The Democratic advocate., 1908-03-06
A QUESTION OF GIVING.
BY j. j. BELL.

The old lady, rosily embarrassed,
pinched the old gentleman's arm and
whispered sharply in his ear: Sam
Sam, wake up! You're snoring dread
fully.
"Eh? What?" murmured the old
gentleman, slowly turning his head,
which was resting on the back of the
luxurious easy chair sleeping?
Snoring? Nonsense, Betty! | was mere
ly thinking with my eyes shut"
'Sh! Don't speak so loud, Sam"
she said, glancing nervously round the
lounge of the big London hotel,
wherein the guests were gathering
after dinner. But you were snoring,
SAM" she went on, so loudly that
l was afraid we were quite dis
graced"
I'm sure I'm sorry said the old
gentleman, producing a large silk
handkerchief and polishing his brow
with it. Cant understand how
managed to drop over. Better blame
it on the Savoury. Ha! ha! Well,
what do you say to a cup of coffee,
Betty?"
THAT would be good for us both,
1 think" the old lady returned pleas
antly. I'm afraid I'm little drowsy
myself But you and l are getting old,
and can't go running about all day as
we used to do. We did too much this
afternoon. 1 wasn't the least surpris-
ed when you fell asleep Immediately
after dinner"
"OId! Stuff and nonsense!" chuck
led the old gentleman, producing a
shabby cigar case. "Hi! Here!" he
called to a young man in evening
dress who was crossing the lounge
close to where they sat.
The young man halted. Il beg your
pardon he began. did YOU"
"We want two cups of coffee-one
white, one black" said the old gentle
man. What is it, Betty?'
The young man flushed and for an
instant looked annoyed. Then he
smiled.
Certainly, sir. I'll tell the waiter"
he said, and walked quickly away.
The old gentleman turned to his
wife. well, what is it, Betty? What
were you pulling my sleeve for just
now? Didn't you want your coffee
white?"
"Oh, Sam!' she whispered with
something like a groan. "Oh, Sam,
how could you make such stupid
mistaken" And she bowed her gray
head as if she felt all eyes upon her.
well, said the gentleman trifie
testify, you've always taken it white
before?"
On the opposite side Of the lounge
the young man who had been taken
for waiter was sitting beside a pret-
ty girl.
Those two old people" remarked
the pretty girl, ARE evidently dread
fully upset. Don't you think, Billy,
that it would be nice if you went over
and told the old gentleman that you
really didn't mind being taken for
such smart and useful person as
waiter?"
'Oh, well, if you really think that's
the reason of the gloom"
I'm sure it is, Billy. You remem-
ber how merry the two old things were
at dinner And the old gentleman
was getting quite gay again after his
little nap when you happened to pass
by"
"You blame it all on me, Milly %
said the young man laughing.
"Well, of course, if you hadn't pass
ed just then the mistake could not have
occurred"
'Hooray for logic! ALI right; we'll
rotten to see people humpy when one
is happy"
"Oh, think you ought to go alone,
Billy"
"No, no. You must smile on the
old lady, and explain how proud you
felt when you heard 1 had been taken
for a useful member of society. l
expect she thinks you're my sister.
Come along"
A little shyly the young people
crossed the floor to where the old
people sat- Milly bowed very sweetly
to the old lady.
Good evening"" said Billy awk-
wardly to the old gentleman. En-
/ hope you got the coffee all right"
"Yes,' said Milly, lying prettily,
"Billy and 1 were afraid he might
have made mistake in giving your
instructions to the waiter, and we
couldn't feel comfortable until we
made sure"
"Just so," said Billy, with an adj
miring glance at the young woman.
"Ahem! the hotel seems rather full
tonight-doesn't 1t, sir?"
young man." said the old gentle
man, a most kindly expression on his
clean shaven face, "it Is good OF you
and your sister to forgive my stupid
mistake. / wasn't quite wide awake
at the time, I'm afraid, and to tell you
the truth, my wife and have been
feeling a bit uneasy. However, see
you do not want me to apologize fur
ther. Have you and your sister had
coffee? What is it, Betty? What are
you pulling
SAM" said the old lady, I'm sure