The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-30
HowelIs Studying Color.

There was an amusing scene at Music
hall the other evening, writes a Boston
correspondent of the New York San.
A party of ladies and gentlemen. COM
ing in little late, seated themselves at
a table at which one solitary middle
aged man of comfortable exterior but
grave dcmeanor had already placed
himself. The solitary man had rather
a heavy, tolerably handsome face, with
a mustache combed north and south in
stead of east and west, and bang de-
scepded gracefully a part of the way
down his forehead, which was sur
mounted 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 ordinary.
good-looking sort of man, who acted
as though he had come solely to hear
the music. but who slipped little of his
Rhine wine now and then to save him
self from the conspicuousness of drink
ing nothing. The 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 and merriment Then more beer,
more talk, and more merriment. The
middle-aged man seemed to take it all
In without observing anybody.
There was ono lady in the party, q
peculiarly sharp-featured, red-haired
lady, who had never been there before,
and who said: .'Well, if must, sup
pose | must" when the beer was pro-
tho,, Il l. - IS
martYFdQnl, though y gleam Of satisfac-
tiQn could be detected in her eye. The
middle-aged man evidently took a note
of this peculiar gleam. Atanother time
she caught him lQnkipg at her husband,
stout and very tiorid person, who
acted for all the world like 9 boy let
loose from school. The rest of the party
were full of spirits. and the whole table
was replete with life and color.
The middle-aged man listened atten=
tiYelY tn the music and slipped his Rhine
wine rehectively, but it was evident that
he continued 10 take the table scene in
completely. Indeed, the lady who took
her beer with so much mingled reluctance
and satisfaction leaned over and whis=
pered to her next leighhor at the table;
"If that man were not evidently n
perfect gentleman, should say that he
was watching us"
"Indeed. I've noticed It," was the
reply. "Well, it's Liberty hall, and he
has a perfect right. So have we, 1 sup
pose"
The merriment deepened, and the
middle-aged man was forgotten. But
by and by friend of one of the men at
the table came and stood by him.
"Look here" said he, softly, ''do you
know whom you have at the table with
you?"
mo. Who is it?"
"Howells, the novelist"
There was low whistle from the
man to whom this information was i'm
parted.
"What in the world docs he come
here for?"
Color"
Heavens! that must have been what
has made him glance at MIR. and Mrs.
B so frequently. He's got them
photographed by this time"
The last speaker tore off corner from
the programme. wrote "Howells'' on it,
and passed it around. 1t was read
faithfully. The sharp-featured lady
turned pale, and the tlorid gentleman
colored two shades deeper. The con-
versation ceased, and the beer rested
untouched in the glasses. Five minutes
later the middle-aged man slipped his
Rhine wine alone.