The Meeker herald., 1899-03-04
AT TIE CHURCH LUNCH.
An Enlargement Is Almost Hroiscn
or In Chnrity's Causc.

An Engagement Is Almost broken
on In Charity's Cause.
This is about the time of the year
when men are called upon by their
wives or swcethearts to dine or lunch
Mt some of the charity bazars 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 ivom-
en-, or merely acting as ornaments and
general bosses. But in any event tie
female schemcrs exact promise from
the men to come and lunch. It's all
We'll enough in its way, but in too
many cases the women forget that time,
with most men, has special value. The
poor fellows come in q hatnG and bash
Iful way, look around with bewildcr-
ment to see if they can discover the
idol of their hearts, until they hear
Familiar voice calling:
n George, George, come right here.
You know you promised to come TO
our table"
( George wcnds lis way through
srowd Of women he never saw, and
seats himself at the table presided over
by the one he loves best.
$50 glad you came to our table.
We're doing so well. What'll you have
for lunch? We have some of the sweet
est pickles y'cver tasted. They are
come Mrs. Namclcss made herself, and
everybody says she's the greatest pickle
maker in Cumminsvlle. You don't like
sweet pickles? Oh, that's joke,
know. Really, l didn't mea1, that they
were the sweetest pickles that you had
ever tasted. No. indeed. I meant they
were grand, you know. Oh, say, are
you going to see Minnie Madden? She's
sjust too sweet for any use. No, Of
course, not like the pickles. mean she
is perfectly grand in Tess.
"Excusc me just minute, George,
dear, won't you? There's a stranger
at our table,
George patiently waits, though he
has an engagement at one o'clock.
The divinity comes back again.
"What was it you ordered, George?
Really, forgot every item. So you
didn't? Wei. you can give me your
order now, and I will hurry with all
my might. Oh, we have evcrything
that's nice. The dearest coffee you
ever tasted. The old-fashioned kind
boiled ycu know. Dearest? Oh, ]
don't mean dearest. I mean splendid,
for it's only five cents cup.
"Oh, Helen, dea@., I'm so glad TO see
you, but Won didn't bring Alcck, and
you promised faithfully to. Were you
Mt the football game? Didn't cur boys
do well? Oh, it was so exciting, but
there wasn't soul hurt. That made
Il, so tame. Yes, George, I'll be back in
alminute. a You're not in hurry, are
ySu?"
Then, after minute or two OF pat
ter, she came bacl; to George.
"So sorry had to leave you, Georrie.
but / couldn't be rude to Helen, for I'm
going to stand up with her, and Didn't
want to offend her. Are you in hur-
ry?"
"Am I? Why every minute is worth
n dollar some minutes, and here I am,
hungry ard losing flesh and ducnts.
Look here. row, get a move or YOU or
IN report ycu to the propricto~. Src2
This thing of flirting with everything
that comes in doesn't go in rtirst-c!ass
restaurant. Bring me dish Of Boston
pork and beans, Il cup Of that grand
coffee and piece Of pie. No pie? What
kind OF q Joint is this, anyhow? llIEo
up to that restaurant on Court st-cet
where they have men walters, NJ, I
don't want any of them sweet nichcs,
either. That's all. Step lively. now, or
it's mighty small tip you'll got. See?
Why don't they get men walters, auy-
how, at these charity bouts?"
"Nhy, George, ! never saw You in
such mood Whats the matter with
you? Arc you mad?"
"No; I'm not mad, but Tn crazy.
Why. you girls won't take in enough
to pay the debt due the sexton, and If
there's many more OF these festivals or
bazars or charity lunches, and you take
part, therc'll be broken engagement,
sure. and you and I'll be playing the
leading parts.
"For charity, is it, and I ought TO put
up with n 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. l wasn't mad. l was joking.
You're real good to come here and slave
your life away for the church. Yes;
I'll call and go home with you at five. =
Detroit Free Press.