The Meeker herald., 1898-02-05
At rHe CHURCH LUNCH

~ t06 SoOWSW GOWCh
Al EAxaGe1ent IL Alaasss RrsEen
OF ia cAaraty's Ca.se.
This il about the time OF the yeaI
when men are called upcn by their
wives or kweethearts to dine or lunch
1t some of tie charity hnzars given in
the interest Of churches or hospitals
In many cases the said wives or sweet.
hearts are either waiting on the tables
or serving as executive committee wom-
en-, or merely acting - ornaments and
general bosses. But in any event the
female schemers exact . pronase iron,
the men to como and lunch. It's all
well enough in its why, but in too
many c1scs the women forget that time,
with most men. has special value. The
poor fellows come in . haltine and bash
full why, look around with bewil1cr-
ment to see II they can discover the
idol of their hearts. until they hear a
familiar voice calling:
George, George. come right here.
You know you promised to come to
our table" fLS l"
George wends his way through n
crowd of women he never eaw, and
seats himself at the table presided over
by the one he loves best. 'F4u-
$50 glad you came to our table.
We're doing so well. WhatIl you have
for lunch? We have some Of the sweet
est pickles y'ever tasted, They nre
sonc Mrs. Nnmeless made herself, and
everybody y says she's the greatest pickle
maker in Cumminsville. You don't like
sweet pickles? Oh, that's q joke. ]
know. Really, didn't mean, that they
were the sweetest pickles that you had
ever tasted. No. indeed. meant they
were grand, you know. Oh, say. are
you going TO see Minnie Madden? She's
just too sweet for any use. No, of
course, not like the pickles. Imean she
is perfectly grand in Tess.
Excuse me just minute, George,
dear. won't you? There's u stranger
ntour table"
George patiently waits, though he
has an engagement at one O'Clock.
The divinity comes back ngain.
"What was it you ordered, George? :?
Really, forgot every item. So you
didn't? Well. you can give me your
order now, md I will hurry with all
my might. oh, we have everything
that's nice. The dearest coffee you
ever tasted. The old-fashioned kind
boiled you know. Dearest: Oh, I
don't mean dearest. 1 mean splendid,
for It's only five cents cup"
"Oh, Helen, dear, I'm so glad to see
you. but you didn't bring Aleck, and
you promised faithfully to. Were you
at the football game? Didn't our boys
do well? Oh, it was 80 exciting, but
there wasn't a soul hurt. That made
It so tame. Yes. George. nj be back in
u minute. You're not in hurry, are
your"
Then. after q minute or two Of pat
ter. she came hack to George.
$50 sorry had to leave you, Georgie,
but couldn't be rude to Helen. for I'm
going to stand up with her, and didn't
want to offend her. Arc yoa In . hur-
ryf" y nf'.i 8,
Am I? Why every minute is worth
3 dollar, some minutes, and here I-nm.
hungry and losing flesh and ducats.
Look here, now. get move'cn you or
TIL report you to the proprietor. See?
This thing of flirting with everything
thnt comes in doesn't go in fratcfass
Bring me q dish of Bos.o,
porl. and beams, a cup of that c-rard
coffee md piece of pie. Nopie? What
kind of a Joint Is this, anyhow? I'll 2"
up to that restaurant on Court street.
where they lave men walters. No.
don't wrrt any of them sweet pickles,
either. That's all. Step lively. now. or
its a mighty small tip you'l get. See?
Why don't they get men walters, any,
how, at thcac charity bouts:"
why. George. never saw you in
ssSh a mood. What's the matter with
your Are you mad?"
..No; I'm not mad, but I'm crazy.
Why. you girls won't take in enough
TO pay the debt due the sexton. and l.
there's many more of these festivals Or
btxars or charity lunches, and you take
part, there'll be broken engagement,
sure, and you and I'll be playing the
parts. 'i< ''
"For charity. is 1t, and ought to put
up with a little Inconvenience? Well.
! will. If you'll be a good girl and bring
me the best in the shanty. No, never
mind, honey; you needn't pay the
check. I wnsn't mad. I was joking.
You're real good to come here and slave
your life away for the church. Yes;
I'll call and go home withyou at five."-
Detroit Free Press. Fafs