The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-11

M.,., uarSss+ u., Light gowns,
futtering fans
and wilted walters attested to the heat.
A military band, in white uniforms,
FLASHED an accelerated air.
"Plenty of seats inside, sir" per-
suaded the head waiter.
''What can you give us out hereY'
demanded Warren.
Nothing just now. If you care to
wait"
ooh, look, those people are leaving
over there by the railing" interrupted
Helen eagerly.
AS the departing couple rose, hastily
they edged their way through and took
triumphant possession Of the table.
"Dear, this is wonderful" turning
from the soiled dishes, helen rested
her elbow on the railing and gazed
out at the smoldering sunset.
The heat mist, shrouding the hori-
zon, dimmed the fiery ball. already slip
ping into the sea.
"Yes, we're in luck to get this. Look
at 'em coming"
A stream of people were turning in
from the boardwalk. Pausing on the
steps they would glance over the
crowded veranda, then reluctantly fol-
low the head waiter into the glaringly
lit dining room.
The sun now almost submerged, q
couple of bell boys ran out to haul
down the flag that fluttered from a
tall staff on the lawn. The band
struck up 1.-THE Star-Spangled Banner"
and everyone rose.
Helen felt a thrill of patriotism as
she watched this military ceremony,
and gazed out across the ocean, be-
You'd which SO many countries were
devastated by war. The peaceful
crowd about her seemed suddenly very
carefree and prosperous.
"Here, clear this table-and take
my orderp
Warren's sharp .,..: comnlaiRt. gratea
harshly. 1t was enough just to sit
there and rest, without struggling for
service, which she knew from the
crowd would be slow.
"This isn't my table, sir. I'll send
your waiter"
Frowningly Warren pushed back the
soiled dishes and threw over them a
corner of the coffee-strained cloth, res
cued match safe from the clutter,
and lit cigar.
us that large steamer?' she was
gazing at the dark speck that headed
trailing length of smoke against the
skyline.
But Warren was watching an over
stout woman in an absurdly tight
gown, her fat hands crowded with dia-
monds and 1umpish pearls embellishing
her ears.
glove, I'd hate to buy food for the
females around here" he said, his
caustic glance wandering on to anoth-
err robust lady, her pink corpulence
bullying her thin white waist.
you'd hardly think she'd need furs,"
unused Helen, noting the white fox
scarf about her bulky shoulders.
"Bout time to let 'em know we're
here" belligerently, his impotence
again fiaring up. Hold on, you the
waiter for this table?"
"No, sir, I'll send him to you"
Here a perspiring waiter, his shirt
front bristling with checks, dashed up,
cleared the table and flung on damp
ly fresh cloth.
"Where're the roasts?" Warren was
scowling at the faintly-mimeographed
dinner card. mo roasts, no vegetables
nothing but soup and cold meat?
What the Sam Hill does this mean?"
ooh, here's notice." Helen read the
note at the bottom of the card.
"'The new management begs to an
nounce that this is but a temporary
menu. Within the next few days it
will be sufficiently augmented to af-
ford complete service
'Huh," growled Warren, "we're in
for it all right" Then scanning the
soups, "St. Germain-tbose peas
canned or fresh?"
Canned SIR" admitted the waiter.
"Consomme them" CURLY. Gold
roast beef and bottle of bass"
Chicken salad and clsret lemon
ade," contributed Helen. Taen as the
waiter disappeared, "Dear, that's not
so bad; it's too hot to eat much any
way. But you wouldn't think they'd
change management in the middle of
the season."
ooh, these summer hotels are al
ways changing hands. Expensive
plants to keep up-and not much do
ing except Saturday and Sunday"
There's a lighthouse?" she was
CHANGING out at the misty horizon, from
which flashed q faint revolving light.
The dusk had deepened, and the arc
lights on the lawn lit UP the benches
filed with tie boardwalk crowd, that
had wandered in to listen to the mu-
sic.