South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-24

with the air Of a connoisseur. This pantomims
continued for several minutes
Something really good YOU know. he mum
bled after a while. determined 10 Justify him
self IN the eyes Of this high official who was
taking such pains "A rare wine--er-With
BODY in it, Then he added with sudden i'm
pulse OF confidence, Its Saturday night, re-
member" An6 he smiled knowingly, making
esture that a man OF the world was meant
TO understand.
Why he should have said this remains
mystery. Perhaps II was semiapoiogetic
reference TO the supposed habit OF men to in
dulge themselves a Saturday because they
need not rise early 20 work next day. Perhaps
II was meant in some way % excuse all the
trouble he vas giving. in any case, there can
be no question that the manner or the head
waiter instantly changed in a subtle way difh-
cult TO describe, and from mere official polite
passed into deferential attention He
bowed slightly. He increased his distance by
an inch two. Virgins. noticing 1t and
slightly bewildered, repeated his remark for
want of something to say more than anything
else. It's Saturday night, Of course" he re-
peated, murmuring, Yet putting more meaning
into the words than they could reasonably hold.
AS Monsieur says" the replied, with
marked respect in his tone not there before
and we-close early"
"Of course" said the other. gaining confidence
pleasantly you close early"
He had quite forgotten the fact even IL he
ever knew II, but he spoke with decision
CHANGING up from the wine list. he caught the
the headwater was staring at him in a fixed
and curious manner that seemed unnecessary.
And once again that passing touch OF familiarity
appeared upon the features and was gone
Monsieur is here for the first time, IL may
ask?' came next
"Er-yes / am" he replied, thinking all this
attention a trihe excessive.
All. pardon. of course. l understand" the
headwaiter added softly. "A new-a recent
member them
A little nonplussed. little puzzled, Virgins
agreed with a nod of the head. He did not
know that headwaiters referred to customers
members" For instant it occurred to
him that possibly he was being mistaken for
somebody else. II was really-but at that
moment the oysters arrived. The head-waiter
said something in rapid Italian to his suoordi-
something that obviously increased that
plush-headed persons desire to please-bent
with his best manner to murmur And l
will get monsieur the wine he will like, the
right kind Of wine"- was gone.
1t was a and delightful sensation. Wig
gins feeling proud pleased and important
under the effect of this excellent service and
attention, turned to his oysters. The wine
would come presently. And meanwhile, the
music had begun.
He began to enjoy himself thoroughly, and
the wine-still. fragrant, soft-soon In his
veins and drove out the last vestige OF his
absurd shyness. Behind the palm trees, some
where out o: sight, the orchestra played sooth-
ingy, and II the selections were somewhat
bizarre IL made no difference to him. He drank
in the sound just he drank in the wine
eagerly Both fed the consciousness that he
was enjoying himself and the Danse Macabre
gave him much pleasure as did the Boheme
the Strauss Waltz, or DoniZetti. Everything
wine, music food, people-served to intensity
his interest in himself.
Thus aided by the tactful and occasional
superintendence of the headwaiter from a dis
lance, the evening passed along in happy
rush of pleasurable emotion. The half part
ridge had vanished and Virgins toyed now
he mr.
expensive he could find. He did not eat much
of it, but liked to see = on his plate The wine
helped things enormously. He had ordered
another half bottle some time ago, delighted to
find that IL exhilarated without confusing him.
And every one else in the place was enjoying
himself in the same way. He was thrilled TO
discover this.
ONLY one thing Jared little very big
man. with round clean-shaven face inclined
to fatness stared at him more than he caret
about from a table in the corner diagonall!'
across the room. He had only come in half al
hour ago His face somehow or othe
dogIike-something between a hoar-hound ana
pup Virgins thought. Each time he looked
up the fellows large and rather herce eyes
were fixed upon him, then lingeringly with
drawn. II was unpleasant 10 be stared at in
this way by an offensive physiognomy.
The vague uneasiness, however was pass.
ing matter for the orchestra was tearing madly
through Csardas. and his thoughts and feel
iugs were swept away in the Wild rhythm. He
drank his bottle out and ordered another. Was
il the second or the third? He could not re-
member Counting always made his head ache
He did not care anyhow Let 'er go! I'm
ENJOYING myself! I've got fat legacy-money
living in the bank-money / haven't earned"
The carefuness of years was destroyed in as
many minutes That musics simply splitting
Then he glanced up and caught the clean
shaver face bearing down upon him across the
sbimmering room like the muzzie OF moving
.,n He tried to meet it, but found he could
not focus il properly. The same moment he
saw that he vas mistaken; the man was merely
staring at MIN Two faces swan and wobbled
into Que This movement, and the appearance
OF coming toward him. were both illusions
produced b. the alcohol He drank another
glass quickly 10 steady his vision-and then
another
I'll call tor my bill. Itshtime TO 90. -"
he murmured aloud later with very deep sigh.
He looked about him for the waiter, who in
stantlv appeared--with coffee and hqueurs,
however.
"Dear me. yes Qui' forgot or'ered those"
he observed o1hand, smiling in the mans face,
willing and anxious TO say a lot OF things. but
not quite certain what
MY bill" was what ne said finally, "mush
b'offl"
The waiter laughed pleasantly. but very
politely in reply. Virgins repeated his remark
ahout is hill