The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-05-21

AFTER MANY YEARS.

Pathetic Scene I'm Metropolitan Res
taurant That Recalls War Days.
/ saw a curious bit in the drama of
life the other day, and it seemed to
stand out the more effectively for hav-
ing. small as it was, certain historical
background.
/ was taking a moderate chop in a
Sixth avenue restaurant The walters
were negroes, and from the time went
in had looked at the head waiter with
interest. He was an elderly man, with
the patient, subdued, gentle courtesy
that told a story of "befo' de wah, "
very wrinkles in his ancient, well
brushed dress coat. He established,
or rather he showed his willingness to
establish, relations of an ideally init
mate character with the patrons of the
place, utterly servantlike, and yet pre-
pared to note your tastes and cater to
them with the devotion of friendship.
When l was half through my meal
two young women with the air of
ladies entered and sat down near me.
could not help overhearing their talk,
quiet as it was, and it soon appeared
that they belonged to the ever increas-
ing army of girl bachelors that have
taken the town. They were students
at the Art league.
The old head waiter stood near by;
then he came and changed the glass of
celery for fresher one. Then one of
the young women asked him to have
certain window lowered at the top. He
sent some one to do it, and then said
to one of the girls, rearranging the table
a little nervously, in his soft, old voice,
Excuse me; but I've been hoping
you'd excuse me since the first night
you came in, if asked you what paint
of the south do you come fomT
''MeT' said the girl pleasantly. II
come from Tennessee. 1 suppose you
knew was southern by the way ta1k?'
Eyes, m; yes, nm" the old man said
hastily, taking the plates from the
waiter in charge and speaking with an
odd effect of furry. 'My young mis-
tess she marry down in Tennessee. She
was one Oh de Kentucky Prentices"
He stopped abruptly and looked at the
girl, and she was staring at him. ''She
marry one OBJ de Tennessee Sinclairs,"
he added.
''Why, that was my mother!"
''She was my young mist'ess," said
the old man.
The girl held out her hand to him.
"Why, my mother always loved her
old people so much, " she said, the tears
springing to her eyes. ''She always
wanted to know what became of all of
them after the wah, but she never
could learn much. Now"-she stopped.
The whilom slave was trembling all
over.
please tell-please tell her that Ike,
Yellow Ike alluz"-
The girl was looking at him steadfast- |
ly through a mist of tears. ''She's |
dead |" she said.
The old man leaned hard on a chair |
a moment, and then the habits of a
other peoples comfort came to his aid;
he stilled the workings of his wrinkled |
face and took dish from the waiter |
IS he came up, although bis hands still |
shook a little.
ON wait on these ladies'" he said,
and then gave some direction about an
other part of the room. He caught the |
eye fixed rebukingly upon |
him, but lie stuck to that table; he |
was going to wait on those ladies if it |
cost him his place.
Things went on silently for some mo-
ments and then he said, as he brought |
a dish that had not been ordered, soto |
voce, There's nothing here fit for you,
we named for your mar The
girl nodded.
II thought knowed you by the IA
vor," he added, trying to smile his dog
like affection upon her, and then he
took himself off to little distance and
stood waiting upon their call
was putting on my coat when
heard the southern girl, who had been
very silent, say to her friend, IT suppose
he would rather never have seen me at
all, really, than to sec me heah like
this. " And then left, but l think the
girl was wrong New York Herald.