The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-19

We both smiled at the recollectlor
the name called up. In the days
when a dinner with Jack was the
one recreation my .plodding life af'
forded me, he had once persuaded me
to eat some escargots. When tney
were served. and 1 discovered they
were snails, I had ordered them
taken away at once, the very idea OF
them upSetting me. Later. 10
please Jack, who was very fond
of them, 1 had, tried one then an
other, and after a number of dinners
| had become a great lover OF them
as he was.
ooh! surely!" I said. "Of course es-
cargots." .......
The waiter heard me, and bent def
erentially toward me. ..2
at is too bad" he said in careful
English, "but it is impossible for US TO
| get the escargots on account or the
war"
That's too bad" said Jack. Il sup
pose there will be number OF our
favorites we can't have. 1 can't
realize yet there is a war. You see'
1 didn't hear of it until few weeks
ago when we first got out of the
Wilderness
| The waiter waxed confidential
YOU'D know it if you were here, sir,
he said respectfully. almost all our
boys have gone back to fight for
France. I wish I were only young
enough to CO."
| We looked around the restaurant
and confirmed his words. The wait
ers were all men over middle age,
not young man among them. 1 gave
a little SILVER at the thought of what
it all meant. Jack saw it.
Memories and Danger.
We'll not talk of 1t any more" he
said. How would you like oysters
instead of escargots?" ...
"Those will be very nice" I smiled
at him.
In reality I was far from hungry.
But 1 would not spoil Jacks pleasure
by telling him SO.
What next, consomn1e, or isn't it
here you used to get that chicken
broth you liked so well?"
How we'll you remember, Jack" I
exclaimed in establishment.
DO you think I could forget?" he
asked quickly. Something in his tone
gave me that vague uncomfortable
fear again.
1.-The chicken broth here is very
good" I said hastily. Let us have
some" ..
"All right, I know you don't like
fish. So what shall be the grand
centrepiece?"
I knew Jacks favorite dish. for
tunately. If he could sit down in
front of just the right kind of steak.
thick, juciy, broiled just right, he
was happy.
"a steak, by all means" I answered.
"I haven't had good one in ages"
I'm sure you're saying that to
please me-" Jack protested, "but 1
haven't the heart to say no. You can |
imagine the food I've lived on in |
South America. But you must order
the rest of the meal"
Surely I will" I said, for I knew |
the things he liked. Baked potatoes, |
new asparag gus. buttered beets, re-
maine salad, and we'll talk about the
dessert later. -"~
The waiter bowed and hurried away.
you're either clairvoyant, Margaret
or"
Perhaps I, too, have a memory" I
returned gayly, and then regretted
the speech as I saw the look that
leaped into Jacks eyes.
st wish I was sure" he began i'm
then he checked himself,
'T wonder whether we are too early
for any music" he finished lamely.
ct am afraid so,' I said
1Tt Doesn't matter anyway. We
want to talk. not to listen. I've got
to tell you my dear, that
h ,,Iy NJ a1 hi TO-
rye been gone"
"Give Me Time"
I did not realize the impulse that
made me stretch out my hand, lay it
upon his, and ask gently:
please, Jack, don't tell me any
hing important until after dinner I
EEL rather upset anyway. Let's have
one of our old care free dinners, and
when we've finished we can talk"
Jack gave me a long curious look
lnder which I flushed hot. Then he
said brusquely, "All right, the wealth
er and the price of flour, those are
good safe subjects. we'll stick to
hem"
The omnibus had spread the table
With a clean cloth and the silver He
lad also placed pats of butter and a
silver dish of crusty French bread.
Now know something is the mat
err" Jack said mischievously. 'T
lever ate with you that you didn't
,rab a piece Of that bread as soon as
he boy brought it, and eat it luxu- i
iously while you were waiting for
he rest of the meal"
"Well, you see, I'm so overwhelmed
It your return, 1 can't come down
o sordid things T tried to make
ny voice gay. You must give me
more time"
1--WE been doing just that for {
ears" he returned graphically. was {
lad that the arrival Of the oysters
made reply of mine unnecessary.
The dinner was perfect in every de- {
all. Jack ate heartily, and although i
was too unstrung to eat much I
to get enough down to de- '
Give him into thinking I was enjoy I