The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-11-25
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Atmosphere
By CLARA DELAFIELD
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Juu1buuJuJsDS1vst
Ia. lf27. Nsstasn MsNspApss Ualoo.)

10. ls27. wsstss. Nsvspapsr UslonJ
Young Blaine was very lonely when
he entered the new basement restau-
rant for breakfast. But boarding
houses had only accumulated his lonel''
ness. and he had moved Into Z FUR"
nished room and was taking his meals
out. There IL less loneliness In soil
tude than In uncongenisl company.
And he might have been back In
New England, the New England he
pined for. when he entered. The In
terror was spotless, the little tables
laid with clean white napery. and the
smiling welcome had that touch OF In
dependence that spells the original
home Of the Pilgrim.
The roar OF Tenth street was for
gotten. Blaine WAS at home. And the
menu-baked beans. Goldfish balls ami
pie. Three varieties OF pie!
The motherly proprietress benmed
on Blaine. The pretty girl. her daugh-
ter, benmed. too.
at seems like home." said Blaine.
"Well, you see." said the mother,
"when we started this place we aimed
to meet the tastes Of New Eng,anders.
Us folks don't seem to get along on
the kind of diet they require In this
part of the country. Would you be-
iIeve lt7 They turn up their noses at
pie for breakfast"
"Hnnd It to me-" said Blaine. ms
the pretty daughter appeared with u
large piece of steaming huckleberry.
After that he fell into the habit Of
dropping into the little restaurant
every morning. There was always the
New England menu. and as for the
pies-well. Blaine had never tasted
anything approaching them. In n
short time he and Elsie had become old
friends. One day. quite daringly. lie
invited her to come to the theater that
night. Elsie assented shyly. and
when be went home Blaine knew that
he was In love.
1t is hard lines being In love on
salary OF thirty per. However. Blaine
had hopes OF a raIse at Christmas.
The next time he took Elsie out he
told her something.
"But, Elsie, dear. won't you say
whether you love me7' he pleaded. a
little surprised at the girls manifest
confusion.
F. "Oh, I do. do love you. Edgar
she answered, but"
To Bialnes surprise she burst into
tears. Finally she promised to give
him an answer In two weeks time--lf
he ould agree not to come to the res
taurant during that period.
| 1t was an ultlmatum and Blaine had
no alternative but to comply with II
The two weeks dragged with leader
feet. At the end Of that period. sur
feited with a diet of ham and eggs
Blaine FASTENED to the restaurant.
It was closed!
In despair he accosted a policeman
who seemed quite sympathetic.
"Surc I know the folks you mean
he answered. Used to run an Eye
Italian place over on Nineteenth"
you must he wrong" said Blaine
"They're New England, born ant
bred"
"Young Teller. the department ain'
never wrong" replied the policeman
with offended dignity. III you dom
believe me, hunt 'em ZIP yourself"
Blaine hunted. All along the stree
he made his Inquiries without result
Nobody knew where the Browns hht
gone. He Was In despair: but on thu
third day the policeman stopped hi'i
In the street.
"Say. young Teller, amt found then
friends Of yours yet, have your
Blaine shook his head mournfully.
You mightn't be very far wrong,
said the policeman, III you WAS to tr!
p Third avenue"
Blaine was due at the Office. Blu
that night he hastened there on winged
feet. He stopped outside the place
however, with the impression that thu
policeman had been having n GAM
with him. II was Kosher restaurant
and crowded with East Sders. Tn
smell Of fried Ash came into the stree
In oily gusts.
And then, serving at the tables
Blaine saw Elsie!
She saw him and dropped a pile o
dishes with crash.
"Oh. do 20 out" she whispered
"l'll-l'll see you later"
| Blaine paced the streets I'LL closlnI
time. He slipped into the restauran
as the last customer went ont.
"It's all my fault" sobbed Elsie
the mother had discreetly withdrawn
~ always meant to tell you. only
didn't dare after saw how very Nes
England you were. We're froni--fror
Poland, only was born here. and
and we started catering to the italians
and then to New Englanders. but W
couldn't make II pay, md no we-hn
TO fall back on Kosher rcstauran
and-it's paying now. amigo ava
forever
Darling" said Blnine. folding he
! T.. Al.