Wichita eagle., 1886-09-17
HOWELLS STUDYING COLOR.
Fhoto-ra .,i,inS Z, :':rty VINO Were Drink
ing Wine and Beer.

Fhoto-ra .,i,in., {, :';:rty VINO Were Drink
ing Wine and Beer.
There was an amusing scene at Music hall
Boston, tie ether evening A party Of ladies
and gentlc,9eI, coming in a little late, seated
themselves at q table at which one solitary
middle-aged man of comfortable exterior but
grave demeanor had already placed himself.
The solitary man had rather heavy tOlerably
handsome face, with q mustache combed
north and south instead of east and west, and
bang descended gracefully a part Of the
way down his forehead, which was surmount-
ed with iron gray hair. His figure was full
and rather short, and he wore a neat suit of
plain Scotch goods. There was nothing about
him to attract attention. He was just an Or
binary, goodlool.ing sort Of man, who acted
rs though be had come solely to hear the
music, but who slipped little of his Rhine
vino now and then to save himself from the
conspicuousaaS3 of drinking nothing. Yhe
party of newcomers fairly surrounded the
middle aged man, Who seemed not in the least
put out, but, on the contrary, rather friendly
although he did not say anything. The party
ordered beer and drank it with talk ard Elcr-
,iment. Thcn more beer, more talk and more
mcrrin,ent The midile-aSod man seemed to
take it all il without observing anybody.
There was one lady in TIC party, q pccul-
iarly silarr,-fcGturel, red-haired lady, who
had never been there before, and who sad:
well, if 1 n:;I5t, | suppose mus, when the
beer was produced, and then drank it with az
air Of plartyrdom, though q CLEAN Of salts
faction could be detected in her eye. The
middle-aScd man evidently took a note of this
peculiar gleam. AZ another time she caught
him looking al iicr husband, q stout and very
1orid person, who acted for ell the world like
n boy let loose from school The rest of the
party were full of spirits, ;.,,d the whole table
was replete with life and co.or
The middle aged man listened attentiyeiy TO
the music and sippel his Rhine wine reaec-
lively, bat it was evident that lie continued
to take the table scene in completely. In
deed, the lady who tool, her beer with SO
much mingled reluctance and satisfaction
leaned over and Whispered 10 her next neigh
Dor at the table:
If that man were not evidently q perfect
gentleman l should say that be was watching
US"
Indeed! I've noticed it," was the reply.
swell, It's Liberty hall, and he has a perfect
right. SO have we, suppose
The meTrinclt deepened, and the middle
friend Of one of the men at the table came
and stood by him.
"Lool, here, said he softly, do You know
whoa you have at the table with YOU
"No. Who is it,
''Howolls the novelist"
There was n low whistle from the man 10
whom this Information was impaired.
'What in the world does be come here for.."
''Color"
''Heavens, shat must have been what has
made him glance at Mr.. and Mrs. b SO
frequently. Hes got them photographed by
this time"
The last speaker tore Off Il corner from the
programme, wrote ''Howclls" on it and
passed it around 1t was read faithfully.
The sharp-featured lady turned pale, and the
ford gentleman colored two shades deeper.
The conversation ceased, and the beer rested
untouched in the glasses. Five minutes later
the middle aged man slipped his Rhine wine
alone-Borton Cor. New York Sun.