The Bottineau courant., 1912-12-20
pleased at the addition to the serving

pleased at the addition to the serving
force.
When the guests entered the dining
room in couples j stood with my back
to the wall, stiff as a ramrod. napkin
on my left arm and looking straight
ahead Of me to give the appearance Of
being there to serve and be oblivious to
Ill else, as good waiter should Until
lhe company were seated kept my
Eyes fixed on the wall opposite, and
when lowered them to begin my du.
ties encountered the gaze of young
lady fixed upon me. As soon as look
ed at her she turned her eyes in an
dinner companion. I heard her ad
dressed as Miss Phipps, and one of the
ladies spoke to her as Lucy.
Phipps, Phipps? Where had l heard
that name? When it's owner was not
looking at me | studied her face, but
before. At times was terrified lest
she suspected that I was gentleman.
but at others she ignored my pres
ence so completely that felt assured
she was as much deceived as the
others, none Of whom paid any more
attention to me, than if had been a
waiter all my life, a circumstance that
I did not consider flattering.
l confessed that l enjoyed that
Christmas dinner very much I took in
all the good things that were said, and
there were a number of them, especial
" Miss Phipps, who was remarkably
bright The only reason why I should
have liked to be one of the circle was
that envied her dinner companion.
I was about to take my departure,
regretting that could not assume my
own personality, join the party, tell
them what fun l had had in listening
to their chat and observing their man
ners, when Roger handed me some
glasses containing pousse cafe and
told me to take them into the COM
pany. l told him that l thought l
wouldn't go further with the freak, but
when he informed me that the hostess
had requested that l. bring in the liquor
l concluded that it would be better to
obey the order, though wondered why
l. especially. had been called upon. SO
took up the tray and proceeded to the
drawing room. I noticed as 1 entered
that most of the guests were looking
at me- Mr.. Pepper, genial man with
bald head and mutton chop whiskers,
beckoned me to set the tray on table
near which he was sitting and when
had done so said to me: ,,..
II understand from Roger that you
have waited on us to learn the bust
ness. wish to say to you that you
are the best walter. have ever seen. l
would like to engage you permanently. -
There was a singular look in his
face when he said this, while the
guests ceased chattering and listened.
'sThank you, SIR" replied. "You
are very good, sir. But don't think
I'm quite up to the work yet"
whats your name?"
'Charles, SIR"
do you know how to dance.
Charles?"
"Dance? No, SIR
''Well, 1 expect you'll have to try.
There are just fifteen Of us, and we're
going to dance the lancers. We're just
one man Short. ......-..
Every one arose, a couple of musi-
clans were called in, and the men
chose their partners. Miss Phipps was
the odd lady who was left out.
Had something occurred to reveal
my secret, or had these persons. being
noticing my respectable appearance,
called me in to help them out?
must wait and see. l marched up to
Miss Phipps, made as awkward a bow
as / could contrive and led her on to
the door. ~
! In order to carry out my part as
| waiter I made no end of mistakes.
Invariably at ''swing corners" turned
to the wrong lady and in the grand
chain got the dancers all mixed up.
For time they refrained from laugh
ing at me. and gathered confidence
that they were ignorant Of my identity.
This encouraged me to make more
blunders. and one by one they gave
way to laughter till the whole company
was In a roar. When the dance was
ended. with assumed confusion and
without taking my partner to a seat.
I was making for the door when the
host called out sternly:
"Charles!
EYES, sir"
''Where are you sgoingT
81 was going home. SIR. have a