The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-16
A DAY OFF.

On the occasion OF Gn6 EulEElatt31 VI -e-A
Junior partner to Ethel Mary, only Survive
ing daughter Of william Hubblesteads
Esq, J. p, Of Banlingbury, by the canon
of Blockminster, assisted by tbs Rev. Eu-
gene Hubblestead, cousin of the bride--on
this occasion the office was closed for the
whole of one day, and the staff had hoit-
day without deduction of salary
The staff had presented six silver (hait
marked) nutcraokers and Handsomely
bound volume Of COwper's poetioa1 works
The latter was my own suggestion. There
was sum Of shillings over after the pure
chase of the nutcraokers, and I have ale
ways had a partiality for Cowper. The jun
ior partner thanked us personally, and IN
very warm terms At the same time he
announced that the following Thursday
was to be treated as a holiday.
The weather was glorious, and I have
never had a moro enjoyable day. The girl
laid breakfast overnight, and we rose at
half past 5. BY half past Eliza had cut
some mutton sandwiches and placed them
in basket with bottle Of milk, the
milkman having obliged with a specially
early call by appointment. A brief jour
ney by train, and by quarter past We
were at DansteW for our day of in the
country.
Danstow is a picturesque little village
and looked beautiful in the hot sunlight
I was wearing a fairly new summer suit,
"a, &c would probably have created feal-
ing Of surprise among the villagers if they
had learned that, as a rule, my profession
al duties took me TO the city in the morn-
ing.
Eliza said: "All right What do we dc
here?'
why, g." said, "there's the old church.
We mustn't miss that "
We went and examined tho old church.
Then we went twice up and down the viIs
lage street and examined that.
WELL said Eliza, what nexts'
s'Now," I replied, "we'u just stroll
about and amuse ourselves. feel partio-
ularly lfghs hearted -
THAT brea kfasting ate, that is, F." said
Eliza If you could find quiet place.
we might have a sandwich. %
We Went a little way along the road and
I espied a field which seemed to me to look
likely. I said to a pnsserhy; Il am a
stranger here Can you tell me whether
there would be any objection to our sitting
in that feldg' He said IN rather an Of
fensive and sarcastic way that he believed
the field was open for sitting at abart
that hour. - I did not give him any reply,
but just opened the gate for Eliza.
We sat down under the hedge and fine
ished our sandwiches and milk. The
church clock struck g.
.'What train do we go back by2'' asked
Eliza.
Not until half past tonight There's
a day for you'll
"Twelve hours and half. +" said Eliza.
"And we've done the sandwiches and
done the milk and done the church, ard
there 8 nothing else to do. "
Except anuse ourselves, I added as I
took OF my boots, which had panied ms
slightly. ] then dozed of
Eliza woke me to say that she had read
all the newspapers the sandwiches were
wrapped in and picked some wild flowers,
and the flowers had died, and she wanted
to know what tho time was 1t was just
past L.
She said, oh IorF'
soon dropped of again.
When I woke Mt half past 70, Eliza was
not there. Shs returned ia few minutes
and said that she had -~on doing the
church over again.
THAT was hardly necessary" I OBJ
served.
'Oh, one must do something, and there's
nothing else to do. ="
'sOn the contrary, there's luncheon.
Wen have that at once, so as to give Us a
good long afternoon
1.-THE afternoon viii be long enough. 20
she said. If ! had not known that she
was having a days enjoyment. I should
have thought that she seemed rather de-
jected in her manner.
The luncheon at the village inn was not
expensive Eliza said tha5 their idea Of
she seemed inclined 20 spin ths thing out
and make it last as long as possible. I
deprecated this, as L felt chat I could rot
very vel take my boots OF again until I
had returned to the field
VERY we'll. then, " she said "OnlY
let's 20 back slowly.
AS slowly as you like, I replied cts
the right boot principally. Bus I really
prefer to walk slowly"
When we had resumed our old position
under the hedge and had removed my
boots, 1 said.
'sEow, then, think I've earned a pipe
and a short nap. You amuss yourself in
any way you like"
DO what with myselfs'' she asked rath-
er sharply.
She walked twice round the field, and
then I fell of to sleep. 1t turned out aft
erward that she also did the picturesque
old church for the third time and went
over a house which was to let, refusing to
take it On she ground that there was nc
bathroom. This was rather dishonest. as
she would not have taken it il there had
been a bathroom, or even two bathrooms
1 would not do that kind Of thing myself
I awoke about teatime. The charge for
tea at the inn was very moderate, though
Eliza said that there wns tea which was
tea, and ten which was an insult.
Eliza found that there was "a train back
at half past G, ard said she was going by
it. whether I did or not. because it was a
pity to have too much of good thing and
she hadn' + the face to ask for the keys OF
that church again. I accompanied her. I
fancy that the brown leather is liable to-
shrink in the sun, and I was not unwill-
ing to gst back to my slippers and stretch
myself out on the sofa
But really for ID out and out enjoyable
holiday / think that day would have been
hard to beat am sorry that Eliza did
not seem TO enter into the spirit Of the
thing more.-Barry Pain in Today