
Yes, sir; two, and telegram"
The captain took them, and selecting a
letter-the address OF which was in a fem
inine handwriting -opcnc,l il in preference
to the telegram. Evidently the contents,
which were brief, were pleasing, and he
wore satisfied smile as he walked over to
the Ere and pitched the missive into it,
The purport of the telegram was not SO
satisfactory, and ii near bystander might
have heard Deerhurst make use of a big
very big, d. Like the letter the tele-
graphic message WA, also short, and mere
ly said, Coming home this afternoon;
youngest has mcasles-Msra." The sender
was Capt. Deerhurst's wife, and his most
intimate friend would have been puzzled
to discover why it should have so dscon-
certed him
To the world in general the Deerhursts
were model couple He a retired officer
With ample means and in the prime of life.
a handsome, good figured man Of forty
She some ten years younger, and il not ex
actly handsome still II fairly good looking
woman. They had been married some
years and, although not blessed with
family, none OF their acquaintaaces would
have dared to hint that Latrimony was a
failure in their case. They seemed TO un
derstand one another thoroughly. Mrs
Deerhurst had just been IA little talked
about i'll consequence of her being seen so
much with young Lorntou; Deerhurst did
not seem TO nina. ne apparently ner',
himself amused with Mrs. Vernon, "A clever
little grass widow
Both went much into society during the
season, and, rs Deerhurst WAS passlonately
fond of raciny-a pursuit his large income
enabled him to enjoy with ease-he fro
quently preferred Ascot and Newmarket to
accompanying his wife to garden parties or
the park. On many of these occasions she
was escorted by Lornton and oth hers of her
male friends, and Deerhurst always made
a particular point of being gracious to her
cavaliers, thanking them for the trouble
they took in looking after Mrs. Deerhurst
and, in fact, her friends were his Rae
ing, nowadays, is so much patronizcd by
ladies that it was not to be supposed that
Capt. Deerhurst held himself aloof from
the fair DANES he met at Sandown park
and other race meetings. and, being Il gal
liant man, he found plenty of time to
squire them about the paddock and advise
them as to their triling speculations. Mrs.
Deerhurst was not particularly fond of
horse racing, and at any time would go to
a concert or spend the afternoon at Hur-
lingham rather than accompany her hus-
band to his favorite sport. Her husbands
female acquaintance were consequently
not all known to her; she was too much a
woman of the world to stigmatize them as
fast, but in her own mind she no doubt
considered them as ladies' whom it was all
very well for Deerhurst to know on n race
course but she had no desire to become in
innate with them. This Christmas Mrs.
Deerhurst had arranged to spend in the
country with an old school friend who had
married rector of some distant parish.
Her husband did not care to 90, AS he pro
fessed that the worthy clergyman, his
spouse and the large family bored him to
death. He decided to remain in town I'M
til they started for the south, which they
hal settled to do early in January. Christ
mas in London en- garcon seemed to suit
Capt Deerhurst admirably.
1t is true there had been no racing, al
though he was due ut some sporting meet
ing on Boxing Day; but he and some
club friends had done the round of the
theatres where light entertainments were
themselves IA visit to the Empire or Al
hambra Christmas day itself was bound
TO he a somewhat dull one, rs it always IN
in London, where one lacks the CHEEKY
parties that assemble in country houses or
the renewal of old ties among our rela
tons Capt Deerhurst had thoushtfully
provided for this aud had arranged II little
tet1 ..-tete dinner with Mrs. Vernon, who
happened also to be pas sing through town,
and whom he had seen much of during
the past season. She, hike Deerhurst,
loved horse racing next to gambling at
Monte Carlo, and for Il woman was won
derfully au fat with the sport; conse-
quently she was IA great fayorite with
sporting men, AS she could converse sensi-
bly on matters which to the average lady
are unknown subjects. Hers WAS the
letter which had so delighted Deerhurst
when he arrived at his club only to lind
his scheme thwarted by the telegram from
his wife As he walked into the smoking
room he WAS terribly vexed. for he did not
see how he could possibly keep his engage
ment which he was the more anxious to
do as it was only after considerable solici
tation that he had prevailed ON Mrs. Yer
non to accept his invitation. AS he had
nut il to her, there was no one In town anu
not u soul would Ike any the wiser. And
now what possible excuse could he make!
His first thought WIS to 60 home, pack up
his things as il he WAS going out OF town,
but a few moments reflection showed him
that this was out Of the question; his wife
would know that he had gone away after
the receipt Of her telegram, and it was not
without misgivings that Capt. Deerhurst
wended his way home to receive his wife.
what brings you back 50 suddenly
said he, rather ungraciously. as be greeted
his wife.
AS told you in my wire James young,
est, Tommy, was seized with measles. and
although I did not mind, and would just
a. soon have stayed, Jane packed me OF.
It was an awful bore and terribly cold
journey Fortunately l saw Mr.. Lornton
~ the platform At Rugby and made him
got into my compartment, so that had
company part Of the way"
"AAd no doubt very agreeable" haxarded
Oeerhurst.
Agreeable, Of course he was. Mr.. LORI
:on always H." replied Mrs. Deerhurst,
warming one Of her shapely feet on the
fender. "More 80 than my lord and master
seems to BE-" added she.
swell, It u . nuisance having ones ar
rangements spoilt." began Deerhurst-
"Arrangementsf What arrangements
can YOU have on Christmas day that you
can't put on one sidef"
"Fact H." replied Deerhurst, II have
promised TO dine ct the club with Fuddleby
and one or two others who are stranded 10
London. and don't quite know how to ge'
out Of it."
| VERY simply; say your wife's come y
town and you must give her dinner. said
| NJ. Daaehuruk Deerhurst shook his head