The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-28
sCoryright. 1910. by Associated f.it4
erary Pressl


aith took their seats at little table /
Why any man should have chosen /
to fix up a place like this with an !
outlook that suggests the graveyard !
| can't understand"
Jack laughed. Well. don't look !
out Of the window. Judith" he sd- T,
vised. It's CHEEKY enough inside and |
one needn't be on search for the
ssrewsome.
Judith took off her veil and punch
ed the long pin through 1t vindictive-
iy. You'd be grewsome If you were
as blue RS ! am
81 am blne." he said. Il shall al
ways be blue until you promise to
marry me, Judith"
Don't" Judith protested. I'm too
tired TO argue"
lyon needn't argue" he said.
Judith looked at him reproachfully.
Speaking Of tomb stones" she muir
INJURED, you knew that Felicia Farms
worth was dead ?"
- fcu don't mean II t-L--------------------
YES" Judiths voice was tram-
,slous. she took cold when they
played at one-night stands. You
know what tour like that means.
jack"
No wonder you are blue. said
Jack pitytngly-
"she was my best friend" Judith
said.
Not your best friend" Jack re-
minded her softly
Judith reached out her hand to
him. II don't know what ! would
do without you. Jack" she said.
There was silence after that, in
which Jack studied the menu, and
Judith's eyes took in the details of
the little room. 1t was a CHEEKY
vtace. with an open fire at one end.
There seemed to be only one waiter
In charge He was little man with
a smooth face and a bald head. His
suggestions to Jack showed a nice
discrimination and an epicurean
taste. 1t was a cold day and the hot
soup brought Judiths spirits up with
q bound.
An hour ago" she said, when l
Taet you / was tired and cold and
hungry. but / did not know IL. ] was
too blue to know anything"
III you would let me take care of
you always" he began. but Judith in
tarTupted him.
You always get back To that sub
lect," she complained
There couldn't be better one"
he insisted. why won't you marry
me, Judith p
Because ] don't believe in mar
rage" she said positively.
Ii was at this point that the waiter
came In with the hot oysters bub-
bling in the chafing dish. Judith ex-
claimed over their righteousness.
~aA MY wife cooked them the waiter
explained his face beaming, ut IL a
recipe she brought from down South.
Then he went away and Jack said
to Judith: Did you see the look in
his eyes az he spoke of his wife
That is the way | would look II you
would marry me"
Jack" Judith said seriously. cant
yan ever get away from that sub
feet ?''
II shall never get away from it,
lie said until you say yes.
I'VE VIII finish up on crackers
cheese and coffee" Jack said to the
waiter when he came back
And then he and Judith settled
dawn to the long. confidential talk
In which she told OF her troubles on
- the road II found out. . she con
fisled, that | am not made for an
aafress | might as well go into some
lody's office and tap a typewriter OIL
into somebody's kitchen and cook.
s-Come into my kitchen and cook,
said Jack Hospitality.
He was very serious as he learned
Of the troubles, the hardshtps of hei
winter. Il felt at times. she sale
&adiy. AS II tnere was HotHlhA IVA
10 live for"
.You have no business TO feel tina
way" Jack said You are young
and pretty and life Is before you
Moreover. you are a woman and YOU
wont be happy till you have livet
the life that belongs To every woman
You need home, Judith. place
" here you can be comfortable ane
coxy and watch for your husband a
nlght-"
Judith sighed Women of IN,
semperament" she said. were, mo-
made tn sit at home
The waiter had come back with
the coffee and crackers and cheese
When he placed II before them M
vent over to the wide window where
stood the little row of cedar trees
and holly bushes that gave the place
the name of Winter Garden" ane
sroke to some one behind the screeI
Of green.
Presently there stole through thu
room the sound of music 1t is tbs
.Spring Song" said Judith why
Jack, that is the touch OF an artist
! wonder who is playing ~
The little waiter beamed down or
III en-. brushing crumbs unnecessarily
from the polished surface Of the Ia.
bic Its my wife" he said with q
deep note of pride in his voice. BE
fore she married me she was great
musician, "
Then he went away and judith
stared at Jack. oh! What an aw'
fef thing she said, ITO think Of that
woman and her talent buried here
Think Of woman who can play
cooking oysters and drumming out
music for every customer that Gomez
into this place"
1T is a strange thing" Jack agreed
II want 10 see her" Judith said
II want 10 see If she is young and
pretty or If she is old and ugly
he is such a commonplace little man
she must be old and ugly
But the woman behind the screer
was not old and ugly, for az judith
rose and crossed the room there wa
q glimpse Of white and little fig-
ure stepped out. a little figure in q
snowy apron that covered her from
neck to hem.
In another moment she would have
been gone had not Judith stopped
her 81 heard you play" said Judith
impuIsiveiy. land / want 10 hear yot
agatn-"
The little woman smiled radiantly
There are things TO do in the kitch'
ca" she said, but" and again shs
r-frtietf. fpve tn play, fahfts time
rEle played the 'Intermezzo" and the
haunting strains crept through the
room.
And Vet she married waiter,
Judith mnrmured. Jack. am goint
fo ask her why sne left her music fol
- rrFa -