The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-02-12
A STRANGE CASE.

The story Told by "a Woman Who
Claimed to he From Washington.
A wcll-drcsscd man walked up to the
handicapped counter of the Girard
House in Philadelphia on Saturday
afternoon, and inquired for letters, and
upon being told that a lady was waiting
for him In the parlor, looked in there a
minute, and then departed from the
hotel The North american gives the
following account of what occurred
Fifteen minutes later pleasant faced
little woman, wearing dark raglan,
advanced to the desk and asked for a
man answering the description of the
stranger.
"Why, the gentleman went into the
parlor few minutes ago. Are you the
lady who wished to see himG'
II am"
Then you did not see him2"
"No, SIR
MY name,' said the lady, "is Mrs.
lilly, live at 6l7 Twenty,first street,
Washington, ID. G. Some time ago the
gentleman inserted an advertisement in
the New York World for lady to
manage business concern, the charac-
ter of which was not designated.
You answered the advertisement 2"
"Ycs, sir. | wrote to the man APP
plying for the place | can't think Of
the address. have lost the advertise.
mont. The man." continued Mrs
lilly, replied by return mail. He
wrote, asking me to meet him in this
city at this hotel He also sent half of
my railroad fare, saying that he was un-
willing that | should beput to any great
expense"
Eyes. see. -
well, ! camo on, and now that he
has failed to meet me am in an awful
predicamcnt. don't know what to
do"
Have you no money!"
mo, sir i was so confident of Sc
curing the position that ] neglected to
provide myself with sufficient means to
defray return expenses"
There was such an air of deep sin
cerity about the little woman that Clerk
Morris gave her money enough to re-
turn to Washington.
What n "Critic" Reporter Learned.
In answer to The CRITIC reporters
ring at 617 Twenty first street tho door
was opened by pleasant,faced little
woman, who answered to the descrip-
ton published In the Philadelphia
papers. She said that her name was
Mrs. lilly. When asked about the
truth of the story published above she
was astonished, and after II had been
read TO her she broke out in a merry
laugh 4s
why, ! haven't been to Philadelphia
In three years, she said, land not out
side of Washington in two. The story
isifalse from beginning TO end, and /
cannot imagine who originated il"
Did you stop at the Girard House
when in the city ?" asked the reporter.
Ycs--that is. j have stopped there,
but, rs said, il has been Two years
since. Why, for six months have not
left the house, except to go to the drug
store. My daughter has been on her
death bed forsix months.
Mrs. lilly was growing a little con
fused. Six months Is rather a long time
$ for typhoid fever to-last. q
I. DO you think anyone would have
used your name in this connecticut
Did any OF your acquaintance recently
visit Philadelphia 2"
II know nothing about 1t. 1t Is
possible that some of my enemies did
this to injure or annoy me and intend
to investigate It. am not in the habit
of answering personal advertisements
in the newspapers, and, when l go to
Philadelphia or anywhere else, i usually
carry enough money with me to pay
my fare. back home"