Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-09-02

he explained that il belonged to his
father who is a much larger man
and a pair of light-colored trousers.
His waistcoat was of khaki, and he
wore an immense brass watch-chain
across it. He had a monocle, too, but
couldn't make it stay up.
AS for me, / had on a flannel shirt
with blue and pink stripes and cellu-
cold collar and cuffs. / went shooting
two years ago with an English chap
up in Quebec, and he wore flannel
shirts all the time and used the same
collar and cuffs for ten days; when
they got dirty he washed them in the
river. l had borrowed bottle-green
velveteen jacket from q chap in our
house, and wore pair of blue serge
trousers and low tan shoes.
After while Tommy and Watkins
came in. Watkins was a tall chap of
about thirty, nice, sensible appear
ing fellow, with quiet voice and aw-
fully good manners; handsome, too.
Tommy looked dazed for moment
when he saw us, and noticed that he
swallowed hard once or twice and got
very red in the face. But finally he
came around and introduced us.
My friend, Mr.. Hastings-Mr. Wat
kins, muttered Tommy. The duke
pulled himself slowly out OF the arm
chair and put his hand away in the air
and looked blank, just as though he
couldn't see anyone, you know.
"Aw, happy. | assuah YOU" he muir
INJURED. He wagged Watkins hand
twice and dropped it as though it had
been an icicle Then he sat down
again and stared intent'y at his glass.
Tommy got red again and looked dag
gers. Watkins never turned feather
MIR. Boswell-Mr. Watkins said
Tommy.
Dickie got up and followed the
dukes lead
"Chawmed, I'm shuah," he said.
'And-er - Mr.. Annismead - Mr.
Watkins"
l arose and shook hands just as the
others had done
"Doosed glad, old cock" | muttered
Then |, too, sat down and looked at
the table. There was a silence /
stole a furtive glance at Tommy. He
was apoplectic. j peeked at Watkins.
His face was as serious as Judges, but
| thought there was a twinkle in his
eye. Tommy tried to make converse
ton.
Mr. Watkins raises oranges in Flor
ida" he said, looking menacingly at
the duke.
"Beastly things, oranges" answered
the latter, without taking his gaze
from the table.
'Beastly,' said Dickie.
"Beastly," / echoed.
Don't be a fool said Tommy aim
ing kick at the dukes shins and
nearly knocking the table over.
Our arrival in the cafe was in the
nature of triumph. We slouched
along, hands in pockets, with express
sionless faces-we three-while Tom
my led the way, looking unutterably
miserable, followed by Watkins, calm
ly unaware-to all appearance-of
anything out of the ordinary. We
heard whisperings, chuckles, even a
laugh or two, as we passed through
the crowded room to where table
had been reserved for our party. The
duke, glazing stonily through his
monocle, growled greetings here and
there to acquaintances, and Dickie
and | nodded distantly now and then.
With his napkin tucked under his
chin the duke threw aside some of
his gloom and looked almost cheerful
as he reached across in front Of Wat
kins and seized the "Puppy-bread," as
we called the oatmeal biscuit With
his mouth we'll filled he began to ask
insane questions about Florida and
oranges, exhibiting weird ignorance
of beth the location of the state and
of how oranges were grown. Watkins
was gravely explaining that they did
not grow on palm trees when the
waiter brought the oysters. Tommy
had thrown a word in here and there,
nervously, all the time mutely begging
us to let up.
Tommy ere tells me there's a lot
of our people down there said the
uuhO, SMdllOWih6 HIS OySt lOuuls.
"Er-English, you mean?" asked
| Watkins innocently.
Hi said Hinglish, didn't Hi?" de.
manded the duke GROSSLY.
I'VE have some, Mr. Hastings, but
i fancy they're not the real thing
thought they were once, though said
| Watkins.
THAT reminds me-" Tommy broke
in; how are they all?"
And why aren't they the real thing
may Hi arsk?' demanded the duke.
"Oh-well-really, | think I'd rather
not say" answered Watkins, pretend
ing to be nightly embarrassed.
Hi demand an hanswer, sir | de
mand hit" beloved the duke, thump
ing his hand on the table until the
whole room was watching us
"Well-if you insist" said Watkins
its their manners that give them
away. | can see now that no one with
manners like theirs could be English >
"Hawl And what's the matter with
their manners, sir?''