Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-24

should like to ask you further as to your
unusual profession. but errands summon
me elsewhere. However. something tells
me We shall meet again.
| She rose in her swift. birdllke fashlon
and passed lightly down the room ana
through the door. She had left dollar
beside her plate to pay her check, Whlcn
III noted called for only 40 cents.
glanced at the cashiers desk. The aure-
oiled head had not reappeared; but inn
mediately | heard a voice inurmurinS be-
side me. l had believed myself alone.
and i'm my surprise | thought some WIZ
ardry had made audible one Of the verses
on the wall
What of Rafacl's sonnets, Dante's picture
1t was she whose aureoled head had
marked earlier in the receipt of custom,
the girl who had vanished Miss Hol-
lister appeared. She wore the snowy vest
mentS of the other attending VeStals, with
the difference that the cap that crowned
the mattresses was omitted in her case
This l took 10 be the Asolando's tribute
TO her adorable head, which clearly did
not need the electric light or other ad-
ventitious aid TO invoke its lovely glow
The line she had spoken hung goldeniy
upon the air She was not tall, and her
ewes | saw were brown. She had clearly
not climbed far the stairway OF her wears,
| but her serenity was the least bit discon-
certing.
| Pardon me-" 1 began, but 1 am an
/
verse you have quoted"
There is no reason why you should do
So 1t is the rule of the Asolando that we
shall attract the attention OF customers
when necessary by speaking a line OF
verse We are not allowed to open a
conversation. no matter how imperative,
with Listen, or the even more vulgar
Say
"A capital idea. of which I heartily ap-
prove. but now that l am waiting au-
iditOf' fager-
It's merely the check, if you please,
she interrupted. coldly. My desk is
closed and the room will refuse further
patrons for the next hour. as the execu-
tive committee of the Shelley Society
meets here at 4 o'clock and the Asolando
| is denied to outsiders
| This, then, is my dismissal? The lady
who joined me here for time left a dol
lar, which. YOU will see, is somewhat in
excess Of her check. Ny own charge Of
80 cents is SO moderate that | cannot do
less than leave dollar also
Thank you,' she replied. mistaken by
my generosity. The tips at the Asolando
all go to the Sweetness and Light Club.
which is just now engaged in circulating
Matthew Arnold's poems in leafiet form
i'm the jobbing district
Il sympathize with that propaganda -
/ replied, gathering up my hat and stick,
and am delighted to contribute to its
support. And now. dare say, you would
be glad to be rid of me. The Asolando
| has tolerated ME longer IMAM my slight
purchases justified
| | bowed and had turned away, when
she arrested me with the line
My good blade carves the casques Of men
/ turned toward her. Several of the
mattresses were now engaged in rear
ranging the tables. but they seemed not
| to heed lis.
Permit me to inquire she asked.
| whether the lady who joined you here
expressed any interest in the life beauti-
full as it is exemplified in the Asoiando?"
Il am constrained to say that she did
not She spoke Of the Asolando in the
most contumeliouS terms.
| The golden head bowed slightly. and a
smile lowered about her lips; but her
amusement at my answer was more elo-
quently stated in her eyes.
II must explain that my sole excuse for
addressing you is that we are required
| to learn, where possible just why
strangers seek the Asolando.'
''In the case Of the lady to whom you
refer, it was a matter Of this being the
seventh shop from the corner; and my
own appearance was due to the idlest
curiosity, inspired by enthusiastic descrip-
tons of the Asolando's atmosphere and
rumors of the cheapness of its food
THE reasons are quite ample was her
only comment, and her manner did not
encourage further conversation.
May / ask l persisted. whether the
Asolando's staff is permanent and
whether. il I return another day"
lTo be continued tomorrow)