The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-09
AT the RESTAURANT
By Lola Mitchell.

1t was o'clock, and the lights glow
ed brightly against the outer darkness,
seeming to send forth an Invitation for
all who passed to enter.
A woman sat at one of the little ta-
bles, waiting for her order to be filed,
when man entered and, all the rest
being taken, was motioned into q chair
opposite her. For a moment the wom-
an flushed, and the man bit his lip and
hesitated MS men do when fate has
played them an unpleasant trick, but
as he sat down her sense of humor
came 10 the rescue, and she laughed, n
low, ripping laugh, like the song of
birds and the music of dancing waters.
To be sure, they had not met for
three years, and she had come to the
city to secure the divorce which she
knew he was all too anxious to grant,
and yet what joke 1t was that she
should spend this first evening in q res
taurant tete-a-tete with her husband,
for such he still was.
Hearing the slight sound of her
mirth, the man looked up, flushed and
embarrassed, but bowling formally.
She was surely a handsome woman,
OF that rare type that improves after
the thlrtieth milestone is passed, and
he found himself noticing, with a touch
of pride. the admiring glances cast
upon her.
1t was table d'hote dinner, and the
woman glanced over the menu.
"Chicken soup. Harry was always
fond of it." thought she. 81 wonder IL
he still puts in an extra bit of saltY'
And she glanced across the table, only
to meet pair of questioning eyes, and,
blushing, bent resolutely over her plate.
The courses followed. Over her roast
pigeon there fell most unreasonable
tear. Once. in the olden days, she had
been i'll, and he had gone out with his
gun to shoot a bird for her, thinking
that 1t might tempt her tickle appetite,
but the gun had exploded, and when
they brought him home his hand was
wrapped in bloody bandages. She
wondered IL the scar showed, but did
not dare look again.
AS for the man, there was a tighten
ing at his throat as he sat and watched
her while dish after dish was taken
away, scarcely tasted.
She used to make biscuit just like
those, and once when he had found her
in the kitchen and kissed her, with her
hands in the pan. she had powdered his
face, laughing as he had heard her for
an instant that evening.
What foolish children they were
But what folly was that which prompt
ed them to quarrel and her to go back
to her mother? Three years ago! He
had grown very old in that time, very
weary of life, and he wondered il she
had been happy.
At the table back of them little
child laughed, and both faces grew
troubled. There had been baby once
in their home, but after the angels took
1t everything seemed to go wrong. He
looked up again, but she was dividing
piece of chocolate cake and apparent
ly had not noticed the sound.
Carefully she slipped her fork into it
That was an old trick of hers, and she
always did it SO daintily that one for
MOL IL IL were COIItCI lOIln vi lot
Sometimes she used to slip asmorse
thus impaled into his mouth, and Their
he gave her n kiss in payment. What
If she should now?
How much happier they were wher
they were childish and used to love
each other! Used to love each other
Why had they ever stopped loving
Surely she seemed dearer tonight thai
ever before. His own little wife, for ;
week longer at least, and who coult
tell? Something might happen to brin:
them together again. If it only would
then he could stay at home and give III
the Cuban trip. At home! How pleas
ant the sound Of the words! He felt
thrill of joy that the house had remain
ed just as 1t was when she went away
Then he looked tenderly across the ia
BILE, all his soul in his eyes, yearning
eager glance In which were commin
gled the fires of youth and the FIJI
strength of manhood.
She was still posing the bit of call
on her fork half meditatingly. Sudden
ly she looked up, with the old daring
mischievous smile, and reached tn
dainty morsel across to him. Bending
down, he took it between his lips, an,
then rising, as II to go to her, he said:
you know the penalty for that
Katew
She put up her hand and blushed
"Not here; not herew she exclaimed.
"Where, then" he returned.
Lets 60 home," she replied eagerly
"Never to leave It'll" he responded
"You forgive meY'
81 was to blame, DEAR" she answer
ed. And they went out together
AS they left the room an old maj
g near the door chuckled: Honeymoon
r ers! But who'd a thought it at first?
q What to Eat.
| MIMIC TIE