El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-11
Married Life the Third Year
They Celebrate New Years at
Noisy. Crowded Broadway
Restaurant.
V-rna-
= By Mabel Herbert Urner =

ing glasses, singing, whistling and
throwing gayly colored confetti
Overworked walters were lodging
in and out through the crowded tables
bringing fresh supplies of champagne,
Warren had begun Tuning early in
the evening Five dollars graft to the
head waiter before he'll reserve you
table" ne fumed, and So a plate for
your supper-Gad. it's blamed impO-
sition that you can't drink beer if you
want to-"
But that had been earlier in the eve
ming. Now he had just ordered a fresh
bottle of champagne, seemingly lndl1-
ferent to the exOrbitant bill they had
already run up
His face was slightly flushed, and he
was gaTTulOusly insisting on telling
story to which no one seemed inclined
to listen.
Mr.. and Mrs. stevens and Mr.. and
Mrs. Dawson made up their party OF
six. Helen was seated between War
rem and Mr.. Dawson, on whom the wine
seemed to have a rather quieting ef-
feet, while it made both Warren and
Mr.. Stevens most loquacious-
A Curious Custom.
But Helen was much less interested
in the story than IN the gay scene
about her. Every one seemed to feel
they were licensed to relax and grow
hilarious. 1t is a curious custom that
faYors the greeting of the New Year
with a muddled brain and the pros
pect of a racking headache the next
day.
Most of the men wore the fancy
paper hats given as favOrs by the
management, and as they were all in
faultless evening dress, the effect was
most grotesqUe. Some of the women
had perched the caps over their elab-
Orately dressed hair, but as a rule they
were as yet too self conscious to risk
loking ridiculous.
DO you see that woman over
there2" Mrs Stevens whispered to
Helen across the table. The one in
pale Yellow Isn't il dreadful
The woman was conspicuously
gOWned in shimmering pale yellow
satin, cut very low and ablaze with
jewels, and she was now busily tying
long white kid glove around the
neck OF her escort
Mono, the order of the Garter
not the order Of the Glover some
body called out, at which there was q
fresh burst Of laughter.
A man at a nearby table was doing a
sort of turkey trOt," with his arms
and shoulders, without rising from his
chair. and another was Gaping time
with his hands and feet.
Noise in Plenty.
Helen tried to smile, but above
everything else she hated the maud
lin, foolish stage, which most men
reach when they have had much wine.
Say" demanded Mr.. Dawson alb
ruptly, where's the hOrns2 Haven't
heard one, have you2'
4 think they make quite enough
noise without any horns, commented
Mrs. Stevens It's really shocking
the way they carry on"
Well, We came to be shocked,
didn't Wen grinned Warren. Wed
feel we hadn't got our moneys worth
If it was decent orderly crowd"
Suddenly a party of four at a table
near the center OF the room began 10
sing. They were plainly professionals,
for their trained voices could be heard
even above the uprOar.
Why, the Orchestra's playing with
them" murmured Helen
''Of course, they are hired by the
management" Mr. Dawson informed
her. Did you think they were mere
" dinersE That's quite a trick now
to put the singers at one of the tables
as if they were guests"
Soon the after theater crowd began
to pour in, and filled up the few tables
that were still reserved.
The popping Of corks and shrieks OF
laughter grew more frequent The
walters no longer served the cham
payne in buckets of ice, but slammed
the bottles on the table with no more
ceremony than if they were serving
beer. They did not even take time to
remove the empty bottles.
The Festive Stranger.
The head waiter came around now,
distributing additional souvenirs. A
fantastic mechanical toy in the shape
of turkey gObbler with its back filled
with candies, and a tail that spread
and feet that jerked up when you
pulled ribbon labeled. the Turkey
Trots."
A stout man wearing a pink paper
tam Oshanter at a rakish angle, now
approached their table.
I want TO shake hands with every
lady in the room" beaming with i'm
partial geniality- I'm going TO wish
EN- all happy New Year"
sit down and have a drink It's
not New Years yet" interpOsed War
rem, as the man made an effort to
shake hands with Helen
No, must shake hands with the
ladies first"
No, have a drink first" insisted
Warren, as Helen drew back in en-
barrassment. 'Herer pouring him out
a glass
The intruder perched himself on the
broad window sin by their table
Here's WiShingi" waving the glass,
Now L want to ask your advice" he
began cOnfidentaIly. again turning to
Warren. IT'S about "a matter of busis
ness, and you look like man of dis
cretion."
they all roared at this except |
Helen, whose cheeks burned with re-
sentiment.
''Oh, there you arer A tail man
shouted to their unlimited guest on me /
window sill Come on back, Billy. !
The girls want YOU"
No Place for Sentiment.
NO" prOtestingly. These are nice |
people. I like EN- I'm going to stay
Suddenly from the outside came the /
sound of bells and whistles. Helen /
glanced at the big bronze clock over /
the orchestral was just three min
utes to u.
InstinctiveIy every one arose and |
waved their glasses, which seemed the |
signal for a deafening din OF shouts. |
The next moment the lights were /
turned off and the place was in dark |
ness. while from somewhere booming !
gong struck i and the shouts grew /
Under cover of darkness Helen !
slipped her hand into Warren's and I
tried to draw his head down in I
mute appeal to kiss her. But he stood I
"Ob dear" she whispered. SAY /
Notwithstanding lOvinSi Say that /
Won do care-and that we're going to !
be very happy this year"
But here the lights flashed up and !
he drew away impatiently, muttering /
something about no place for senti- /
ment."
The New Year had come.
In the midst of the still clamOrous !
,.r,-oo- Helen stood quite still with tn !