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

NAS"f A-l--+'
pied sitter while. determined TO justify him.
sen in the eyes OF this high official who was
taxing such pains. "A rare wine-er-with
body in IT," Then he added. with a sudden i'm
pulse OF confidence. ITS Saturday night re-
member" And he smiled knowingly, making
a gesture that man OF the world meant
to understand.
Why he should have said this remains a
mystery. Perhaps II was a semi-aposogetic
reference to the supposed habit OF men to in
dulge themselves on a Saturday because they
need not rise early TO work next day. Perhaps
II was meant in some way TO excuse all the
trouble he was giving. In any case there can
De no question that the manner OF the head
waiter instantly changed in a subtle way diff
cult to describe. and from mere official polite
ness passed into deferential attention He
bowed slightly. lie increased his distance by
an inch or two. Virgins noticing II 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 man replied. with a
and we-clOse early"
"of course" said the other. gaining confidence
pleasantly. you close early"
He had quite forgotten the fact. even n no
ever knew H. but he spoke with decision
CHANGING up from the wine list. he caught the
mans eye; then instantly lowered his gaze for
the headWaiter 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 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. I understand" the
head-waiter added softly. "a new-a recent
member them
4 little non-p lussed. a little puzzled. Virgins
agreed with a nod of the head He did not
know that headwaiters referred to customers
as members" For an instant It occurred to
him that possibly he was being mistaken for
somebody else. It was really-but at that
moment the oysters arrived. The headw
said something in rapid Italian TO his subord
nate something that obviously increased that
plush-headed persons desire to please-bent
over with his best manner TO murmur. And l
will get monsieur the wine he will like. the
right kind OF wine!"-and gone.
II a new 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-stili, fragrant soft-soon ran in his
veins and drove out the last vestige OF his
absurd shyness. Behind the pain trees. some
where out Of sight. the orchestra played sooth-
ingly, and II the selections we're somewhat
bizarre II made no difference 10 him. He drank
in the sound just he drank in the vine
eagerly. Both fed the consciousness that he
enjoying himself and the Danse Macabre
gave him as much pleasure as did the Boheme
the Strauss Waltz. or DoniZetti. Everything
wine. music food. peOple-served TO intensity
his interest "a himself
Thus. aided by the tactful and occasional
superintendent Of the headwaiter from dis
lance, the evening passed along in a happy
rush OF pleasurable emotion. The half mart.
ridge had vanished. and Virgins toyed now
with wonderful looking "sweet"-the most
expensive he could find. He did not eat much
OF it. but liked to see it on his plate. The wine
helped things enormously. lie 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
fFrae en- f1ra 10
discover this
Only one thing Jared a little A very big
man. with a round, clean-shaven face inclined
TO fatness, stared az him more than he caret
about from table IN the corner diagonall
across the room. lie had only come in half az!
hour ago His face was somehow or othe
dOg-like-someth.ng between boarhound ana
a pup Virgins thought Each time he looked
mp the fellows large and rather fierce eyes
we're liked upon him. then hngeringly with
drawn. 10 was unpleasant 10 be stared at ia
this way hy an offensive physiognomy.
The vague uneasiness. however. was a pass
ing matter. for the orchestra was tearing madly
through a Csardas. and his thoughts and feel.
ings were swept away In the Wild rhythm. lie
drank bis bottle ont and ordered another. Was
50 the second or the third? lie could not re-
member. Counting always made his head ache
lie did not care anyhow. Let 'er co. I'm
enjoying myself I've got Fat legacy-mouey
lying in the hank-mOnev 7 haven't earned"
Tho carefuiness Of years was destroyed in as
many minutes. That music's simply spifhnEi"
Then be glanced Mp and caught the clean.
s1aven face bearing down upon him across the
shImmcring room like the muzz,e OF a moving
gun. tie tried 10 meet H.. but found he could
not focus 10 properly. The same moment he
saw that be was mistaken. the man was merely
staring az him. Two faces swan and wobbled
into one. This movement. and the appearance
Of coming toward him. we're both Illusions
produced by the alcohol lie drank another
glass quickly to steady his vsiOn-and then
another
'II can for my bin Ttshtime 70 70. 80
to rnHrrnured aloud later. with a very deep sirh.
DO looked about him for the walter. who in.
sfsntly appcarcd-with coffee and liqueurs.
however.
Dear mo- ycq our forgot 7 or'erod those
hc observed oThand. smiling in th@ mans face.
willing and anxious to say Dot OF things. but
not quite certain what.
"'fy bul." was what be said finally "mush
BON"
Tho waiter laughed pleasantly. b1t very
politely. iu reply. Virgins repeated his remark
about h.s b.r
.Oh that ai1 bc aI rirhf SIR returned the
man. ae though no such ching as payment was
-rrr heard OF Ir tIia restaurant 10 was rather
c0ufrHuE virgins laughed t0 him.elf drank
h.7 NuI0r and forgot about everything except
fho ballot mrric nf UrlIhns the strings we're
.prIukIuF ir silver shower about tho HaI.
If'H mind ram after them through the glitter.
..r air.
'IHat fancy n Q could catch om and take
fu home In bInrr.' Ir said to himself Im.
uenec'y pleased. ils was enjoying himself
aIrrH hY now
And them ruddrnf. ho became ararr chat