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

"Any letters for me, porter?" said Capt.
Deerhurst as be entered his club at noon
ON Christmas day.
Eyes, sir; two, and a telegram"
The captain took them, and selecting a
Ietter-the address of which was in u fem
mime handwriting it in preference
to the telegram. Evidently the contents,
which were BRIEF were pleasing, and he
wore a satisfied smile as he walked over to
the fire and pitched the missive into it.
The purport of the telegram was not SO
satisfactory, and near bystander might
have heard Deerhurst make use of a big,
very big, d. Like the letter the tele-
graphic message was also short, and mere
ly said, Coming home this afternoon;
youngest has measles-Maria. ;" The sender
was Capt. Deerhurst's wife, and his most
intimate friend would have been puzzled
to discover why it should have so discon-
certed him
To the world in general the Deerhursts
were model couple. He retired officer,
with ample means and in the prime of life,
a handsome, good figured man Of forty.
She some ten years younger, and if not eX-
actly handsome still fairly good looking
woman. They had been married some
years, and, although not blessed with a
family, none of their acquaintance would
have dared to hint that natrimony was a
failure in their case. They seemed to IN
derstand one another thoroughly Mrs
Deerhurst had just been little talked
about in consequence of her being seen SO
much with young Lornton; Deerhurst did
not seem to mind. He apparently kept
himself amused with Mrs Vernon, clever
little grass widow.
Both went much into society during the
season, and as Deerhurst was passionately
fond Of racing-a pursuit his large income
enabled him to enjoy with ease-he fire.
auently 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 others of her
male friends, and Deerhurst always made
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 patronized 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 gal
liant man, he found plenty of time to
squire them about the paddock and advise
them as to their trifing 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
I'D oh Io11I
considered them as ladies whom it was all
very well for Deerhurst TO know on 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 go, 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
ill they started for the south, which they
had 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 at some sporting meet
ing on Boxing Day; but he and some
club friends had done the round of the
theatres where light entertainments were
the leading attraction, and had not denied
themselves visit to the Empire or Al
hambra Christmas day itself was bound
to be a somewhat dull one, as it always is
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 thoughtfully
provided fer this, and had arranged little
tete-a-tete dinner with Mrs. Vernon, who
happened also to be passing through town,
and whom he had seen much of during
the past season. She, like Deerhurst,
loved horse racing next to gambling at
Monte Carlo, and for woman was Won
derfully au fait with the sport; conse-
quently she was a great favorite with
sporting men, as she could converse sensi-
blv 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 find
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 solicit
tatios, that he had prevailed on Mrs. Yer
non to accept his invitation. AS he had
put it to her, there was no one in town and
not soul would be any the wiser. And
now, what possible excuse could he make?
His first thought was to go home, pack up
Ills things as if he was going out of town,
but a few moments reflection showed him
that this was ont 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.
'sYYhat brings you back SO suddenly"
said he, rather ungraciously, as he greeted
his wife.
GAS told you in my wire James young
est, Tommy, was seized with measles, and
although / did not mind, and would just
as soon have stayed, Jane packed me off.
1t was an awful bore and a terribly cold
Journey Fortunately I saw Mr. Lornton
on the platform at Rugby and made him
get into my compartment, SO that had
company part of the way"
"And nc doubt very agreeable" hazarded
Deerhurst.
Agreeable, of course he was. Mr.. Lora-
ton always is" replied Mrs. Deerhurst,
warming one of her shapely feet on the
fender. "More so than my lord and master
seems to Be-" added she.
"Weil, it is q nuisance having ones ar
rangements spoilt," began Deerhurst,
'Arrangenlents9 What arrangements
can you have on Christmas day that you
can't put on one side?"
''Fact is" replied Deerhurst, II have
promised to dine at the club with Fuddleby
and one or two others who are stranded in
London, and don't quite know how to get
out Of it,"
Every simply, say your wife's come to
town and you must give her Q dinner, said
Mrs. Deerhurst. Deerhurst shook his head
afraid they wouldn't believe it, They'd