The Washington times., 1918-06-16

it was not tired and still crowded with
traffic. Irregular masses of buildings and
heavy, dusty trees stood out darkly against
a sky Of fainting lettuce color.
Young Mrs. Bablove noticed them as she
came out of the tube station, drawing her
cloak round her Unwonted evening dress.
yes" said her husband, as she called his
attention to the effect. Striking" It was
scarcely a minutes walk from the station
to the Restaurant Merveilleux, where they
were to be the guests of Mr.. Albert Carver.
The Restaurant Merveilleux does it best
It has an arc-lamp and a medium-sized
commissionaire. 1t bears its name proudly
in gilt letters a foot and half high. In
the entrance are bay trees in green tubs
and a framed bill Of our celebrated diner
du jour at half crown Within are little
tables brightly appointed and many cleo
trio lights. A mahogany screen is carved
with challenging pineapples and grapes,
and against it is a table for six. Mr.. Car
yer had reserved this table. Yet, some
how. one gets the correct impression that
this is a small eating-house under Italian
proprietorship.
The occasion of the little dinner given
by this bachelor, and viveur was the en-
gagement Of Ada Bunting to Harold Sim
cox. Albert Carver had received much hos.
pitality from Miss Bunting's parents. He
had as nearly as possible got engaged to
Miss Bunting himself, and now knew what
the condemned man feels like who is un-
eXpectedly repTieved
Miss Bunting and Mr. Simcox we're the
guests Of importance. She was Emphatic
and pale-haired; her future husband was
smaller and a shade shorter than she. He
concentrated on politeness, and made any
one to whom he spoke feel like a possible
customer.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Bablove, Mr.. Albert
Carver had always intended TO ask them,
if he ever asked anybody. He frankly ad-
mired young Mrs. Bablove, and said so,
and was slightly pleased when this created
surprise and it was suggested that she was
hardly his type.
Mrs. BabFove looked like an angel who
had gone into domestic service-a soul in
servitude. She had to make a just-suffi-
cient income suffice, and as she was de-
voted to her husband and her two little
boys she did good deal Of work herself.
Mr.. Bablove, a very quiet and prosaic
man, who wore spectacles only when he
was reading, made about the same income
as Mr. Carver. They both held responsible
positions in the same firm. They both
lived in the same neighborhood. But Mr..
Babloye's income had to provide for a
household, and Mr.. Albert CaTvers income
was all ear-marked for Mr.. Albert Carver.
The remaining guest was Miss Adela
Holmes. She was beautiful and looked
Oriental Her movements (after office
hours) were slow and very graceful Her
voice was soft and languorOus; her eyes
also spoke. During the day she was the
third quickest typist in London, and ran
her own office strictly on business lines.
Mr.. Carver in his light way would some
times call her "Nirvana"; he was con-
vinced that this was an Eastern term Of
endearment, and, though an allusion to
her appearance, permissible in a platonic
friend who had known her for years.
Mr. Carver surveyed his little party with
pleasure. It was not the celebrated half
crown dinner that was being served for
this Lucullus; it was the rich mans alter
native-the diner de luze at fOur-and-siX.
Mr.. Carver always said that if he did
thing at.all he liked to do it well.
He was a man of middle stature and
middle age. His hair was very black and
intensely smooth. His face suggested a
commercial Napoleon. He was dressed
with some elaboration; pink coral buttons
constrained his white waistcOat over a
slight prOtuDerance.
Other diners at other tables were not so
dressed-not dressed for the evening at all.
One blackguard had entered in a suit Of
hannels and a straw hat. But other tables
had not the profusion of smilax and carna-
tions which graced the table reserved for
Mr. Carver's party. A paper stimulation Of
chrysanthemHms was good enough for the
half-crowners. How could they expect the
eager attendance given to Mr.. Carver's
party?
The frock-coated proprietor hovered near
them constantly. The head waiter, at
a side table. took the neck of a bottle of
snarkling Burgundy between his dusky
hands and caused it to rotate vigorously in
the ice pail.
Another waiter handed up for Mr. Car
ver's approval the chefs attempt to make
a, lobster look like a sunset on the Matter
horn.
Looks almost too good to eat" said
Adela Holmes, drowsily.
Mr.. Carver laughed joyously. Think
So Nirvana? Well, we'll try IT,"
The wonder had not yet quite gone out
of the soft brown eyes of Dora Bablove.
This was luxury indeed. It was a new way
Of living that she had never known: in the
course Of her married live she had dined
out very rarely, and never after this man.
ner.
The proprietor made a suggestion to Mr.
Carver Good idea, signor," said Mr. Car
YER You'd like an electric fan, Mrs Bah
love, wouldn't you?"
II was done in a moment An electric
lamp was taken out, and something plugged
in its place. A gentle whir with hint of
an aeroplane in it. A cool breeze that