Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-12-22
THE GAZE OF EACH BECAME FINED.

q W.
THE GAZE OF EACH BECAME FINED.
feelings the way we do. No; I've got my
instructions to keep this company strict,
but know you ladies, and know you RS
hungry, and it's Christmas, and I'm with
you at 6 sharp.
The arrangements for our appearance ut
Whites saloon were made, and at 8 o. clock,
in the twilight, we four took our way
through n muddy alley to the back en-
trance In -he yet more muddy yard,
studded with old tin cans, that formed the
last stage of our journey, we came upon
the cLef who was to minister to our de
light. There is no irony in this statement.
There he was, n genuine, grizzled, gray
old French cook, in white cap and apron,
with the very look of Paris upon him. BY
the light of a pitch torch we beheld him
standing over lilapidatcd stove under an
open shed in Helena, Arkansaw! He did
not even look up as we passed him, and
guided by softly opening door filed into
the oldest dining room that even strolling
players ever saw.
1t was small, but it achieved that lool;
of solid comfort common-even in Arllan.
sas, it seems-to rooms furnished cxclu-
sively for and by men, and it possessed in
some inscrutablo way n quite unrivaled
air of scclusion, remotoncss 1t contained
a table, not dining table, but something
quite differont. Tho mon chuCklcd at tho
sight of it, with that curiously innocent
glee in naughtinCss so frequently seen
whore any innocence would be least cx
pected They CXPlaincd-indced l wish l
could tell what they did explain, but fear
to blunder among unfamiliar technical
tiles. 1t was 4 real poker table, or faro
table, or roulette table, or all three to-
gether. 1t was, III short, piece of pro-
fessional furniture, and handsome one,
too, l remember. 1t was covered with
curious designs in inlaid woods.
Whoever opened the door for us had dis
appeared at once without my realizing his
existence, but now n man in shirt sleeves
opened another an inner door, glanced,
with the glance of authority, upon us and
also disappeared.
Presently-it all seemed like th1 'Ara-
bian Nights'-a negro loaded With dishes
and napery came in o-' began to set the
poker table.
Memory dwell5 on that meal, that little
Christian CtJistmas meal, beginning with
soup, ipcSading salad and ending with
coffe7l never expect to find another as
IlGf5lCuill uCilBlIllul. IL WAS uOb Ollly W
che senses that it appealed, but to our
player souls. Its daintiness, order and
perfection echoed faroff civilization, for
which, in our various ways, we all ycarn-
ed. The conjunction of the supper and the
1ate SO softened, SO deeply moved us all
chat there is no measuring how far the
general mood had to do with calling forth
and guiding the events that followed.
Nhilo we were eating our salad the coat
MSS gentleman who had before looked
upon rs same in. / had learned that this
was White himself, the wizard to whose
magic We were indebted.
White looked tho man of power. He
nodded slightly, accepting our greetings
with Eapu.cGnc calm and silence, and
stood watching US with sphin&iikc impas
sivity, no trIGe Of ARKANSAS or any Other
place but n gambling house to hu seen in
his compact person and clean shaver lace.
Without having spoken ii word White
left u, tIld presently another, a younger
man, wi'h the air CO suhurdination in.
stead c. &athogity (also in his shirt sleeves),
came in, hringing q boz of cigars. HC
passed il IN silence to Perkins. Alter Per
kins had taken one the newcomer turned
to Jim Bowman
Tho men eyes met. Tho gaze of eacl
became Sized, strained; then one gaspet
"Jim," the box clattered to the floor be
tween thcm, and the two were shaking
hands lnrt and patting each other silent
ly, while tears brimmed in their eyes.
This pantomine seemed amazingly pro
longeci, rs ii we were all in stupor, bu
at lass Jim turned TO Maggie and sait
chokiuglJ:
''It's me brother he relapsed FOR tn,
moment into the broguo Of his childhood
tits me brother Miilep he repeated.
Maggie nodded with shining eyes. Thei
she made q comical little protesting move
menJ with her small Ast above her ayerte'