The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-09-03

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ID fioli's. Everybody knows, Of course
waere Maiiioli's is-Mafioli's, righl
around the corner in the little alley
where all the middle sort of actors and
artists and musicians and that sort, &C
at unhoIy hours to restore tired nerves
and fill empty stomachs, with the
sparkling wit and the good yiands sci
the latter by Mafiioli at most
scandalously reasonable price.
Well, this was well past the hour OF
midnight and the choice spirits present
were just beginning to cut loose and
enjoy themselves. Three tables had
been dragged into the middle OF the
room and placed end to end About
this improyised. banquet board were
seated score or more of the devotees
OF innermost Bohemia The feast was
over and the mugs of beer and clouds
CT cigarette smoke told that the "ses-
sion" was on. Never were better stories
told, never were songs better sung,
never did laughter ring merrier.
There was but one solemn counte-
nance at the board-and it was verf-
table deaths head at the feast 1t was
Benton. Russell Benton, who did juve-
niles so cleverly at the Bijou And usu-
ally he was the gayest and most fun
loving of all Bohemia Now he sat in
his chair moody and sullen, drinking
his beer savagely and responding not
at all to the sallies of wit. Even the
raillery of Tony Neiman, the original
and slangy sporting editor of the Uni
verse. whose brains, il was generally
conceded, accorded with his 300 pounds
and the dry wit of Archy Neville, the
tall, thin, bearded artist, failed to
arouse him. Finally. Mamie de We're,
the dashing little soubrette from the
Academy took the matter in hand.
Perching on chair and swinging her
beer mug in her hand, she screamed:
Look at Russ sitting there like a
professional mourner at a funeral. 1
move, most potent, grave and reverend
seignors, that he tell good story, sing
a good song or be fined the drinks
Hear, heart" shouted the company.
Benton looked up and smiled grimly.
"Oh, go on" he growled. "Its all a
fake anyhow. Booze and laugh and
laugh and booze and then sleep it off
and do il all over again tomorrow.
I'm sick Of the game. There's nothing
in it,
why don't you quit it?" shouted
little yelen., the leader of the orches-
ira at the Grand. in his high treble.
"By heavens. ! wish could" re-
turned Benton savagely. "Iil tell all
you Holsters something wish | was
back in the country, ramming about at
the business end of plow, dodgin'
stumps and rocksan that's no joke,
either. Here we are-;all of us think
In we're the wisest people on earth,
maxim fools of ourselves before a lot
OF idiots for so much per and spending
what we get giving ourselves paresis
In this old tenth-rate joint. And when
the seasons over we haven't enough
coin to get through the summer in
fourth floor. hall bedroom. without
hawking next seasons salary. Quit 1t.
I'd quit II so quick It'd make your head |
swim IL hadn't cut my bridges behind
me-"
While DC spoke a girl had entered |
the place, glanced about in a half |
frightened manner and shrank into an |
obscure seat nj corner table. She was
fresh faced and her attire bespoke the
country. She seemed utterly out of
place in MafIioli's, AT the sound Of
Benton's voice she glanced toward him /
quickly and startled look came into
her eyes, The party in the middle of
the room were SO engrossed In Benton's
strange words that they did not notice
her at all
oh, cut it, cried the de We're from
her perch on the chair mo preaching
e Aafiioli's. hey boys? A song. story
or drink and do II now, .
Wait a minute spoke UP George
Preston Brooks, the long-haired poet
p frayed trousers and the new and as
founding Prince Albert. Forsooth N
have an idea. Russ evidently has
pastoral tale on his mind or conscience.
move he tell it. A little touch Of the
serious won't harm us at ALL +
Good, good!~ cried the crowd.
BY heavens. WILL" said Benton.
'ushing the beer mug from him and I
Using. IL
The SRI in the corner had ordered
'oaee and a sandwich, which she left 9
untouched. being absorbed apparently |
n the scene before her.
There was, once upon time. al
hiek-headed young fool who lived up !
n the country began Benton grimly. !
His father had good farm and the |
'oung fool grew up where there was
ar 20 breath and good stuff 10 eat andj
soft bed 10 sleep on. He worked out
n the open, ate like a hired man. slept \
Ike a baby and got up in the morning
sltn a clear head and feeling like
'ehting cock. Over yonder on the merit
arm Dut two, was buxom. brown
yea lass with cheeks like peaches and
us as red as roses. She milked the
oNs and churned the butter and c
'ashed the dishes and laughed and :
ans All day long. The fool used to % .
YER 10 the other farm evenings n a
ee the girl, and after awhile he soor 0
er 70 singing school or to meetin' b
nee nc took her TO the county fair.
le got 70 sayin' foolish things to her n
nd she used to hush and look nj the .
~ n. n