Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-06-13
AT the RESTAURANT
By Lola Mitchell.

1t was s O'Clock. and the lights glow
ed brightly against Ihe outer darkness
| seeming to send forth an invitation for
all who passed to enter.
A woman sat at one of the little ia
bles. waiting for her order TO be filled.
when man entered and, all the rest
being taken, was motiOned into chair
| opposite her. For moment the WON
an flushed, and the man bit his lip and
| heSitated, as men dc when fate has
| played them an unpleasant trick, but
as he sat down her sense OF humor
came TO the rescue, and she laughed a
| 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 it was that she
| should spend this first evening in a res
| taurant tete-a-tete with her husband,
| for such he still was.
Hearing the slight sound of heI
| mirth, the man looked up, flushed and
| embara ssed. but bowling formally
I She was surely a handsome woman.
| Of that rare type that improves after
| the thirtieth milestone is passed. and
| he found himself noticing, with a touch
| Of pride, the admiring glances cast
| upon her.
It was a table d'hote dinner, and the
| woman glanced over the menu.
Chicken soup. Harry was always
| fond Of it," thought she. Il wonder if
| he still puts in an extra bit of salt?"
| And she glanced across the table. only
| to meet a'pair Of questioning eyes. and,
| blushing, bent resolutely over her plate.
The courses followed. Over her roast
| pigeon there fell a most unreasonable
| tear. Once. in the Olden days, she had
| been i'll. and he had gone out with his
| gun to shoot bird for her. thinking
| that it 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 If 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 IdSlcu.
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 Chi ren they We're.
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 if she
had been happy.
At the table back of them a little
child laughed, and both faces grew
troubled. There had been a baby once
in their home. but after the angels took
it everything seemed to so 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
got if it were correct form or not
Sometimes she used to slip a mOrSel
thus impaled into his mouth. and then
be gave her kiss il payment What
if she should now?
How much happier they We're " ben
they were childish and used to love
each other! Used to love each other
Why had they ever stopped loving!
Surely she seemed daarer tonight than
ever before. His own little wife, for
week longer at least, and who coulG
tell? Something might happen to bring
them together again. If it only would
then he could stay at home and give uL
the Cuban trip. 1T home. How pleas.
ant the sound Of the words, He felt
thrill of joy that the house had remain
ed Just as it was when she went away.
Then he looked tenderly across the Ia,
bic. all his soul in his eyes, q yearnlng.
eager glance in which were cOmmin-
gled the fires Of youth and the full
strength Of manhood.
She was still posing the bit of cake
on her fork half meditatingly. Sudden,
ly she looked up with the old daring.
mischievous smile and reached the
dainty morsel across to him. Bending
down. he took it between his lips, and
then rising. as if to go to her. he said:
You know the penalty for that
Kate
She put up her hand and blushed
Not here: not here she exclaimed.
"Where. them" he returned.
"Let's 90 home" she replied eagerly
"Never to leave it?' he responded
You forgive me?'