Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-24
APRIL "a, 1910.


You leave 1t to me, miss
HE seems a nice old fellow" said
Norah, as the old waiter disappeared
and shouted something down a speak
ing tube in the distance. why don't
you cheer up, Conway, and make the
best of things? You promised to be
my friend; you're not keeping your
part of the bargain II you don't let me
be your friend too"
IT never meant to see you again,
Norah," he answered, despondently.
"And when see how good and
thoughtful you are, and how consider
ate, II makes me want to say to you
over again-heweyer hopelessly-"
"Be suulet; here comes the walter"
broke in Norah, quickly.
The waiter did not come with the
soup; he brought an excuse. It was
evident that struggles we're going on
in the kitchen to cope with this mag
nifcent and unexpected order end the
waiter was doing his best. "Shant
keep YOU 'alf a minute, miss" he said,
cheerfully, as he rearranged the knives
and forks and cruets that were already
accurately in their places. "I'm max
ing 'em do 1t little special like; give
'em time is what say, and you never
know what they may do. Bit o. fish
to follow-and so forth. Quite a nice
little dinner, assure YOU, miss"
The old fellow hustled away again,
and presently returned with two doubt
full looking plates of soup. He did not
seem quite satisfied with them him
self: he may almost be said to have
blushed for them a little. in fact. But
he set them down with a flourish and
covered his confusion by picking up
the wine list.
Some urgundy-nourishing burgun.
dy,'' said Norah. waving the wine list
awav f"I'H leave II to you"
"Very good, miss: I'll go down into
the cellar myself" And he BUSTED
away as cheerful as ever.
IT'S a disgraceful thing to say to
YOUR hostess" said Elton, looking at
the girl over his spoon, "but this soup
Is horrible"
'It's hot at all events" she retorted.
"And don't you dare to say word
about it. I wouldn't hurt that old wait
er's feelings for the world"
The burgundy was more doubtful
still but the old fellow poured 1t out
with the air of one who pours out a
priceless vintage, and looked at It, and
at them as though he envied them the
privilege of drinking It. SO they slipped
it., and only made wry faces at eaen ,..
other surreptitiously, and drank as lit
tie as possible.
The fish was half cooked, and the
course that followed was burned. BY
that time the delightful madness of the
thing had worked upon Conway Elton:
he began to wonder how he could have
heen SO foolish as to think that life
was a thing to be lightly thrown away.
Above all. Norah, sitting opposite, was
talking. and talking delightfully."-; more
than all else, Norah was obviously
very sorry for him.
II was when the old waiter placed a
sweet upon the table to which even ne
dared not give a name that ne hau 10
saw. "Excuse me. pleased" In order
that they might unclasp their hands,
which had somehow got locked together
as they talked. But there was no one
else in the place, and 1t seemed then
that the old waiter did not matter.
The dinner was finished and the
waiter with a subdued air and with an
anologetic cough placed the bill In
front of Elton. With a little laugh
the girl snatched II. I'm paying to-
night" she said, "the gentleman is my
guest"
VERY good, miss" answered the old
man. smiling as though that were the
finest Joke in the world.
Norah put her hand into her muff and
drew 1t out empty; there was star
tied look In her eyes. Then she des-
perately sought for a pocket; slowly
withdrew her hand and looked help
Iessly across the table at Elton. He
guessed in a moment what had hap
pened and caught his breath sharply.
The old waiter had withdrawn and
was standing at a discreet distance.
"Conway-I haven't-any money