The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-20
THE WAITRESS
BY MILDRED WHITE.
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Perry Raynor, heralded by his IA
Tiers millions, passed through life like
prince, his every want attended. And
as Perry possessed no airs of snob-
bishness or superiority, he made friends
everywhere and was genuinely vel
coined for himself as we'll. So, when
he strolled into the dining hall of the
Grandson one day, and an eager at
tendant drew forth his chair, the young
man gazed In good humored indulgence
about the beautifully appointed room.
choosing the waitress who might hap
pen to please his fancy.
Upon this certain day Perry's choice
was prompt and enthusiastic. A new
waitress stood beneath the quaine
carved clock under the balcony. Perry
was charmed; the girl, with an ODE
dent nod to the dining room attend
ant, moved in his direction. With di-
rect impersonal gaze she waited
Perry's order, nodding at its conclu-
sion, to his cheerfully sarcastic:
That's all, your majesty"
The girl passed out unheeding.
He chuckled at first, then flushed In
unaccustomed pique. "What right had
she to adopt that rebuking manner?"
He had called Mattresses Blue Eyes"
before, without chilling the atmos-
phere. But this waitress was ap-
parently different. She had motioned
disdainfully at the end of his meal, to-
ward the generous Tip" laid before
her on the table.
Il do not accept fees" this unusual
waitress said.
And Perry. Inundated as he had
never before been Inundated pocket
ed the refused money and made his
hasty exit.
Impatient with himself and his mus
ings, Perry went back, and it happened
to be at night. The great room was
packed now with the after-theater
throng, and in its center was placed
round draped stage. Perry, grow
ing weary of cabaret dancing, was
about to make his departure, when
new number was introduced. A small,
gray clad girlish figure assembled the
dais; the gray kerchief frock was of
a fashion long gone, and so was the
arrangement of the girls jetty curls.
1t was his haunting waitress who stood
there. and sang odd, sweet. old-fash-
Toned songs, in a voice of odd, tender
sweetness. Perry, listening, caught
his breath.
His gold made way for him past for
bidding rules to the dressing room
door; but when the girl came out she
was dressed in the waitress uniform.
with its white collar and ridiculous
apron. Her matter-of-fact GOODNESS
calmed his reckless admiration.
why did you wish to see me?" she
asked.
You sing like that, act like that"
Perry blurted, land then you come
back to wait upon people-serve them.
I don't understand it."
rs there any reason" the girl asked
evenly. why you should understands"
Yes" Perry's calmness matched her
own; Just this reason, that / love
you; that l have loved you from the
moment l first looked into your eyes,
The waitress regarded him graveIy,
the pink deepened in her cheeks, but
she did not smile or seem to doubt his
words.
"Then," she replied, ''that being the
case, l must tell you my story. My old
father and mother live in a country
town where he has for years been min
lister. He is respected and loved. but
his people are poor. So poor that
when there was not enough money to
support three of US, 1 came to the
city under pretense of giving music
lessons. At least it was not wholly
pretenSe, for l did try to form a class,
but could not make it pay. While l
hoped to study and become capable in
other lines, l took up this position as
waitress. The people from our home
town do not patronize the Hotel
Grandson. When fathers letter. tell
ing of mothers serious illness, came, I
did not at first know what to do. Her
lungs. it seems, had not healed after
the pneumonia. The doctor ordered
her to go away at once. 1t had to be
Colorado or Arizona-if she would live.
Poor mother, frail and always timid:
father had been her crutch through
life. She, away among strangers,
alone, it was inconceivable. Father
must go with her to cheer and comfort
her; father, too old to find work in
new fields. So I-sent them. It was
quite easy when the hotel management
agreed to let me sing at their cab
aret."
The blue eyes were pleading.
'But my people must not know" she
said. They are so dear and queer.
and old fashioned" She smiled up
at RaynOr wistfully.
so Cabaret Helen supports mother
and father In far-away Colorado" she
explained. while waitress Nell sup
ports me-"
The young man of millions reached
for the waitress hand
Wont you let me do all that for
my wife?" he begged awkwardIy.