Arizona republican., 1894-12-29
AQUESTIONIN ETIQUETTE
BY RICHARD HAMILTON POTTS.

ssf me; lunch-party four long DOCKS ahead of me, my home, in the far dis lance, behind me; a cloudy sky, from which descends fine, but steady sprinkle, above mel wish l could add, and an umbrella-a damp, and rapidly growing sloppy pavement be- heath me; no possible car or omnibus, 90 cab-stand. Oh, for plebeian street, with it's multitude of conven- 5eneesl But my mind refuses to grasp fhe bliss therein conveyed. It flies, instead, to the feathers on my hat, the velvet on my gown.
 I had left my home rather hurriedly, and, deceived by hypocritical little cay of sunshine, had been lured forth 60 find myself in this plight. Of course could mount the steps ot one of the irreproachable houses that line my path; but there I should be tied, and the rain would only increase, and I should late for the luncheon. No, it is impossible.
 I quicken my steps. I have pro- ceeded to the crossing; the drizzle is maturing into well-defned drops that come faster and faster. Despair has sne in his fell grasp. I see my pet cos tune bedraggled and ruined wreck. reflect on the state of my finances, which precludes the possibility of my rising above cashmere nay, even serge-again this winter. I give my skirts vigorous hitch that would lead one to forget my ankles and reflect on my knees, and make forward lunge more remarkable for it's desperate en- ergy than its grace.
 ''Er-pardon me-" says a manly roice, a trife hesitatingly, at my el- bow.
 start violen5ly and my skirts seek their proper level. A large umbrella is sheltering me; the rain no longer patters among the feathers that crown my head.
 Allow me to share my umbrella with you. l see that you are without one," adds the manly voice.
 "Oh, thank you," say, as I recover somewhat, and gather, from the own er's general appearance, that he is gentleman and, in all probability, means his protection in kindness and not as a means to getting up flirta- ton. Perhaps I ought to refuse his aid, politely and graciously, of course, with the simple remark that l have not far to go and so shall not require his assistance. Maybe 1 should draw myself up, in the approved insulted naidenhood style, and say:
 Sir! l thank you, but I can get along very well by myself"
 If he looked trifie less respectful and gentlemanly I think 1 would sac rifice Mime. Boland's latest, and as yet unpaid for, effort in my behalf; but am sure he is not going to say anything the most prudish could ob- ject to. At any rate my situation, un- til now, has been really pathetic; so shall try obeying my own instinct, and if 1 have cause to regret it 1 shall know better in future and the experi- ence will not hurt me.
 We have traversed block in silence. He walks by my side, perfectly grave and quiet, and only seems to glance in my direction to see that I am well protected. 1 am thankful that took his offer the way it was meant, and did not give him reason to regret his generous impulse. On we pace, and there enters my mind the quotation:
 Thou art so near and yet so far
 But, seriously, he certainly is very nice not to try to get up conversa- ton which would only make me thor oughly stiff and uncomfortable. I can just hear an ordinary man beginning
 ''It's a damp day;' or, Pretty wet, isn't it?" or Have you far to go, miss?" or addressing some equally commonplace sentence to me.
 It seems strange, though, to walk along so close to anyone and not utter word. 1 wonder if l ought to speak; but no, he appreciates fly position. What could l say, anyway? l will thank him when we separate, and that is all 1 can do. 1 may not be gracious enough, considering his DO liteness, but how can one be gracious to stranger? Oh, for surreptitious peep at a book on etiquette!
 Instead, take quick look at him. He is very frank looking, and he has straightforward, steady, brown eyes as l discovered in my first startled glance at him. Altogether, it would have been impossible to have snubbed him. Perhaps I am a little shaky in my conviction, and 1 am trying tc justify myself, but
 Here I stumble (thanks to my van ity in wearing French heels, whict did make me trifie unsteady, anc should fall were it not for his quick assistance.
 Thanks" murmur, with my cheeks burning. My eyes meet his and pause ensues; but then a pause has been ensuing ever since we met