Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-02-01
Where Did
You Lunch2
By Annabel Wade


Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
"Hello, Bob"
"Oh, hello, Jane"
Bob, mother just telephoned 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 usT'
"Why, yes. I guess so. Where?"
"At the Ivey Lane tearoom-you
know, in Thirty-nlnth street. We've
been there"
"Oh, yes; one of those frothy,
whipped-cream places-I known
"Well, it's all right, Bob-and moth
er loves their chicken pies"
'Tm awfutfy sorry, Jane, but I've
thought Of something. I'm afraid l
can't make 1t. 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"
Eyes, but I'll just run in my usual
place. It's right In this block, you
know"
"But. Bob, please comet"
II tell you l can't"
81 think you're perfectly horrld, to
spoil my day like thatl'
"Oh, for goodness sake, don't begin
that. don't see what difference lunch
makes. If you're crazy to have me
lunch with you, why don't you come
down to my placer"
81 wouldn't have lunch with you for
anything Bob Lane. Crazy to lunch
that greasy little Italian table d'hOte
place, anyway"
snow, Jane, don't go and get all
excited"
But Jane had snapped back the re-
clever 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 a delightful breakfast. She
hurried downtown to meet her mother.
1t was preoccupied Jane who
shopped that morning, and usually
Jane liked shopping. That was why
Mrs. 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.
"What's the matter, Jane3" 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
acting so strange, mother. He would
not have lunch with us today"
maybe he had an engagement You
know the Ivy Lane is mile or so
from his Office"
''But first he said he would and then
he said he wouldn't, and he never act
ed 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
called the Ivy Lane hOrrld, old,
frothy, frivolous place, or something
like that. / think that was hateful"
Mrs. Carter laughed. "Men never
like tea rooms" she said. "Where
does he usually GOT"
"Oh, to grubby little Italian table
d'hote down In Eighteenth street"
"Well, let's go down there and sur
prise him. He probably just couldn't
stand the thought of Iunchlng In
tea room, crowded with a lot Of shop
pers. There aren't many men usually
at the Ivy Lane, you know"
$50 you suppose that was lt?' James
face cleared a little. 81 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 buoynnt. Bob himself had
suggested that they meet him at the
table d'hote, she remembered. Yet for
a little while she had almost felt Jeal-
Gus of Bob. Jealousl OF Bob 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 Jane with
spirits restored to their. usual cheerful
pitch walked down the two or three
steps that led from the sidewalk lev1
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 n0strils she
suddenly saw Bob's objection to the
whlpped-cream sort Of lunch she usual
ly got when shopping. A good sub
stantial 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
INDUCING In luncheon each day that
could make him forget wartime re-
strictiOns.
Jane smillngly bowed to the pro-
prletor.
"Pm Mrs. Lane" she said. "Will
you show us Mr.. Lanes tableT
The proprietor graclously bowed
them to a corner table, where Bob al
ways lunched. But Bob was not there.
They sat down and waited. But Bob
didn't come. At last they ordered