The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-12

seriously? lie hau Deen neullaLlng
tramp for several summers, and it had
suited his convenience to start OIL just
when and how he did.
He reached the caravansary in the late
afternoon. He would have time for q
bath and nap before the early tea-time.
When he entered the long dining-room
almost all the guests were seated. His
own interest was bounded by his appe-
tite. A vacant place at one of the many
tables was all he craved. Heespied one at
the remote end of the room and strobe for
it with hungry directness. There were
others at the small square table with him,
party of three who seemed to belong to
each other.
They were chatting in that exclusive
manner which emphasizes ones sense OF
being an outsider, as nothing else can.
He took paper from his pocket and gave
it his undivided attention. He presumed
that sooner or later his order would be
taken. Later, most likely. He had alb
stracted himself successfully from mis-
surroundings when he was brought back
to them with a start by regulation ques-
ton:
HAS your order been taken, sir?"
1t was girls voice, soft and musical.
He had heard it once before-in dream.
He lifted his eyes over the edge of his
paper. She was standing there, modestly
watdng for his order!
1nere was no possibility of mistake.
There WAS the glorious wealth OF bronze
hair, almost too heavy for her pretty
head; the deep eyes falling abashed be-
fore the rude surprise in his; the tip
tilted little nose that gave so much de-
cision to woman's face"; the sweet
mouth, very demure in the downward
droop OF it's corners-he had seen them
all, once before, in dream.
Tea or coffee, sir ?'' she asked, with a
hint of exhausted patience in her voice.
Neither, that is = both, thank you,
only don't trouble yourself, please, 1 beg
of you.'
But she was gone and the chattering
family party were all staring at him, and
he was more miserable than his worst
enemy could have cared to see him.
Hebe dispensing cups OF nectar on
Mount Olympus rose to classic nights;
but his goddess, his dream wife with
bronze hair and eyes like great purple
pansies, scuttling about the bare dining
room with trays of greasy dishes and
dubious beverages, was sight full OF
pain aud degradation for him.
That night ne wrote short letter to
Hyde.
II have found her! Found her dressed
in the pink shirt-waist, black skirt, and
cravat which Is the Mattresses uniform
at the hotel. By Jove, IL makes my blood
Jingle to see her bent upou Suiting the
demands OF every glutton at the table ! IL
it was anybody but her! pve looked i'll
vain for some feature different from my
dream wife. They are not to be found.
The massive waves of her hair her hight,
her voice-and she is a hired waiter In a
mountain hotel! By George, it is the
most malicious trick Fortune has play ed
me! Ill leave here Tomorrow morning
as soon as l have had my breakfast. This
is torture. l don't want any wife at al"
Having finished his confession, he re-
duced the letter TO small bits and went to
bed. Why should he be the Que to tell
Hyde that his dream wife was waitress?
Nor did he go away that next morning
after breakfast, nor the next, nor the
next. The situation had its pathos.
He had fallen in love with his dream
wife while he had been carrying her im-
age about with him enshrined. She was
to be as modest and wise and gentle as
she was beautiful. This pretty waitress,
in the abominable pink shixt-waist and
black cravat, lifted shy eyes 10 her cus-
toners when needs must. A soft dignity
peryaded her whole person. She could
annihilate an offender with glance.
When he called for his bill the next
morning, meditating flight, it was she
who brought it TO him and laid it down
by his plate. The cOurtesies of the case
demanded glance of thanks. He gulped
his coffee scalding hot W hat was there
in this whole business to make him feel
like a deserter? Why should not he
travel away from that psnsy-eyed girl
and forget her entirely? What hold had
that idiotic dream given her upon him?
He did not go. He stayed-drifting with
the swift current of events. The family
party of three never ran out OF chatter.
1t maddened him to see her waiting on
them. They accepted 1t as quite matter
OF course.
One evening he sat down to supper and
| bo nh ~ 10,
''She was the best waitress l ever saw.
Never kept you waiting. nor got your or
der mixed up with somebody's else.
, am so sorry"
With dull sense of bereavement he
observed that fat Irish girl, whose pink
waist was excessively baggy, was stand
E ing at his elbow waiting dum bly, for his
: order. She had disappeared out of his
, lie as completely as if he had never mar
!, ried her in dream-land. He felt curiously
resentful.
The next morning he went to the office
for his bill. He was in earnest about GO
ing this time 1t seemed like desecration.
but he leaned contidentially over the Of
flee counter 10 ask:
'What have you done with that nice
little red-headed waitress ?"
The head clerk wet his lead-pencil with
the red tip OF his tongue and looked
stupid.
1 Ou mean MISS dartrlQPo Pr
"Ihey called her Mamie, those people
at my table"
"Yes, that's her. She's took the old
, lady home, l guess. They stay only
through May, June and July. Her times
up"
who is the old lady ?''
Her mother. Oh, then you don't
know anything about Miss Mamie
She's our mountain heroine. She lives
down in the valley. Sorter sickly and
hot there Her and her mother live in
the old parsonage just on the outskirts OF
Bumpton. Her father used to he the
preacher there. He's dead. Miss Nan
nie's got purity rough row to hoe. But
she's got the grit OF a steam engine Miss
Mamie has. When the doctors said her
mother must have the mountain air, NJ iss
Mamie made a bee-line for this house.
She stood just precisely where you re
a-standing now when she made her prop
, ersition. Mother has to have mountain
air, and l can't afford to pay for it. II
YOU will take me for waitress or a
housemaid, PHI promise to make my
services well worth our board / says
Done" IN the spot, for we all like Miss
Mamie, and everyD body felt sorry for the
old lady. That was about two years ago
and up to date none OF the contracting
parties has had cause to repent of the
| hargain Miss Mamie stipulated that
! nobody wasn't to know anything about
. her. y OF that she was ashamed of what
she was doin' but because, as she said
summer folks are nightly given TO gush
over every little thing out of the common
run. and she wasn't going to have any
nonsense logged into this business to
spoil her mothers outing"
"She was quite right" said Johnston
with proprietary pride in the young lad v
who had shown herself capable of sucl
tilial devotion.