The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-04

two gripsacks would permit, and had come
down stairs with her heart steeled to meet
other women in full dress. But she found
none to dispute With in her glory Of being
the best-dressed woman in sight. and so by
2 natural transition had passed from the
dressing theory to the ghost hypothesis to
account for the desertion around her
AS they entered the hotel ONCE on their
way TO the dining room they saw that great
change had taken place since their previous
visit. A clerk stood behind the desk another
seemed busy over his books, q row of uni
FORMED bell boys sat on a bench, and the
Eyes OF all were turned full upon the man and
It's worse than ghosts whispered the
woman why DO they glare so at us?''
,Ias-er-supper ready" asked the man.
The words produced an unexpected result.
the clerk banged the bell, the row of bell
boys jumped up one to show the way an
orchestra burst into action with a crash, and
an ancient, melancholy head waiter In rusty
black habiliments threw open great double
doors and ushered them into the dining room.
II the hotel had seemed big from the out
side, the dining room seemed bigger. 1t
looked as II 1t ought to be measured by the
acre rather than by ordinary standards. Great
electric lights blazed, the table linen glist-
ened, the silver and glass sparkled, pleasant
faced mattresses, with rudy cheeks fresh
from farm life and attired in crisp white
dresses, lowered about the orchestra thund-
cred and sighed and rippled and triumphed
In gallery but otherwise the room was
empty. There was to be had white, haky
Goldfish Just out of the sea- and fried to
delicate brown: purple blueberry cake that
melted in the mouth, and ali the other deli
cacies that Maine offers to visitors. But the
solitude was too much for the appetite of
the man and the woman.
The rooms too big said the man finally,
pushing away his plate half filled. 1T takes
away my appetite. Let's get out
They got up. At this the mattresses gath
cred in a group and whispered. The ancient
head waiter approached them with anX-
ious face. The orchestra slowed up and a
white gowned figure came hurrying from the
Kitchen.
WAS anything wrong?" she asked breath
lessly
would you like something else cooked ?"
asked the head waiter. wrnging his hands.
WAS the music too loud?" asked the leader
of the orchestra.
The man explained hurrledly that he wasn't
feeling hungry. and hurried out. In the hall
some men waiting to accost him.
I'm the livery man." said one. IF you'd
like to go driving I'll be glad to let you have
the best turnout at quarter price, because
we're not very busy just now"
I'm the boatman,' said another. land as
all my boats are not engaged, can let you
have one cheap If you would like to go sail
ing"
I'm a dealer in curosities." said a third.
land If you interested in such things,
you may be glad to know that IN selling off
at sacrifice
The man thanked them and went out upon
the piazza. The orchestra seemed to follow
them from the dining room, and walled and
hind them. Somehow the night seemed less
vast than that great empty dining room.
What a place for ghosts this would be!'
said the woman. returning to her theory.
Now" said the man mournfully, when 1
was here last this piazza was packed with
the prettiest girls and the finest fellows you
ever saw
May be they're ghosts about US now
said the woman with a SILVER.
''If they are ghosts, returned the man, 81
don't blame them for wanting to come back
when l think of the gay times we used to
have here; but as for human beings"
"Hush!" exclaimed the woman. What
that?'
1t was still and lonely and big that al
most any noise capable of seeming I'M
canny. They could hear in the darkness a
rustling, shutting, wheeling sound. Out
from the shadows somewhere came call of
Lady! LADY," and then they saw emerge
from the darkness into the light the ancient
head waiter.
Would the lady like to see the ballroom? %
he asked.
Are there any people in it," asked the
man in return. Live ones, l mean"
The head waiter led the way down the long