The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-07
EVENING STORY
Where Did You Lunch?
(By Annabel Wade.)

Where Did You Lunch?
(By Annabel Wade)
Hello. Bob"
@Oh, hello, Jane"
Bob. mother just telephone from
the country that she's coming to town
for the day, and I'm going to meet
her. Can't you have lunch with us?'
why, yes, 1 guess so. Where?"
AT the Ivy Lane tea room-ycu
know, in 39th street. We've been
there"
"oh, yes; one of those frothy
whipped-cream places-I know!"
well, it's all right. Bob-and
mother loves their chicken pies"
I'm awfully sorry. Jane, but I've
thought of something. I'm afraid
can't make it. I've just thought of
something-an engagement you know.
A business engagement, dear, that
can't very well break"
why, Bob, how FUNNY First you
said yes and then you said no. You
have to have some lunch, don't your"
Yes, but I'll just run in my usual
place. It's right in this block, you
know"
But, Bob, please comet
II tell you can't"
Il think you're perfectly horrid, to
spoil my day like that"
"Oh, for goodness sake don't begin
that I don't see what difference
lunch makes. If you're so crazy to
have me lunch with you, why don't
you come down to my place 2'
II wouldn't have lunch with. you
for anything, Bob Lane. Crazy to
lunch with you! 1 should say not!
Not in that greasy little Italian table
d'hote place. anyway"
Now. Jane, don't go and get all
excited"
But Jane had snapped back the re-
ceiver on the hook and she heard no
more. With wrathful thoughts she
hurried into her coat and furs and
left the little apartment, where. as
she thought sadly. Bob and she had
so lately had delightful breakfast
She hurried downtown to meet her
mother.
1t was a preoccupied Jane who
shopped that morning, and usually
Jane liked shopping. That was why
Ms. Carter, her mother, had tele-
phoned that she wanted to buy new
furnishings for the living room in her
country house and wanted Jane to
help in selecting them.
Whats the matter, Jane?" asked
Mrs. Carter, as they made their way
from one of the shops to the Ivy Lane
You haven't taken bit of interest
in anything we've DONE"
I'm just upset about Bob. He's
not have lunch with US today"
Maybe he had an engagement. You
know the Ivy Lane is a mile or so
from his office"
But first he said he would and
then he said he wouldn't, and he never
acted that way before"
Probably the poor boy is rushed to
death and just can't take time. Do
be sensible, Jane"
But, mother" explained Jane, "he
I IL
frothy, frivolous place, or something
like that. l think that was hateful"
Mrs. Carter laughed. Men never
like tea rooms she said. Where
does he usually COZ"
"Oh, to a grub y little Italian table
d'hote down in Eighteenth street"
"Well. let's go d,wl there and sur
prise him. He probably just couldn't
| stand the thought of lunching in a
tea room, crowded with lot of shop
pers. There aren't many men usually
at the Ivy Lane, you know"
$50 you suppose that was II %
James face cleared a little. ct thought
he just didn't want to lunch with me-
But. maybe that it is. Oh, mother,
you're wonderful Let's go right down
| to Eighteenth street"
Jane was buoyant Bob himself
| had suggested that they meet him at
the table d'hote. she remembered. Yet
for a little while she had almost felt
|
The idea was absurd. And, anyway,
what was there to make her Jealous
| because Bob hadn't wanted to lunch
with her?
A few minutes later a Jane with
1 spirits restored to their usual cheerful
pitch walked down the two or three
steps that led from the sidewalk level
to the Italian table d'hote where Bob
/ lunched daily. Jane had been there
| before, and as the savory odor of the
stew on which the chef of the little
| place specialized met her nostrils she
suddenly saw Bob's objection to the
whipped-cream sort of lunch she
usually got when shopping. A good
substantial meat dish-that did make
/ a more staying lunch for a man And
as she served corn bread and whole
wheat mullins for breakfast and tried
to have fish several times a week for
dinner, she couldn't blame Bob for
indulging in a luncheon each day that
fcould make him forget wartime re-
! strictions.
Jane smilingly bowed to the pro-
/ prietor.
I'm Mrs Lane" she said. ''Will
you show US Mr. Lanes table ?"
The proprietor graciously bowed
them to a corner table, where Bob
always lunched. But Bob was NOT
| there. They sat down and waited
/ Bet Fob 6id not come. At last they
! ordered lunch and ate IT.
That is, Mrs. Carter ate it. Jane
did She foyad xuffh roll