The Washington herald., 1914-09-27

again. Willie alone was cheerful.
Now, maybe you'll go to the Plaza
or some place and have human sup
per-
"I'm going to have trot and tango
If have to hunt the town over, said
Persis.
Willie gnashed his teeth, but had the
car recalled, and asked her where she
would go -
Let's try the Beaux Arts" she said
and they huddled together once more.
When a footman ~at the Cafe des
Beaux Arts wrenched the door open
and let the cool air IN, il was welcome.
Forbes moved TO escape. But he was
kept a prisoner while Bob was sent as
an avant. courier. He returned with
the bad news that he was unable even
to reach head waiter.
We'll try once more" said Persis.
THE Cafe de Ninive."
After a brief voyage farther along
Broadway the suppliant outcasts enter
ed a great hall imposingly decorated
with winged bulls and other Assyrian
symbols. The huge space of the restsu
rant was a desert OF tables untenanted
save by few detected walters and a
few couples evidently in need OF soli-
tude.
An elevator took the determined Per-
sis and her cohort up to another throng-
ed vestibule.
Persis had said to Willie in the car.
IF you don't get us a table here I'll
never speak to you again"
With this threat as a spur Little VIII
lie accostedra large captain of walters,
who shrugged his shoulders and indicat-
ed the crowd inside and the crowd out
side Willie fumbled in his pockets, and
his hand slyly met that of the captain,
who glanced into his palm, then up to
heaven in gratitude, and laid aside all
scruple.
Willie triumphantly beckoned Persis,
who approached the captain with the
pouting appeal of lady Of the court
to relenting sovereign.
Fritz" she said, you've got to take
care of us
How can l refuse Mees Cabot" said
Fritz. DO you weesh to sect and watch
the artists, or to sect weeth the
dancers?"
We want to dance" said Persis.
There is one table resairve for a
very great patron You shall have it. |
shall lose me my poseetion, and he will
tear down the bedding; but that is bet
ter as to turn away Mees Cabot and
Meester Enslee."
He whispered to a Mortified captain on
the other side OF silk rope. The bar
rier was removed, and they were with
in the sacred inclosure, while the baf-
fed remnant gnsshed its teeth outside.
The room they were IN was a mass OF
tables compacted around a central
space, where professional entertainers
were displaying the latest fashions in
song and dance.
The guide led them to the only empty
table. whisked off the card Reserved,
and turned them over to a waiter.
While Willie scanned the supper card
Mrs. Neff lapsed into Renaissance. 1t
was the only sign she had given thus far
that she had earned her white hair by
age, and not by bleach.
Funny how this building tells the
story of the last few years" she said.
A few winters ago we thought it was
amusing to go TO supper at a good res
taurant after the theater, have some
thing nice to eat. and drink, talk while,
and go home to bed. We thought we
we're very devilish, and preachers rallied
IT the wickedness OF late-supper orgies
And nov the place down stairs is de-
serted. lust taking late supper is like
gong to prayer meeting
Only one timing worries me" said
Winifred. as she peeled her gloves from
her great arms and her tiny hands.
What will come next: Even this can't
keep us interested much longer"
q hope they play tango next" was
all Persis said Willie, call a waiter
and ask him to ask the orchestra to play
a tango"
Before an answer could be made the
orchestra struck up a tune OF eNtraordi-
nary fiippance.
Come on. Murray cried Persis.
Willie. order anything 1t doesn't
matter Her voice trailed after her,
for she was already backing off into
the maelstrom with her arms Graded in
Ten Eyck'S arms.
Bob Fielding. with his usual omission
OF speech, swept Winifred from her
chair and she went into the stream like
a ship gliding from her launching
chute Mrs. Neff looked invitingly at
Willie. but he answered the implication
I'll not stir till I've had food"
Forbes leaned over TO explain TO the
marooned matron:
Il wish could ask you TO honor me
but | don't know how"
She smiled almost intolerantly and
sank back with a sigh Just as a huge
elderly man OF capitalistic appearance
skidded across the floor and bowed to
her knees. She fairly bounded into his
arms. The two white polls mingled
their locks, but their curvettings were
coltish. Mrs Neff, who
had sons in college and daughters of
age, was giving an amaz-
ing exhibition. She backed and filled
like a yacht in stays; she bucked and
ducked like a yacht in a squall; she
whirled like a dervish slanting and
swooping; her 1.-the little body draped |
itself closely about the capitalists great !
curves: her little feet followed his big
feet or retreated from them like two
white mice pursued by two black cats. |
At first Forbes was disguised; the f!
one epithet he could think of was "ob- |
scene As he watched the melee he
felt that he was witnessing a tribe of
savages in mating-season orgy.
Thus Forbes. left alone with Willie |
Enslee, regarded the spectacle with |
verging on horror. and
thought in the terms OF Jeremiah and |
Ezekiel denounciug jerusalem Noah |