THAT WAITER FELLOW

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 26 September 1907, Page 37

THAT WAITER FELLOW

1 A winter somewhere on the Pacific Coast,' the doctor said, and mother had caught her' breath, for there was more to be thought of than the separation, which was bad enough. * . ' I don't see how it can be managed,' said Phil, when he was alone with her. 1 It must be,' she .Said, recalling last winter with the weeks of grippe and pneumonia. ' There isn't much money to go on.' k • But there is enough for an investment in your health.' " . ' What is the trouble ?' Uncle Mark, noticing the grave faces, came. near to listen. ' Doctor Brand has been talking nonsense to mother,' 'said Phil. ' Telling her I must go to California. As if I couldn't brace up and do very well here.' Uncle Mark .looked at the boy's slight frame, unequal, he knew, to the demands upon it of the enthusiastic spirit within, and remembered that there had been consumption in the family only a little way " back. 1 I'll send him,' he said. " * < Uncle Mark!" It would " be too, much.' - "Oh," I don't mean that it .should be so very iraich. Pll put you there and keep you at a good place till you are able to swing yourself.,- And you can pay me up when you are able.' •In four months, certainly,' said Phil, eagerly/ 1 ought to be' strong enough to come home. The winter will be nearly over then.' x ' Four irionths be it, then.' A little later Phil Graham, rejoicing- in every - ' breath of the sun-ble&t air, found himself pleasantly located in what was a half sanatorium, half boardinghouse. A few invalids were there, some older people accompanied by younger ones, among whom Phil found agreeable companionship. All that he had ever heard of the land of " the- palm and the orange he seemed to more k than realise as, wisely letting aside everything except what might tend to. the recovery of his health, he gave himself up to the delights which, with least" expense, came, within his » 'reach. He continually sought the beneficent fresh air, with its blessed burden, of glowing sunshine ■; read a - little, Joined heartily in' all the s.ports of the young people, making himself liked by young and old through his genial good fellowship readiness to be kindly and' helpful to those about him. "All too soon the months flew by, and Phil was obliged to acknowledge to himself that, although his > health was much improved, he could by no means yet clir himself strong.

' ,You ought not to think of going back yet,' 1 said a doctor with whom he had made friends. Mt would be perilous for. you to encounter all the early springtime changes of ..weather in the East.' Phil felt that »this "Was correct, but— what was he -ft)' do ? Apply to his mother ? Never ! / Apply to ' his uncle ? Never, again ! * v He tried to obtain light work in the nearby town, •but found that everything seemed filled by those who were, like himself, striving for a foothold for'the sake of .the climate. " -; ' Well,' he said to himself, as he one day w.entv ' in to dinner, 'we hear much about God's free ' air, but just " here it seems not .free to me.' There was some little friction as Contrasted ' with - the usual smooth running of things at the table. ' Mistakes were made, and guests waited long to be served." At length the head of the house came and apologised for the shortcomings, explaining that two dt his waiters had left suddenly, and ihe had not yet been able to fill their places. * As Phil waited' .with the others a sudden thought came to" him!' * -. ' I could do that.' He applied for a place; and obtained it. ' Now, I wonder what my friends here will think or ' say,' he thought to liimsfelf, as, with his, w v hite - linen apron pn, the next morning he took his place in the " dining-room. , ' Well, I don't care much. It's so good to be where I can write to mother and Uncle Mark that I'm earning my living and a little more, tha.t ' I'm willing to stand a little- snubbing.,? . ■ There was snubbing— not much, but Phil was forced to own to himself that what there was could not %c called- pleasant. The older people, and some of the younger ones, met his. services with a matter-of-course friendliness ;\ a few others showed plainly, that" being now a waiter he was no 4 ' longer regarded' as one of ' them ; and Mr. Frank, Percival, a young fellow who was^ there with his uncle, stared haughtily at the new waiter, as if indignant at his having ever presumed to consider himself as his, equal, and— offered him a tip. The blood rushed to Phil's "face, and he was turning angrily away«»when, with a swift second thought, he checked himself. ' It's "a part of it,' he said to himself, as he bowed and took 'the gratuity. * Some of- the friendly ones clapped their hands, casting . indignant glances at' Frank. - * c Well, well— how's this i? ' i Mr. Garde, an- elderly gentleman, who always read at table, and delayed so long as to tire out the waiters, looked, up in kindly inquiry as Phil. brought his coffee after the other, diners were gone. ' This, I mean,' he added, touching the white apron. ' A wager, or something of that kind, I suppose. You boys are always up to cappers.' ''Nothing of that kind at .all, sir,' said Phil. C I want to stay out in this country. I 'can't let my relatives support me any longer, and this is all I can get to do.' .-• • ' „ j ' That's it, hey ? Well, I hope you'll make a good waiter. Be sure you always bring my plates hot.' ' As there were- other things connected with the duties of a waiter, . Phil found it easy to ' keep much out of the way-» of those with .whom he had lately consortea, as was his preference, although there were many of them who felt only" admiration for a young fellow who would do what came in his way rather than be a burden on any one. Mr. Garde v appeared to take to the new waiter, to judge by a good deal of friendly chaffing and domineering on his part, and, at the end of a month ' or so, sought an interview 'with Jiim. ' I think you are pretty capable as a waiter* now, t and might graduate,' he began. >C I don't see' my chance for that yet,' said- Phil. 1 I am wanting some one to do a little overseeing on my ranch, ' Would you like to try it ? asked Mr. Garde. ' 'You could, only expect . one answer to that,'* said Phil, 'the beam in his ej'es emphasising his delight in . the proposition. ' A few months of outdoor life might fit you for, say, a place in my bank.' And as Phil breathlessly waited to hear more, ■he went on : ' I like • the kind that will do wjiat they can when they can't do what they would.'. . ' ,' ' ' Bank ! Bank ! What's this they're talking about, a position in a bank ? ' Frank Percival asked ,it as'some of the house chat came to his ears. { Mr. Garde's going to take Phil Graham into his bank,' he was told. 'That waiter fellow ! Why, my father has been trying to get me in there.'

'It looks as if" son\e one else is getting in. And that " waiter fellow " is going to have, a good chance.' — b xchange.