The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-01
WOULD TELL OF A DINNER
[From the New York SUE. ]

From the New I OfA sun
The girl was pretty enough to attract
attention as she entered the elevated
train, and of her escorts the one whose
came was soon disclosed to be Jack
looked very important. His accent was
slightly affected. The other escort was
a neutral-looking chap with no accent
His name proved to be Tom.
AS soon as the trio were seated Jack
in a loud voice took up story With
which he had evidently been boring MS
companions before they entered the car.
1t was a recital in great detail Of his ex-
perienceS at q recent dinner. He de-
scribed the courses, told what the guests
said. which was unlntereStng. and even
retailed his own feelings. The girl and
Tom looked as If they were heartily
tired of it. Jack gave them no oppor .
tunity to interrupt.
Then" he continued, when the COT
fee was brought in 1 asked the waiter
to put three humps of sugar in mine and
he seemed surprised because, you know,
gar, but / have always taken three III
nina ever since I was old enough TO Or
der and that was the way my father
did, and what he did was good enough
sat opposite me, and whose name did
not catch, as most of them were French
lifted his glass and, bowling to me. sale,
"A votre santei' and Il
What did he say?" interrupted the
girl.
He said, "A votre santel, and r."
DO you mean to say that a gentle
man said that to you2" said the girl
and one of the passengers thought he
saw her give Tom a little kick.
sWhy-er-that is, of course, he was
a gentleman. said Jack.
DO you know what it meant?" asked
the girl
*Why-er-that is not exactly, OF
course, but in a general way it is a
complimentary toast"
DO you know its true meaning" said
Tom, coming TO the girls aid, when the
man lifts his glass and says it to you ~
The chap called Jack was now badly
hustered and he admitted that he did
not know exactly what the Frenchman
intended to say to him.
And you sat there, Jack said the
girl earnestly, land permitted that fell
low to say that to you without resenting
Resent i'll Why, I didn't knew that
Abe fellow was insulting me. How did
know that?"
But he said "A votre sante' to you
Tom, would you let anybody say such
thing as that to your
Not if I were as big as he was said
Tom promptly.
BY this time most of the passengers
within earshot were enjoying the sport.
When they wanted to laugh they held
up their newspapers. The girls face
gave no indication Of the fun that she
was having except when she turned
around to Tom and allowed one eyelid
TO crop slowly until the laSheS rested on
her cheek It was a deliberate wink, ard
Tom responded in kind. The other chap
seemed to feel that he had made a mis-
take in some way. but he didn't know
just how. Moreover, he knew that
enough of the conversation had been
overheard by the other passengers TO
make him appear ridiculous in their
eyes.
Il don't just see yet where the insult
in saying "A votre sante' comes in.'' he
said.
You explain to him. Tom" said the
girl.
Il have not the heart to tell you.
Jack" said Tom. Really, I haven't,
old man, but if you ever see that
F'renchman again just punch his face
and see what he does
1t was certainly a most unwarranted
insult" added the girl Z always
thought you would resent such a
thing
] would have resented it, - said Jack
If he had said it in English. How was
to know? Hello! this is Eighteenth
street and I must get off. I've got an
engagement with my dentist No I can.
go any farther. Well. good-by; see YOU
soon, and as he disappeared out of the
door the young woman and Tom laugh
ed to make up for lost time and SO die
the other passengers.