The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26

mer.
Into the blaze of light we went. staring
and wondering. and the Rake almost drag
ging me along. LET us sit here said he.
''These seats are not taken, are they my
dear?" said he, addressing a pretty girl
at the other end of the table.
mo, they're not" said the girl. my fel-
Ter was to meet me here; but he hasn't
come, and I'm glad. I've got money now.
but he'd take 1t away from me sure-and
maybe black my eye If he was drunk He's
a bad one! He is! But I'm stuck on himl'
Mercy on us!" said I. And Mercy on
us" again.
Look at those pretty women over there
drinking champagne" said the Rake.
They'll cheer you up biti''
And sure enough they did. They were SO
very happy. 1t was a pleasure to watch
them. And their voices as they came drift
ing over were pleasant and their words
pretty. They were in full dress, to the very
end of their Frenchy pink and blue satin
gowns, and their escorts, types of the
young men of the town, were in low-cut
vests with sparkling shirt-fronts.
give us a toast, Juliet" said one of the
young men who had, I noticed, a fresh
look. as If Tenderloin nights had not been
too numerous with him as yet.
Yes, song, Julietp' said another, who
had very dark rims under his eyes and
whose cheeks were red on the cheekbones--
Ine danger Spots TOT dissipation.
Give us the first two verses of the song
you sang tonight-'The Slumber Song"
urged the other girl whom the fellows CALL
ed Marie
But that's cradle song" objected Ju-
liet. who would sing cradle song here?"
Never mind; cradle or no cradei Go
ahead" said the dissipated one of the two
men. give us the toast In a song, and
quick I'm getting deuced thirsty"
In very low voice, but so sweet that the
tears would have come to your eyes, Jul
liet, with the champagne glass poised high
in her delicate rouged fingers, sang:
when the shadows of twilight
Sink into the shades of night,
Seek thy couch without a fear
Lowell The slumber God is near"
1.-THE next verse, Juliet That isn't a
toast" objected Marie.
soft may be thy downy bed;
Sweetest dreams float overhead,
Purest love thy pillow makes
Love that gives and love that takes"
''That'n have to do" said Marie, breaking
off suddenly. TITS only silly little encore
song-not fit for toast Here, Jack, drink
your wine! Harry, here's to your first
night in the Tenderloinl May you have
anotheri We've ushered many one in,
Marie and I. And now they are as full
fledged as the Oldest Tenderloiner in the
room. It's a fine place to forget your trou-
b1es," said Juliet. with the effects of the
wine showing itself a little in the tones of
the voice which could be so wonderfully
sweet.
''If you see tall fellow looking around
at the tables tell me-" said Marie, who had
been very quiet, and who had occasionally
glanced over her shoulder. ITS Mr.. Tom
c., and he's looking for me-"
who's Tom G.?' queried all the gay
voices at once. "Oh, Marie! Marie! An
other one on your string? What a sad flirt
you arel''
"It isn't another one on my string this
time," said Marie with guilty, though
laughing look in her eyes. ITS Tom c.
mentioning the son and heir of a we'll
known family of the city-"and he actually
loves me, believes in me. wants to marry
me-and all that. What do you think Of
that?"
"Well, WE'LL Mariel That's good joke!"
said the dark fellow with rude laugh.
"But are you going to catch on?'
Fancy me riding up the avenue in my
brougham," said Marie, slipping champagne
and laughing until she choked. Fancy me
bowling to all the swells and their debut
tante daughterSr
'.But how about the Tenderloin, Marie?"
'That's just it," said Marie, with sigh
TIL have to refuSe Tom ana ms DeileI III
me and his millions. I'd want to come
back here some day; and If anybody were
to snub me, or was unkind to me, back I'd
come, like the criminals that visit every
year their old haunts."
"Oh, you couldn't stay away from the
Tenderloin long, Marie You're its en-
press, sure! But come, let's go! The gov
ernor gets up early, and sometimes slips
over to my room to see IL I'm all safe and
sound And I've got to get there before
he does. He nearly caught me yesterday
morning"
With gathering of wraps, rustic OF
skirts and much laughing, the merry party
passed out
I'm going home, too," said to the Rake.
"But thank you, Mr.. Rake, for glimpse
of the Tenderloin by gas-light"
"You have seen the pretty parts OF it,
said the Rake. "But there are other cor
ners of the Tenderloin that are not so gay;
other parts of 1t that are truly low, and
other parts of 1t that are sad, even for me.
But for a typical Tenderloin night we've
had one. You've seen the merry side-the
side of which Wall street men dream when
tired to death Of bulls and bears; the side
over which club men grow homesick, even
in gay PARASITIC side that's attractive,
even though you know 1t Is naughty"