The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-19

teie IN MY pocAet Ike bottled-up prolongation
oil me- Never before had he seen many dreams
within practical reach. Ii produced in him a
kind OF high and elusive exultation Of the spirit
From time to time he put his hand down to
make the notes erackle and let his fingers play
through the running sovereigns as children
play through sand.
For twenty years he had been secretary 10 n
phsanthropist interested in administering
the poor. Soup Kitchens had been the keynote
OF those twenty years. the distribution Of
victuals his sole objective. And now he had
his reward-a legacy OF $500 year for the
balance OF his days.
TO him II was riches. lie wore a shortish
"OeAcoat a low, spreading collar. a black
made-up tie and boots with elastic sides. On
this particular day he wore also a new pair OF
rather bright yellow leather gloves. He was
unmarried, over forty. bald. plump in the body
ana possessed of a simple and emotional heart
almost childlike. His brown eyes shone in a
lace that was wrinkled and dusty-all his
dreams driven inward by the long years OF
uninspired toll for another
For the first time in his life. released from
the dingy purlieus of soup kitchens and the
like, he wandered toward evening among the
gay and lighted streets OF the West End
fleeadiliy Circus. where the flaming lamps
posiuNely hurt the eyes. and Leicester Square
m going to dine at a restaurant tonight
by Jove" he said to himself. thinking Of the
eloomy clearinghouse where he usually sat
between missionary and a typewriter. He
fingered his money. I'm going to celebrate
my legacy. I've earned it,"
After indecision that threatened TO be end
Tess ne turned at length through the swinging
glass doors OF big and rather gorgeous restau.
rant. Only once before in his dfe had he dined
at big London restaurant Railway Hotel
Passing with some hesitation through the
gaudy cafe where a number Of foreigners sat
drinking at little marble tables. he entered the
nam diningroom long, lofty, and already
tAronged. Here the light and noise and move
ment dazed him considerably. and for the life
OF him he could not decide upon a table The
people all looked so prosperous and important;
the walters so like gentlemen in evening dress
the kind that came to the philanthropist's
table. The roar Of voices eating. knives and
forks. rose about him and flied him with a
certain dismay. II was all rather Oyerwhelm-
ing.
4 should have liked smaller place better"
ne murmured. but still" And again he
fingered his money to gain confidence
The choice of table intmidating, for
he was absurdly retiring Virgins; more
at home with papers and the reports OF philan-
thrOpic societies.: his HOLIDAYS spent I'm a hoard
ing house at Worthng with his sister and her
invalid husband. Then relief came in the form
OF sub-headwaiter who spying his helpless
ness. inquired with a bland grandeur OF manner
If he looked perhaps for some one?"
on. table thanks. only a table"
The man, washing his hands In mid-air. swept
down the crowded aislcs and found one with
out the least difficulty. II emerged from no
where so easily that Virgins felt he had been
a fool not TO discover il alone. He wondered IL
he ought TO tip the man half a dollar now or
later. but. before he could decide. another
cupied his place. bland and smiling. with black
eyes and plUsh-like hair. bending low before
him and holding out large pink programme.
He examined ii. feeling that he ought to
order dishes with outlandish names just to
show that he knew his way about Before he
could steady his eye upon n single line how
ever a third walter, very youthful. suggested
in broken English that Virgins should leave
his hat coat and umbrella elsewhere. This he
did willingly, though without grace or dispatch.
FOR the yellow gloves stuck rldiculousIv TO hia
hands Then he sat down and turned TO the
menu again.
It was very ordinary restaurant really in
spite Of the vast height Of the gilded ceiling.
the scale OF its sham magnihcence aud the
excessive glitter OF its hundred lights. The
menu, disguised By various expensive and
recherche dishes (which when ordered we're
invariably found TO be or. was even more
ordinary than the hall. But 90 the dazed Wig
gins the words looked Ike a series OF death.
sentences printed IN different languages. but
all meaning the same thing: order mc-0r Diet
That waiter standing over him was the execu.
tioner. Unless be speedily ordered something
really worth The proprietOr's while 10 provide.
the headwaiter would Doc summoned and he.
Virgins would be beheaded Those stars
against certain cheap dishes meant that they
could only be ordered by privileged persons.
and those crosses--
This Is rainy nice this evening. sir" said
the waiter. suddenly bending and pointing with
a dirty finger 20 dish that Virgins found
buried in a list uncommoniy like voluntary
bscriptious' in his reports DO was entitled
Lancashire H0tPof He leaped az 10.
Yes thanks: thatu do. tnen-'or tonight"
he said and tho waiter amb,ed away udiner-
emily. looking al around The room iu search
OF sympathy
49, degrees. however. fhe other recovered his
. ltp0ssr ssion. and realized that 90 spend his
legacy on mere HotP0t was t0 admit Doc knew
bot TIC values of Urn Ho called the plush.
headed waiter back and with "a rush Of words
ordered some oysters. SOUP. fried sole aud
h1If partridge to follow.
Then Ee OtPot. sIrf qIeriy1 She man, with
respect
1000 zoe about that later"
For Do was already wondering what he
should drink knowing rrf.irg ~ wines and
tIut1reg A. luncheon with the phiiaufhr0rIst
Do sometime bad glass ~ sherry. af Worth.
tnr with hiF sister hn drank beer Hlf now be-
wanted something really rood something zen.
e-oIa that would hnIu h.m t0 celebrate ffe
would have ordered champagne as "a Cancellation
% fho walter now positively ohHcgI.9IH. but
some one had told hIm once chat fNorr wac not
enough Champagne lu fhr world t0 20 round.
and that hotels and restaurant vcro ruppliod
rFh "a0mrfH.rE rather bad" Burgundy. DO
fef. would Dol NOR. tre f1ins rich a.s1g fu.-
bodied
fIo studied the wine card fU. tfe heaf swan.
A aalfrr while Dol was fH"r engaged. .l'rd u1
and uafrhrd h'm from an angle Virgins
looking uu distracted af fHa rIrn moment
caught hIs rFn. NhrVf ff vna tho head.
walter NIH..n n man NJ I..f. In.H.I. .rrHnurn