Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-05-29
Mattie's Luck.

"Yes, hes as pretty as a pictured!
"And iust see Mattie-she's all
smiles! "0h, my heart it is Dustin
whene'er l gaze upon him. That's
her song now. isn't it?"
The cluster of smartlooklng young
waiter girls giggled and smiled as the
youthful gallant passed by, but he
neither saw nor heard them; his eyes
were fixed on Matte, and he went di-
rectly to her counter, seating himself
on the stool before her with an easy
grace and a totally unembarrassed air.
Meanwhile the cluster of waiter
girls who had been watching Matte
and her newly acquainted customer
had to their respective stations, and
had become far too much engrossed
with their own favored clientele to
pay any further attention to the
latest and most interesting Irritation.
The young men called them familiarly
by their first names, and the charming
freedom of old acquaintance generally
prevailed. There was mild flavor
of the fruit vendor about all this, but
it was very mild, and perhaps harm
less.
Mattle's customer had only been a
patron of the coffee-house a single
week. The girl had been the first to
wait on him, and attracted by her
comeliness, attention and maidenly
bearing, he had continued to patronize
her counter The young man was not
averse to Irritation, it is true, but be
was not professional fiirt. He usual
ly came at the same hour every day,
but even when trihe late Matte new
er hurled at him the chilling announce
ment: "This counter is closed!'
Their acquaintance in this brief
space had ripened into kind of friend
ship that was pleasing to both of them,
Thev knew very little Of each other as
yet, but what they knew seemed emf.
nently satisfactory. He had learned
that her name was Matte from hear
ing the other girls call her so, and in
moment of confidence had informed
her that his was Augustus.
The previous day they had chatted
little about the theater, and the CIR
had told him that the height of hel
ambition was to see Ada Behan II
"7-2O-9."
That morning as he took his seat il
- ha n tri tlf
nervous. Matte noticed this, but at
tributed it to some petty business
annoyance such as young men con-
tinually encounter. She smiled pleas
antly and Immediately waited on hin
with an alacrity that charmed and a
the same reassured him. They chat
ted for short space, and finally Au
gustus took small scented envelope
from his pocket and placed it upon th
counter. The girl glanced at it am
saw that it bore the inscription, "Fo
Miss Matte, with the compliments o
Augustus Hare" She took it up anC
opened it, and a flood of scarlet sho
into her cheeks as she saw that it con
tanned two.matinee tickets for "7-2O
, g."
ooh, Mr. Hare" she whispered, I"
thank you, but l had rather not!'
Where's the harm?' returned he
"You can get off before o'clock ant
take one of the girls along for an es
cort."
Still she hesitated, but, one of tn
matrons approaching at that critica
instant, she slipped the tickets int
some mysterious recess of her dress
and before the matron departed Au-
gustus had taken up his check ano
gone.
Matte was a good girl and mem
ber of worthy family, Her first i'm
pulse was to destroy the ominou'
tickets, but that would be acting impo
litely toward Augustus, and she di'
so long to see Ada Behan in the come
dy!
1t was Tuesday, and the next day
was matinee day. What should sh
do? At last she resolved to return
the tickets to Augustus when he cam
the following noon. But the follow
lowing noon he did not come, and wit
a futtering heart and misgivinl
mind she yielded to the tempter VIII
was whispering in her ear and resolves
to 90 the matinee. First, however,sh
consulted her intimate friend and fel
low waiter, Mary Darper, a thougtles'
dash ahead, but well-intentioned girl.
"What would you dor she asked
after explaining the circumstances t
her.
"l would go!' answered Mary EN-
phatically. cit isn't often girl VIII
has to slave for her living gets
chanceW
So Matte invited Mary to accom-
pany her, and they went. The theate
was comfortably filed, but nc
crowded. The dashing comedy rattle
along. Ada Behan acted deliciousl
and the boomerang was cast to the ii
tense amusement of the two youn
girls. But, Notwithstanding the plea:
ure the performance gave her, Matti
was dissatisfied with herself. She fe
that she had not done right in acceptin
the tickets from young man of whol
she really knew nothing except that I
oppoarod to ha o. uentleman Was h