The Sunday morning news., 1891-09-20


ulM NHH away for years
llBBSS not since was
| married, in fact; but this year my wife
said was ;o5go, and she stroked back
my hair from my forehead, and said my
temples were throbbing, and that showed
| ought to be at the seaside. And she
kissed me on the top of the head ON the
| place where the hair is very thin, and
said persuasively, Wed better spend
the money that way than in doctors
bills, Walter, and you can easily take
three weeks holiday"
! 81 can," said, "and I viii; but don't
know why / should go away simply be-
cause everybody else does. The air of
Highgate is healthy enough for any ybody,
and we can make some excursions from
here. We can hire a carriage and drive
out through Hendon, anywhere in that
direction. And Ill take you to the Crys-
tai Palace. And haven't seen Epping
Forest for ever so long"
There's no use arguing with my wife
she never gives in. I'm told most women
are like her In that She persuaded me
finally that / was to go down to East
| cliff, and after | had been there day or
two / was to look out for lodgings, and
she would come down with the two chill
dren. They didn't want the change, she
said; it was for my sake we were going.
But she couldn't think of leaving me
alone When we had settled on East
cliff my wife left me in peace for few
days. Then one morning at breakfast
she said suddenly:
Have you ordered your new clothes
yet, Walter?'
'sNew clothes, my dear?" I said. 81
don't get my next suit for another six
weeks
"Well, but, Walter" she said, ''you
must have light suit for the seaside
You can't go about all the time in black;
you must have a jacket suit. for when
you are sitting on the pebbles or rowing
or wading."
1t was no use saying anything; my
wife would have ordered the suit herself
if hadn't gone round to the tailor's.
He was very pleased to see me, and
rubbed his hands deferentially as l sat
down.
"a little sooner than usual this time,
sir he said ssThe same thing, 1 sup
pose, sir. Black diagonal coat and vest"
s.Mr. Tape, said l, 81 regret that it is
not the same thing. My wife insists on
my having a summer suita light suit,
you know, for the seaside"
He showed me no end of patterns OF
light materials, but / couldn't satisfy
myself. am shy, let me say herepa
ticularly about wearing new clothes. My
wife says / am afraid that people will
pinch me as my schoolfellows did when
/ was boy. Even when / get into
new black coat just the same as the one
/ am leaving off, don't like it. And to
wear those stripes and thingsi At last
the tailor suggested blue serge. That
wasn't SO very different, he said, and was
quite the correct thing for the seaside
quite nautical, in fact.
fixed on suit of navy blue, and was
pleased when got home to find my wife
was satisfied
''It's pity we're not going into Wales
or Scotland" she said, 'sor you could
have worn knickerbockers.
my dear" said, I'm sure wouldn't.
You may tempt me to blue serge suit,
but we must draw the line somewhere.
draw it long way this side of knicker-
| bockers.'
Well the day came at last that was to
take me to Eastcliff. My wife had fixed
on Eastcliff because she has an old
maiden aunt who lives there. This aunt
has promised to do something for the
children by and by, and we have hopes
! that their parents won't be forgotten.
The next day was her birthday, and my
wife had bought her small pair Of ear
rings, and | was to be sure not to forget
to call and deliver them, with all sorts
of messages and inquiries. had another
small piece of business, too: a copy of
an agreement had to be sent down from
our firm to the leading solicitors at East
cliff, and as their head clerk was one of
my greatest friends-we had been in the
same Office in London-I readily under
took the commission. I got down too
late that nignt to do more than look at
the sea before went to bed, but the next
morning was out walking on the beach
very early. The sea looked very cold,
and determined to put off my bathe till
after breakfast. Afterwards | decided
to go and call upon my wife's aunt; Just
as started, however, found out that
hadn't the earrings. They were in a
small box like pill box, and Ihad taken
nay compound colocynth pills instead. /
was Mortified to think Of the scene there
would have been had l presented the
wrong box; didn't think was going to
make still worse mistake When /
went back to my room saw the agree
ment which was to leave with Messrs.
Croyland, Hardness & Fillip. So | put
it in my pocket, and as found their Of
fee was on my way to the old lady's
house, ] determined to leave it as was
going there. Accordingly went to the
| beach.
just as | was getting into the water a
man about my size and build got out Of
the next machine. He walked out gayly
into deep water and then swan out to
sea. II could swim like that, thought,
there would be some sense in sea bath
ing; but had to stand about on the
beach, which was pebbly and hurt my
feet good deal. Then a wave broke
/ oyer me and hlled my mouth with water,