The record-union., 1891-05-17
THE OLD AND NEW SOUTH.
A Bit of Romance With a Historical
Background.

Background.
/ saw curious bit in the drama of life
the other day, and it seemed to stand out
the more effectively for having, small as
1t was, a certain historical background.
was taking modest chop in little
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 story of "befO' de wah,'1 and
that affected the character of the very
wrinkles in his ancient, well-bruShed
dress coat. He established, or rather he
showed willingness to establish relations
OF an ideally intimate character with the
patrons of the place, utterly servant-ike,
and yet prepared TO note your tastes and
cater to them with the devotion of friend
ship.
When I was half through my meal two
young women with the air of ladies en-
tered and sat down near me. / could not
help oyerhearing their talk, quiet as it
was, and it soon appeared that they be-
longed to that ever-increasing army of
girl bachelors that have taken the town.
They We're students at the art league.
Inc 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 a GER
eSNAA NI4lNlO" 4O"C1Oo al IAit lOD. ne
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 part of the South
do you come from?'
"Me?" said the girl pleasantly, 81
come from Tennessee. / suppose you
knew l was Southe'n by the way [
talk ?'
Eyes, I'm; yes, m" the old man said
hastily, taking the plates from the waiter
in charge, and speaking with an odd
effect of furry. MY young mist ess 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 married one oh
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
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 ali over.
Please tell--please tell her that Ike,
Wellow Ike, alluz-"
Ine girl was looking at him St6adfaStly
through a mist Of tears. ''She's dead -
she said.
The old man leaned hard on chair q
moment, and then the habits of a lifetime
of self-control and Difference to other peo-
pies comfort came to his aid ne stilled
the workings of his wrinkled face and
took dish from the waiter as he came
up, although his hands still shook a
little.
''Pll wait on these ladies'" he said, and
then gave some directions about another
part of the room. He caught the proprie-
tors eye fixed rebukingIy upon him;
but he stuck to that table; he was going
to wait on these ladies if it cost him his
place.
Things went on silently for some mo-
mentS and then he said, as he brought Il
dish that had not been ordered, soto
voice, There's nothing here tit foryou
missey-is ye named for your mar" The
girl nodded.
Il thought knowed you by the favor"
he added, trying to smile his dog-liko
affection upon her, and then he took him
self off to little distance and stood wait
ing upon their call.
| was putting on my coat when I heard
the Southern girl, who had been very
silent, say to her friend: II suppose he
would rather never have seen me at all,
really, than to see me here like this"
And then I left, but [ think the girl was
wrong.-NelO York Herald.