The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-05-30
A Private Room.

One particularly dark, damp, dull, driz-
zly and disagreeable day in the latter part
of November, tall, guant, quuer-looking
customer, dressed in a blue coat with brass
buttons, with yellow striped pantaloons
and calfskin terminations, sat solitary and
alone in little room situated in a certain
little restaurant in particular city.
Before him was a little round table, on
whose marble top was f'not little" pitch
er of smoking punch, screeching hot, and
wine glass. The solitary individual was
y York, nothing else-and that was his
second pitchcr-nigh his second empty.
One minute after and you couldn't have
squeezed.a drop out of either pitcher or
glass by hydraulic press.
York rang the bell. The waiter popped
his head in at the door.
"Ring, SO ?'
"Of course did Is it clearing Off"
"No, sa-damp, sa-fog 50 thick you
could ladlc it with spoon, sa. Have
anything, sa p
"More punch, and strong"
"Ye es, sa-immediately."
The waiter withdrew, and in a few sec
onds returned with the third pitcher of
punch, and York was beginning to feel
glorious, when, on raising his eyes, he
saw his own figure in pier-glass oppo-
SITE He rubbed his eyes again.
''By thunder said he, ''here's some
fellow sitting right before me. I'll swear
there's impudence for you. This is pri-
vate room, for my own accommodation,
sir %
He waited a minute, expecting an an
swer, but his reflection only stared at him,
and held its peace.
II was saying, sir, that this is my pri-
vate room-mine, sir - cried York, fetch
ing his voice an octave higher than it was
before.
No answer, and he rang furiously. The
waiter made his appearance again.
"Ring, 81 %
ayes, [ did ring Didn't ask for
private room ?"
This is private room, sa."
"It is? Why there's fellow sitting
right opposite me, on the other side of the
table. Rot his impudence -
''Table, sa-fellow, Sd 2"
eyes, there is. Well, just never mind.
Bring in some more punch, and couple
of glasses"
In very short time, the fourth pitch
er, with two glasses, made their debut.
York filed one OF the glasses, and then
showed it over to t'other side of the table.
'Will you drink ?' said he, addressing
the figure in the glass.
ooh, you won't, eh Well, IL will )"
And sa he did.
''Better drink, old fellow" continued
York ''your liquor is getting cold, aud
you look as if you were fond OF the thing"
No answer being returned, York rang
the bell again.
In popped the waiter.
"Ring, sa ~
"To be sure I did Didn't you hear
the bell Say: didn't I order p-p-pri-
1ate foom-eh ?'
'sYes, so this is private room, sa."
GA pretty private room this, with a fell
low sitting right opposite, that won't take
a glass of punch with you when it's Of
fered-and a red nosed man at that. Oh,
we'll, never mind; bring more tumblers
and more punch. I'll try him again.
Pitcher number five was accordingly
brought in, with due state.
"B-b-better try some, old boy" said he,
coaxingly, to his double.
The reflex merely looked good natured,
but said nothing.
"NTell" continued York, with sigh,
eff this isn't infamous. Never mind, I'll
drink the punch ~
And so he did, every bit OF it. About
five minutes sufliced to end the pitcher.
York rang the bell superauously.
Waiter came.
''Ring, sa?'
Certainly Why shouldn'tI? Where's
the man who k-keeps the place?'
sEBoss, sa I'll see him, sa."
Shortly after, the host, a quiet little
man, with mottled calico pattern face
and shining bald head, made his appear
ance.
"W-w-what's to pay?" demanded York,
rising and assuming an air of dignity.
"Five punches-fve levies, sir"
s1There's the money, sir,' said York,
forking over the coin. "And now want
to know why, when c-c-call for private
room, you put me in here with somebody
else 7"
.Thcre's nobody here but you and l."