The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-11-29


at her. In spite Of their expensive
gowns and jewels Helen felt certain
that their husbands were not as hand
some and distinguished as Warren
It wa sabsorbingly interesting to sit
there and look down upon all those
men, Most Of them had finished their
dinner now and had relaxed to a
lounging attitude over their coffee a.I
cigars. Except that now and then one
Of them would look up at the boxes
and smile. they seemed wholly uncon-
scious OF the many beautifully gowned
e g Ss.aSsel.-sS s.~..ez: zsNxEal7aE
women who were looking down upon
them.
The walters had now all lined up
by the door, each carrying tray
piled with small white boxes-the din
ner souvenirs. At sign from the
head waiter, they filed in and out
through the tables, leaving u white
box beside each plate.
Had the diners been women, they
would have instantly opened the boxes
but the men seemed hardly to notice
them So Helen's curiosity was not
gratified.
The Dinner Over.
At length the dinner was over. The
walters began carrying out the dishes
and the pink-shaded candles, most OF
that had been playing in a balcony
above the boxes, now stopped.
The chairman at the speakers table
arose and raped for order. Helen
wondered why he was chairman. He
| was small and insignificant with thin
| voice that did not carry. Alter some
! tedious remarks which no one could
hear he introduced the first speaker
of the evening, DIR. Olony, an eminent
! sociologist.
| Helen learned forward with eager
interest. The speakers were all promi-
nent men and she felt their addresses
/ would be well worth hearing. But
! DR.. Olony began with the usual trate
preliminary remarks about 1t being an
| honor to address SO distinguished
gathering" Then to Helen's dismay
he produced a formidable mahuscrlp
and proceeded TO read it.
/ Evarx-body sat back resignedly. Al
ter the first few moments Helen did
not pretend to listen. The women be-
side her kept UP a running converse
ton Several of the men had no"
| come up to the various boxes TO SIT
with their wives and friends. The emil
nent DR.. Olony was still reading III
monotonous voice.
Helen's glance never left warren
for long, and now she saw him push
back his chair and leave the table he
/ looked up and nodded He was COM
ing up to her! ;. -.
when he entered the box and took the
chair beside her. :.
"Oh, dear, it's very interesting,
happily excited now that he was with
her How wonderful he looked-hoW
= DISTINGUISHED. Her eyes rested on MN
! proudly --.-,
Roasting the Speaker.
8 s.Rotten speaker" he grumbled. "A
n man ought to be mobbed for reading q
speech at a dinner like this. What peo-
e pie want is short, pointed addresses oil
r saw. five minutes. That boob's been
| spouting for fifteen"
S --"Oh,r dear, you didn't bring me your
Q souvenir. I wanted SO much to see
! them" :,
s.Forgot the blamed thing. Get ii
a for YOU later. Wonder who that stun
It ming woman is in that box over
e there?"
Helen followed his glance to thu
O dark-hained, regaleooking woman =.
She was undeniably beautiful He1
II gown of white lace was cut strlklnslS
# low, and there were strands or pears
~ aho,,t her throat and in her hair
Helen as not often jealous, but sRne
how she felt suddenly plain and poor
-, ness of that woman.
le The speaker finished now and sa
:, | down amid much applause. lie poWe'
~ repeatedly, not seeming to reaIze ina
d the applause was only an expression
~ Of relief that he was through. Asan
the chairman raped for order.
= This time a United States senate
was introduced To Helens relief h
had no notes. his voice was deep an
booming. and he was plainly used t
talking on his feet But his ranllns
elouuence was just "ords-efnpt |.
n phrases. He had nothing partcuia
to say and was merely ora ting.
Il Warren, who .loathed after-dinne
u sneaking. and who rarely attended bi
dinners becalse he Wonlu not De pore.
was becoming restless.
S. GLOW many more of these guys d
! we have to stand for?" drawing froi
his pocket the dinner menu. on TN
S. hack of which were the names of tn
sneakers. suffering cats! Four more
~ Well. I guess not! Wen cut it an
make for home"
"Oh, dear. we'd better wait httl
r. longer. It'll look rude to leave
. early. Mr.. Jennings VIII thihk :"
n didn't enjoy it,
:. =. ecness he's bored stiff, too. VIII
Nv in b1azes don't they have some 1iV
nd takers instead OF ringing III iot
dead ones?'
If the speech of the eminent socif
:. | logist had been long, the senator
"a seemed interminable. He poofned
ng Win hisn of the nineteeni
century the splendid strides
ST civilization the advance Of 81
a ciety'' and something about SHINING
ne bits in the sky Of future progress
10 blazing in front Of the jewelled crow