The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-11
The
Waiter-Guest
How He Gave Eclat to a
Christmas Dinner

- a. ans baNhcioi EOulns DeIOre IRE
place. on which be had lighted blaze
and thought OF the many Christina.
ewes be had spent In days gone b,
when he was one of half dozen chill
dren growing to manhood and woman
hood. There were father and a moth
er who were interested In making tn.
anniversary of the birth of the Chris,
Child a happy event Then was the
going to bed with visions Of Santa
Claus coming In his sleigh. drawn by
RENDERS. distributing gifts on the way
What change between then and
now. The father and mother had pass.
ed away. Some of the children lay be
side them, while those that were left
were scattered. Ned himself had drift
ed to city where he was unknown
Christmas had come, and he must
spend 1t alone. Better his daily work
than the crowding upon him Of happy
days that were gone forever. He
would 20 to the Office the next day and
busy himself with end Of the year &C.
counts
In the morning he woke up looking
straight at the fireplace. The ashes
were cold, not an ember left No
stockings hung there as of yore. Life
seemed to him as desolate as these
ashes on the hearth He arose Ian
guidly. dressed himself and went out
to a restaurant where he usually took
his breakfast, then went to the office.
where he stayed and worked most of
the day.
Ned had been accustomed at home
to put on evening dress for dinner,
and the habit had become fixed on
him. He would as soon have neglect
ed to wash his face or brush his hair
In the morning as to dine I'm his bust
ness clothes. So he went to his room
and put on his glad rags" then went
out to dine alone at restaurant
where he had not dined before, n more
expensive place than he thought he
could usually afford. 1t was 5 O'clock
and he was the only guest In the
room. Having taken OFF his overcoat
and hat. he was standing irresolute as
to which of the many tables he would
take when a waiter came In from the
kitchen, looked at him and said
Are you the man who is to wait on
the Vincents.'
Ned returned the mans glance with.
out reply.
IF you are don't stand there gaping
but get move on you. The dinner is
at q. You'll be half an hour getting
there. and you'll be needed to help
arrange the table"
1t was evident to Ned that the man
had mistaken him for waiter. His |
self esteem was not tickled. but It |
flashed upon him that If he could not
be one of Christmas dinner party he
might Mt least see one. Would not serv-
Ing a joyous company be better than
dining alone? 1t occurred to him TO
start out to fill the place of waiter
and decide on the way whether or not
be would do So
Give me the address," he said.
The man told him where to 90. and
Ned Jumped into a trolley car and. |
having on the way made up his mind.
In que time rang the bell of the base.
ment door of the Vincents. He was ad.
mitted by the butler and made himself
known as the man who had come to
wait at the table for dinner. He was
admitted without a word and. having
laid aside his coat and hat, was led IN
to the dining room, where he found the
lady OF the house arranging flowers on
the dinner table.
This Is the man sent from Knise.
iey's. men," said the butler.
Mrs. Vincent looked up at Ned She
was evidently pleased with his appear.
ance.
whats your name?" she asked
MY name? Giovanni"
"Oh. Italian. Go into the pantry.
where you will find the Little Neck
CLAIMS. and bring them I'm here"
Ned brought in the clans and placed ,
them on the table. This was all that
was required of him then. for the din,
ner hour had arrived. The lady went
into the drawing room, telling him to
follow her and announce dinner.
How he wished that he could be one
Of the persons assembled there! They
were nearly all young. and there were {
many pretty girls among them. Each
man at once sought his dinner compan,
lon, and they all went into the dining
'oom In pairs. Ned was reminded of a
picture in book given him when he
was a boy of the animals going into
Noah's ark.
Ned and the butler were the only
and they had all they could do a
to serve the viands. Nevertheless, the q
Inner was not hurried. and long In
.erval between courses was permitted. |
During lull when the company were q