The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-09-28
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Atmosphere
Observation-Disclosures
By CLARA DELAFIELD
%. 1922. Western Newspaper UniOn.l

Young Blaine was very lonely When
he entered the new basement restau-
rant for breakfast But boarding
houses had only accentuated his lOneli-
ness, and he had moved into a fur
nished room and was taking his meals
out. There is less loneliness in soil
tude than in uncongenial company.
And he might have been back in
New England, the New England he
pinned 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 and
pie. Three varieties of piel
The mOtherly prOprietress beamed
on Blaine. The pretty girl, her daugh-
ter, beamed, 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 Englanders.
Us folks don't seem 10 get along on
the kind of diet they require in this
part of the country. Would you be
Heve it? They turn up their noses at
pie for breakfastI'
"Hand it To me-" said Blaine, as
the pretty daughter appeared with
large piece of Steaming huckleberry.
After that he fell into the habit OF
dropping into the little restaurant
every morning. There was always the
ples-well, Blaine had never tasted
anything approaching them. In
short time he and Elsie had become old
friends. One day quite daringly, he
invited her to come to the theater that
night. Elsie assented shyly, and
when he went home Blaine knew that
he was in love.
1t is hard lines being in love on a
salary of thirty per. However, Blaine
had hopes of raise at Christmas.
The next time he took Elsie out he
told her something.
but, Elsie, dear, won't you say
whether you love me?" he pleaded,
little surprised at the girls manifest
confusion.
"Oh, 1 do, I do love you, Edgar"
she answered, but"
To Blaine's surprise she burst into
tears. Finally she promised to give
him an answer in two weeks time-if
he would agree not to come to the res
taurant during that period.
II was an ultimatum and Blaine had
no alternative but to comply with 1t.
The two weeks dragged with leaden
feet. AT the end of that period, sur
feIted with a diet of ham and eggs,
Blaine FASTENED to the restaurant.
1t was closed
In despair he accosted a policeman,
who seemed quite sympathetic.
''Sure I know the folks you mean,"
he answered. Used to run an Eye
Italian place over on Nineteenth
You must be wrong" said Blaine.
They're New England, born and
bred"
Young Teller, the department amt
never wrong" replied the policeman,
with offended dignity. IF you don't
believe me, hunt 'em up yourself"
Blaine hunted. All along the street
he made his inquiries without result.
Nobody knew where the Browns had
gone. He was in despair; but on the
third day the policeman stopped him
in the street.
''Say, young Teller, amt found them
friends of yours yet, have you?"
Blaine shook his head mOurnfully.
you mightn't be very far wrong"
said the policeman, eff you was to try
"a Third avenue"
Blaine was due at the Office. But
that night he FASTENED there on winged
feet. He stopped outside the place,
however, with the impression that the
policeman had been having game
with him. Ii was a Kosher restaurant,
and crowded with East Siders. The
smell OF fried fish came into the street
in oily gusts.
And then, serving at the tables,
Bfaine saw Elsiei
She saw him and dropped a pile of
dishes with crash.
"Oh, do go QUIT" she whispered.
''Pll-Tll see YOU later"
Blaine paced the streets till closing
time. He slipped into the restaurant
as the last customer went out.
Its all my fault" sobbed Elsie
the mother had discreetly withdrawn.
II always meant to tell you, only I
didn't dare after 1 saw how very New
England you were. We're frOm-frOm
Poland, only I was born here, and
and we started catering to the Italians,
and then TO New Englanders, but we
couldn't make it pay, and so we-had
TO fall back on a Kosher restaurant
and-it's paying now, amigo away
forever"
Darling - said Blaine, folding her
inohiS arms.
Hope Long Deferred.