THE LUNCHEONS STOPPED.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 48, 29 November 1890, Page 8

THE LUNCHEONS STOPPED.

For three years or more a good-looking young man and a stunning yet innocent-looking girl took from two to four luncheons a week at a certain quiet and elegant up-town restaurant in New York. Ail the waiters became during this time very fond of the pair, for the gentle and modest charms of the girl, together with the more than generous tips of the young man, have quite captured their foreign and mercenary hearts. Very respectable and quiet old ladies noted the admirable picture made by the fond young people, and there has scaicely been a day when strangers seeing them have rot remarked upon the evident devotion of the domestic pair. One evening the sweet-faced girl came into the restaurant for dinner. With her was a stout, redfaced, bald-headed man, fully 54 years of age. He was fussy and ugly; and he ordered a very economical meaL The girl’s pretty face, heretofore vivacious and shining, wore on this occasion a .severe, shadow of discontent. She ate little, and her eyes were continually fixed upon nothing in particular, as though she dreamed of a happiness unfortunately ■ absent. Scarcely did she speak a word to the old gentleman accompanying her, and he devoted his entire attention to his meagre repast. not noticing that she left it all for him to consume. The meal finished, the old man laid a threepenny piece by the side of his plate for the waiter. As he was’going out with the young woman the head waiter hastened after him with an umbrella that had been left behind.

‘ Your daughter forgot her umbrella,’ said the waiter. The old man glared at the menial, and shouted so all in the room could hear him—* Daughter, sir ! That is not my daughter. That is my wife.’ The young girl fled in confusion, and the waiters all east significant glances at each other. The secret of the sympathetic luncheons had been divulged.