The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07
BESSIE Went FLIRTING,
And Wound Up by Finding Herself
in a Most Embarrass-
ing Fix.
"Mr. Doolittle" Related q Tale
Adorned With a Moral
Before Papa.
h Was a GentlcMan OF Family, but the
Girls Unanimously Voted Him
Contemplate.

Brooklyn society girls are busily engaged
In gossiping about a very disagreeable ad'
venture which bcfell one of their number,
saws tho New York Sun. The tale, AZ told
by one of them at a Inner on Sunday
night, is here presented, with the exception
of the name Of the fair victim.
"You don't say you haven't heard of 1t?
Goodness! Why. everybody knows-and it
is ono of the most horrible things. Tell
you? Why, certainly. Now listen! 1t was
ono of those beautiful crisp days in the
early part of the month when Bessie, rugged
up in those beautiful furs, started out on n
little shopping tour in New York. Bessie
is seldom permitted to go out alone, and
she was II little bit frightened at first, but
she aoon tripped along with the greatest
confidence in herself. Now you
must know that Bessie is not at
all u forward girl, but she loves
freedom and adventure and all that sort
Of thing, and consequently she was likely
to act a trifle foolish on occasions. But l
am sure if such a sequel had been suggested
TO her she would have declared it impossi-
BILE. At the time l am sure the naughtiness
OF her actions were not apparent to her,
and one always likes to believe they are
irresistible.
''As Bessie stood gazing into the window
Of one of the stores, meditating upon which
of the many choice articles she should
select for her (shall we say stockingD on
Christmas morning, she felt the magnetic
influence of q pair of eyes. and noticed II
tall, manly form at her side. Curiosity
gradually getting the better of her she
glanced up into the smiling face of q fine
looking man of about 35 years. Mischief
took possession Of Bessie, and in her most
fascinating manner she smiled upon HIM
encouraRingly as she resumed her walk.
Nov this was a very naughty little Bessie,
and of course the consequence OF such fool
ishness must BIO upon her W little golden
head. But her heart was light and he:
conscience free as she trudged along.
Sat the Eighteenth street station of the
elevated road she noticed that the man she
had smiled upon was following her. He
took the same train with her. and this
fattering attention. and she could not re-
sist-just out of gratitude, you know
smiling upon him a little more.
'.In the crush at the Brooklyn bridge
Bessie lost sight of him for a few minutes.
She was crowded into the train, breathless
and again she beheld the now familiar face.
He had secured a seat, which he CALAMITY
placed at her disposal. while he hung to
the strap above her, and occasionally made
a remark about the difficulties Of travelling
on the bridge. Bessie held up her part in
the conv " rsation.
''They arrived in the City of Churches,
and the unknown carefully assisted her to
the street. He asked her for permission to
zee her safely to her door, which she
granted, thinking in the meantime what n
graphic description of her adventure she
would give to the girls on the morrow. He
was a most agreeable companion and they
did not lack for topics of conversation in
their short walk, but Bessie's neart stood
still. as approaching her home she saw COM
ing from the opposite direction her father.
Too late to admit of any other alternative,
an introduction was unavoidable. This she
struggled through, presenting the unknown
rs Mr.. Doolittle,' which was the first
name which entered her bewildered little
head.
''Bessie's father is a genial old gentle
man. and he invited Bessie's escort in to
horror when the fellow accepted the in
vitation. 'Nr. Doolittle' proved to
be a good talker, and Bessie thought him
Il great deal nicer than her usual run of
dudes. All the family liked him, and Bes-
sic was thinking that she had done a very
over. While Mr.. Doolittle' was stirring
his coffee he asked permission to tell a lit
tie story. Eve ybody was charmed at the
prospect. MIR. DoolIttle' said that what he
had to relate was an experience in which he
had recently figured. Then he proceeded
calmly to tell everything that happened
during the afternoon. Bessie stared Mt
him with Il white face. The horrid fellow
told every word that Bessie said to hin. and
that lie said to Bessie. He explained that
he was Il married man, n that ne did not
intend carrying the thing SO far at first, but
that he thought it was his duty to tell her
father, and he hoped it would be a lesson TO
Bessie, as she might have fallen into worse
hands than his.
"We'u draw the curtain on this painful
scene but we girls think the man was CON
temptible."