Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
AT L'HOTEL DE BLANK.

|
|
AT L'HOTEL DE BLANK.
A Little Drama Which Suggested
More Than 1t Told.
| From the New York Sun.
! Men do not now take their wives, sisters
and daughters to the Restaurant de PHotel
de Blank, although they did so ten or fif-
teen years ago. Yet it is always crowded
| at dinrer time and there are husbands,
bachelors and fathers there, dining with
| well dressed women. The usual rattle of
lively talk and noisy hustle of walters one
| evening recently were suddenly and
| strangely quieted when a man of about
| thirty-tive years entered with an elderly
| woman.
| They looked around with hestating indie
| cision, until the head waiter, with little
| more than his usual ceremony, escorted
| them to central table. The woman, more
| than the man, seemed to be conscious of
| the sudden quiet their entrance had caused,
| and she, too, excited the greater curiosity
| among the crowd of diners. She was a
| lady. 1t was that fact which created the
| wonderment. She was richly dressed in
| an old-fashioned style that had quaint
| look there. emphasized by long gray curl,
which hung down from beneath her bon
net nearly to her shoulder, in the mode of
|
| man, distinction and breeding perfectly ap-
| parent in him, despite his weather-6eaten
| face and hands, and the evidence, in his
| dress, of some western tailor'S machina-
| tons
| 1t was some minutes before the diners
| resumed their conversation, and even then
| the odd couple continued to be the subject
| Of furtive inspection from all sides. The
| talk went on in lower Tone and in some
| way there had been a change in the whole
| atmosphere Of the place.
| The next couple which entered the room
| created something of a sensation, too. but
| of different and more familiar kind. They
were recognized by many of the diners, as
| they walked straight to a. table which had
| evidently been reserved for them in the
| rear Of thu room, where the woman took
| her place, with her back to the other din
| ers.
She was handsome girl. with rebel
| lious face. Her costume in every partic-
| ular was in the fashion, but noticeable as
| being extreme in those effects which hint
| the fashion of tomorrow. AS she passed
the table where the odd couple sat she
| turned her head aside to return some
| greeting. and did not notice them. but the
| lady with the gray curl saw her, and
started SO visibly that her companion
| asked:
| What is it. mother?'
| She hesitated a moment, and then said:
why, that was Mr.. Bronson who just
! came in
What, Frank?' asked the man eagerly.
He half rose, with the evident intention
| of following to the rear table. His mother
laid her hand on his arm to detain him,
| and she did so the man at the rear table
| rose with a look of amaZement, and quickly
| walked over to them He greeted the
| mother with a Difference In which there
was slight corstraint. and then grasped
| the mans hand affectionately.
why, my dear old Jack! he exclaimed,
Il thought you were still out in the west,
| digging gold or killing Indians. or what
ever you have been doing these dozen
IA hotiaUn my
ing you here"
Just got in an hour ago." responded
Jack. Mother met me in Philadelphia.
where she was visiting, and, as our house
is closed / insisted on coming here for din
ner-the old place, you know. But changed
somehow, isn't it?"
Frank gave curious glance at the
mother before he answered:
Il don't think many of the old set come
here often now. 1 fancy you have not
been here for some time, Mrs. Harrison. l
still dine here occasionally
IF any of your people are with you, We
can get a larger table and dine together"
said Jack.
mo, no! No one you know, old man. I'll
see you at the club tomorrow" replied
Frank hastily and, bowling again to Mrs.
Harrison. returned to his own table
Jack looked at his mother in surprise.
That's not much like Frank" he said.
What is the matter? The place has
changed"
He looked about at the people more crit
1cally than he had before.
Perhaps we should have gone some
where else. as you suggested. mother. But
1 have been dreaming for a month Of the
dinner I'd order here. 1 used to amuse
myself out there with Thompson, my
mining partner. telling him about this res
taurane. By the way, mother, you have
said very little in your letters for a year
about his daughter, Nina. Her father is
her when THAT is we-sent her to you
four years ago to be put in school. Was
she not a lovely girl mother? 1 had hard
work, after we struck it rich to prevail
on her father to let her come here for
some polishing. I think he gave in at last
because he suspected then what I must tell
you now, mother-that I love Nina, and
wanted her fitted to be your daughter,
mother! What is the matter?
Nothing, my boy. 1t is close here, and
l am excited by your return and-and-l
think we had better go home. John"
Nearly every one turned and looked Gu
riously at the odd couple as they left the
1estaurant-zhe tenderly anxious, she pale
and trembling leaning on his arm.
What's the sensation Frank" asked
Bronson's companion, who had noticed the
little commotion, but had not turned round,
for her glass was being filled with cham
payne. and she was waiting impatiently
for that
"Why, it's a curious story" explained
Bronson. when left you moment go
it was to speak to an old friend of mine
who has just returned from the wilds, and
the innocent chap had brought his mother
here to dine. His mother: think of it, She
lives down in this part Of town-belongs to
an old swell set-but I dare say did not
know. any more than he, just what sort of
gang patronizes this place now"
The woman was looking at him wickedly.
''Well Just what sort of gang does pa
tronize this place now?" she asked slowly,
in voice that did not match her eyes.
WELL we are pretty regular customers
ourselves, for instance" he replied with a
laugh.
''Oh, see," said the girl. What is your
innocent friends Manner
Jack Harrison. Why. what the devil is
the matter with you, Nina?"
An Objectionable Part.
From the Detroit Free Press.