The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1914-02-13

| as q peasant Lldlu ulSHt Sl1llc dI q
crown prince, was ready to accept and
check the ladies' wraps, while the
small boy in buttons, who was to sort
and store the outer garments of the
gentlemen, was ready with bright eyes
and itching palms
The party arrived promptly, coming
in bunch and greeting Broadway va
riously from the firm and hearty hand
clasp of Bob Wallace, to the merry
kiss of Inez Vasquez Marquee, Span
ish dancer, born in Keokuk, who would
leave early so that she might dance
late on the bill at the Spring Garden.
There was futter with the entrance
of Mrs. Gerard, for, as ever, she
brought with her her own maid, while
her footman waited in the corridor,
not for emergencies, but for appear
ances.
Her once pretty but now age-puck-
cred face had been as thoroughly con-
cealed as possible with various expen-
sive substances which are found in
beauty parlors, and her hair was prob
ably the most costly In that part of
town that night, and this is saying
much, for very costly tresses some
times deck the fair on Broadway.
The restaurant had wrought eyi-
dences of it's pride in its allegiance to
Broadway's favorite delicacy. A. gi-
gantic floral lobster occupied the cen
ter of the table, it's antennae. extend
ed toward the host, one of its claws
stretched toward the seat reserved for
Mrs. Gerard, the other somewhat less
fond of the ladies, for it yearned> hun
grily toward Bob Wallaces place. At
each lady's place were little Holsters,
nicely wrought of gold, with jeweled
eyes, for each male guest silver Gig
arctic case had been fashioned into a
disconsolate Holsters shape with
curled-up tail and dropping claws de-
voutly folded on it's breast.
Broadway was a perfect host. hos
pitable. easy, reader to list en- than
declaim, full of admiration tor the
ladies, full of the perfection of good
fellowship for his men guests
At first he found it difficult to put
would be the last of all MS gorgeous
nights on Broadway. The aotion
fought for permanent pos-tio m his
head that after these w.. hours he
would be as far from Broau aay as that
earnest cow-explorer wha.h was cred
tied with having first lid out the
street. The thought srniinually OBJ
truded that this mus ). to him
funeral, not festal 1e.-.t His hand
shook as he raised his glass to the
first toast.
Visions of that blued steel automatic
pistol and that bottle th lis crimson
label fioated momently leloIe his eyes,
Ah that steel was Il It the blue of
the diaphanous gown which the pretty
Winter Garden dancer woI~ across the
table from him; oh, how che red of
that red label differed from the red of
the red roses! 1t was not at all the
red Of the red lobste,
In his dining he had reached that
stage where over-stimulated emotion
found an outlet in the bitterest self
condemnation which he yet had man
aged to evolve since the beginning of
his selfcondemn- -ory days-that is,
since he had b. a-&kened to the
realization of the disappearance of his
patrimony and the utter hopelessness
of everything. He looked at the great
decoration in the center of the table
and said grayely, so that all might
hear. although - was addressing no
one but the lobster.
you may h big, old chap, but I
know a bigger lotsser than you ever
were"
1t happened r. that instant that
pause had con- D.. the excited Joy
BUSINESS about L ~ .'ae of those brief,
unexpected silencs' -5kich never fail.
at least once in ever> ~:nner-party, to
reveal to ever orr @Dme saying which
the sayer wished ~ have unheard by
the majorit-- Always it is something
awkward, inadverte,t, stupid or un-
wholesome which IS thus made bla-'
tantly the property of everybody's
ears. This night it was our young
hosts confidential statement to the
center of his dinner table.
There was a chorus of inquiry. If
Broadway knew bigger lobster
who was he, and where?
BE careful, Broadway, Don't name
any friend Of ours! We'd get peevish
for that -some-lobster
who is it, Broadway"
Name, Broadway; name!" demand
ed the whole tableful
Gloomy and dissatisfied with that
life which he loathed to quit. yet felt
that he could not continue, Broadway
rose and bowed. I'm it," he an
swered. 81"
Protests chorused.
What hard-hearted girl has turned