The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-12
Revelations of a
Wife
low Madge Met Mrs. Smith and VIII
She Accepted the Leadership of
the History Course

| tHe history NouFoe
IS / entered the door of the tea room
| heaved a sigh of relief. The placi
| vas deserted save for smiling youns
| voman, evidently the manager, wins
| anne forward to meet INC ] wa
| cry glad that Mrs. Smith had no!
| ct arrived, for hate to be the iasl
'omer at any appointment.
| Have you any preference as Il
| ables?"
The soft, gentle voice OF the man
| ager or waitress, whichever she NIGH
| e, matched her appearance. Slight
weetfaced, with waving brown hail
anded quietly about her head, she
ras very attractive.
l. Il think should like this one neal
he window and facing the door, re
olied. 81 do not wish TO order yet,
however, and have a business appoint
| Tnent Eere with a woman whom ]
: will order"
Very we'll" She handed me
menu card and went unobtrusivelJ
back to a corner, where she busted
herself with some writing.
barely had time to look at the i'm
mense fireplace with its red Gimme!
breast and its old andirons, which
nearly filled one end of the room, and
was evidently the pride of the estab
lishment, before saw a woman enter
the door and look around her as II il
search of some one.
The waitress hurried forward ID
meet her, but she waved her aside, and
came toward the table where I wa.
seated
Pardon me, are you Mrs. Graham?'
she asked suavely.
81 am" l returned, rising to greet
her, land you are Mrs. Smith, are you
not?"
Yes, do hope l haven't kept YOU
waiting?"
mo. indeed. arrived less than I'VE
minutes ago"
81 am SO glad. Suppose we order
now and get 1t off our minds. Then
we can discuss our business AZ - =
leisure" ns paTtie
THAT will be very nice" tally on th'
make my tone as fatty conVefy IN IN
as was her own. She was little T.. u
transparent, thought, in her endeayot
to be conventionally courteous against
her inclination. saw that she had not
yet forgiven me for declining to
break an engagement with Dicky IN
order to meet her after she had can
celled our original appointment on
most trivial pretext.
The Luncheon Order
She picked up the menu card, and
opening a beautiful iewelled lorgnette
scanned the items through it. had to
admit that she was a stunning woman
tall, stately, gray-haired, with eyes and
complexion that many girl might
envy. She was exquisitely dressed,
too, quietly, in street costume, but
every detail of her eowning spelled not
only wealth but refinement.
Let me see, this is Wednesday,
she said. turning to the back OF the
card where list Of specialties served
on different days was given. This is
the day on which they serve fish in
shells. Their devilled crab meat is
delicious Would you like to try it,"
Her manner said in effect: Il am 60
ing to order crab meat. II you do not
wish any, it shows your ignorance"
do not suppose she meant to be rude
or to neglect consulting my prefer
ences as to the menu. But | could
see that she had been dictator among
women SO long that the habit OF TAX
ing things into her own hands chung
of It,"
81 am very fond of devilled crab
meat" 7 returned "If you can recon-
mend this / shall be very glad to try
it. But do not wish anything else
save a cup of tea, or l think l will
take coffee with the fish. / lunched
before leaving home"
VERY we'll" Then to the waitress.
1.-TWO orders of devilled crab meat in
shells, one order of French fried pota-
toes, one order of that salad Of aspara-
gus tips you gave me the other day,
remember" She shot the question at
the girl as if it had been bullet.
Perfectly, madam.
Then two orders of those crisp,
little rolls, two pots of coffee. and
I'll decide upon my dessert later. Will
YOU have the order hurried?"
'Ill do my best" The young wo-
man vanished into door underneath
the old staircase. My eyes followed
her with pleasure. She was SO quiet,
so efficient, so good to look upon that
| felt the little restaurant was to be
congratulated upon having her.
Mrs Smiths eyes followed mine.
"She's quite unusual" she said. ans
wering my unspoken thought. Fan
cies herself a bit above her station,
imagine, but she doesn't let 1t inter
fere with her work"
Mrs. Ralph Erwin, Of Bartlesvflle.