The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16
PICTORIAL FRENCH.
By A. D. vinton. Author of THE Pomfret Mystery
Copyrighted.

by A. ID. NlntOn, Author Oh the ROmkret Mystery
Copyrighted.
/. Is Boston losing its literary prestigel
Well, perhaps it is and perhaps 1t isn't; 1t lost
Alfred Landon for little while, however! And
he was one of the Hubs most celebrated en-
gravers, thirty years old. bachelor, and the
possessor of about twenty-five hundred a year.
enough for man to marry on in Boston.
Through the past winter Landon had been en-
joying the evidence Of business success in the
shape of numerous orders and a pressure of
most remunerative work, out the spring found
him tired and worn out with excessive labor;
and he determined to follow the physicians ad-
vice land his own inclinations) and run off some
where for vacation.
But tine question was where to go. Some
where where it was warm, he emphatically de-
termined, but where? Florida? He had heard
that there was nothing to do there but to hunt,
fish or boat and he cared for neither; but New
Orleans, with its wonderful exhibition, would
afford occupation for his hours of idleness. So
he packed his trunk, took the train and soon
was landed safely in the Crescent City
With his wanderngs through the long corri-
doris of the immense exhibition buildings with
what he saw and what he did in the beautiful
grounds about the exhibition this narrative has
concern; but in the city itself, not far from
his hotel, there was certain French restaurant
which held potentiality Of fate of which Alfred
LanuOn was TOTALLY UNCONSCIOUS
Landon had heard more than once of this res
taurant He had brought with him letters of
introduction to the literary, artistic and Bohe-
milan elements of the city's social life, and those
whom he met in such circles, sooner or later,
asked him if he had been at "Vatel's." Repeated
interrogations of this sort reused his curiosity,
and one afternoon he walked into the restaurant,
determined to test for himself the merits which
were claimed for It, 1t was not large-as size
was computed in Boston-but it was scrupulous
ly neat and clean.
Only one table was occupied and at that sat
lady whom Landon perceived at once, even by
the hasty glance which was all that he dared to
bestow upon her. was young and pretty.
Politely lifting his hat as he entered, to the
elderly French woman who sat behind the coun-
ter the door-for such he understood was
the courteous custom of the habitues of the place
--Landon seated himself at table which COM
manded a view of his fair fellow diner and made
ready to enjoy the dainties which his magma
ton had depicted
The waiter glided up, smoothed down the
table cloth and placed bill of fare before the
guest Landon opened it. AS his eye fell upon
the printed page the thought flashed across his
mind that this French restaurant, that the
bill of fare was printed in French, and that he
Alfred Ilandon, though he came from the Hub
of the Universe" understood but few words of
that fascinating foreign tongue
Here was predicament Should he acknowl
edge himself defeated and retire ANONYMOUSLY
with the bright eyes of the pretty girl opposite
laughing at his discontinue, or should he boldly
make his wants known, as best he might by
signs and gestures? There was one chance left
He called waiter and said
do you speak English2"
The waiter smiled and answered in French
something which Landon could not comprehend
but which he supposed was a negative reply to
his question. Bafiled, therefore. he ran his eye
down the bill of fare, hoping to find some word
which would convey meaning to his mind-but
all in vain.
The waiter, in the meantime, had set the table,
and now stood in that attitude Of respectful at
tention which well-trained attendants assume
when waiting for orders Landon growing
desperate The Yankee ingenuity in his blood
was busily contriving some expedient which
would solve the difficulty.
Suddenly happy thought dawned on him.
He was an engraver. to be sure, but he prided
himself on his artistic talents and his ty to
draw. The way out of his perplexity was ple
He would draw what he wished, and the ter
of course, would Immediately comprehend what
was wanted.
Without further delay he pulled a card and a
pencil out of his pocket. and sketched-an oyster
The waiter looked on astonished, but his surprise
increased when Landon handed him the card.
He looked at it, then At Landon, said something
in French. which Landon did not understand
and then carried the card to Madame behind the
counter. and brisk dialogue ensued over the
pictorial effort. They looked at it squarely and
upside down. held it up to the light, and put
their heads first on one side and then on the 9TH
er, as if an Oblique view were necessary.
Landon appeared to be studiously reading his
newspaper, but he could see that the pretty girl
opposite was much interested in what was going
Finally Madame herself came to her guest and
Sinking and gesticulating effusively, harangued
him in the unknown language. 1t never occurred
to Landon that his drawing was notrecognizable
as the representation of oyster, but he sup
posed that Madame was apologizing for the fact
that the oysters were NOT good. So taking an
Their card he sketched bowl of SOUP.
This was understood and Madame smiling
complacently, went back to her counter and the
waiter went off to the kitchen, while Landon de-
voted his time to the portrayal of fish, which
he designed should form the next course and in
glancing surreptitiously at the pretty girl oppo-
SITE
The soup came in due time, and the waiter
readily recognized what the fish was intended
for AS for the wine. a bottle was easy to de-
pict, and the names on the list were more IA
miliar
Soup. fish and wine were al, good, and Landon
enjoyed them immensely, for not only were they
intrinscally delicious. but he also felt if they
were, to an extent at least, the fruit of his
own skill
He sketched the roast successfully, so like, in
deed, that the order was given and received in
silence, neither he nor the waiter speaking a
word
Then Landon thought he would like some
macaroni, and having put new point to his
pencil, he sketcned what he considered was a
faithful representation of that delectable dish
He was surprised when the waiter hesitated after
receiving the card, and finally carried it to
Madame.
Landon watched them curiousiy, wondering if
the macaroni, like the oysters, was not suitable
for food. but his wonder set at rest by the
walters disappearance kitchenward. There fol-
lowed, however, considerable delay, with which
Landon was not, however. annoyed, since lit
tie pause at this stage Of the dinner not un-
pleasant, and he sat quite contentedly reading
his paper, slipping his wine, and stealing glances
at the pretty girl opposite until the dish was
placed before him.
But was this macaroEig This object buried
in white, creamy sauce. Possibly it might be
served in some new strange way. He picked
up his knife and fork and tasted it. 1t was not
macaroni Indeed, he was not quite sure whether
it was fish, flesh or fowl. But whatever it was it
was palatable, and he enjoyed il heartily