The Washington times., 1902-07-13

common, everyday restaurant. be
it ever so humble and ever so full
OF cackling dishes and jabbering
mattresses. If only its walls had
tongues to tell the tales OF romancins
eyes. of sweetheart quarrels. OF wooings
and winnings 10 which they are wit
ness.
But. in lieu of love stories from the
ubiquitous restaurant walls, one Is
obliged to get them from someone who
is equipped with organs of speech. a
cashier. for instance.
She secs as many romances enacted
in the restaurant as :he matinee goer
sees on a stage, plates and glasses.
spoons and soups, bills of fare and
dining room checks affording all the
requisite paraphernaiia for picturesque
settings, for intrigues, dramatic crises,
ard thrilling denouemerts
The wine and the walnuts long have
been practically associated with furtive
love episodes, but of all things prosaic,
commend the everyday person to a
restaurant bill of fare The everyday
person must not judge too quickly. Even
the bill of fare has its romance and
its tragedy.
1t was a humid day when devoted
ner. They were nigh strung and dainty,
both of them handsomely clothed, fas
tidious, and demonstrative of their mu-
tual enthusiasm over eacn other to the
last degree permissible by decorous
conduct.
As they took their seats the man re-
marked with speedy glance toward The
menu thrust into his hands. "Ah. l see
they have good choice of soups!''
Yes, and such an article. too, to
specialize on" cried the young lady In
some vexation. There's absolutely
nothing cool fit to begin with
We'll, if. l have my consomme I'm
fixed to for beginning" smiled the
man again.
You go on with the soup, then" said
the girl, "and I'll sit and talk to you,
and then we'll have our meat together"
Things were happy until the meat
course was to be decided upon. They
here took opposites in everything They
did not tally even on the potatoes. He
dotted on them of all things she did not
touch them. They ordered different
meats. different entrees. different vege-
tables, different sauces. The salads
would have none but lobster. Interest
ing conversation which grew more and
more animated was developing. BY the
time the dessert was reached the bel
ligerencles continued on the ices, coffees,
puddings. and cheeses; the tempers nj
both were armed cap-a-pie for open bat
tie
There, | knew We were not suited to
each other?" cried the lady at last. She |
sometimes showed a dreamy, psychic |
soulfulness in her eyes. Il knew that |
With all our devotion for each other our
-emDe-aments did not harmonic as they !
ought. l knew It. felt it all along, /
anu this dinner proves it. It's all set
led now" and she burst into as many |
-ears as she dared show in a public |
place.
As they passed the cashiers desk the |
manager stepped to the front and took /
occasion to solicit their presence In the .
uture and to remark upon the fact that |
his cuisine was one of the most varied /
n the city and calculated to suit every
aste
20. bosh," cried the man quickly. ''if
you couldn't suit so many tastes
night have my girl yet
And thus ended the romance of the |
iii Of fare.
Conspicuously unconventional is one
IF the habitues of this restaurant, an
,ver- large woman. with clothes that do
lot fit, an unbecoming hat, an independ-
mt gait that the mattresses describe as
waddle. She always enters with a
newspaper in her hand and holds it in
me hand while attending as best she
an with the other to the operations OF
dinner. She chooses haphazard from
he bill of fare, and has a medley of
'atables from dessert, entrements, or
oups always collected about her
Il wonder whether she ever had a
owe affair" the cashier observed to her
elf one morning as she noticed the lady
II question making her way to her Gus
omary table near the desk. with her
,ack to all the sights either of the street
'r the cafe. That day-that hour, in
leed-the cashier witnessed the initia-
ion of at least one affair of the heart
experienced by her customer.
Not far opposite was ensconced pale