The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-12-21
In ETIQUETTE
BY RICHARD HAMILTON POTTS


ahead of me, my home, in the far dis
tance, behind me; a cloudy sky, from
which descends a fine, but steady
sprinkle. above me-I wish / could
add, and an umbrellas damp, and
rapidly growing sloppy pavement be-
meath me; no possible car or omnibus,
no cab-stand. On, for a plebeian
street, with its multitude of conven-
fences! But my mind refuses to grasp
the bliss therein conveyed 1t flies,
instead. to the feathers on my hat, the
velvet on my gown.
had left my home rather hurriedly,
and, deceived by hypocritical little
ray of sunshine, had been lured forth
To find myself in this plight. OF course
/ could mount the steps OF one of the
irreproachable houses that line my
path; but there / should be tied, and
the rain would only increase. and
should late for the luncheon. No, it
is impossible.
| quicken my steps. i have pro-
ceeded to the crossing; the driZzle is
maturing into well-defined drops that
come faster and faster Despair has
me in his fell grasp. i see my pet cos
tune bedragglcd and ruined wreck.
| reflect on the state of my finances,
%
rising above cashmere nay, even
serge-again this winter l give my
skirts vigorous hitch that would lead
one to forget my ankles and reflect on
my knees, and make "A forv, ard lunge
more remarkable for its desperate en-
ergy than its grace.
''Er-pardon me-" says a manly
voice, trifle hesitatingly. at my ell
bow.
start violently 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 / recover
somewhat, and gather, from the own
er's general appearance, that he is n
gentleman and, in all probability,
means his protection in kindness and
not a means to getting up fiirta-
ton Perhaps | ought to refuse his
aid, politely and graciously, of course.
with the simple remark that | have
not far to go and SO shall not require
his assistance. Maybe | should draw
myself up, in the approved insulted
maidcnhood style, and say:
Sir! | thank you, but | can get
along very well by myself"
If he looked a trifle less respectful
and gentlemanly l think l would sac
rifice Nine. BoIand'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 OBJ
ject to. AT any rate my situation, un-
til now, has been really pathetic; SO /
shall try obeying my own instinct,
and If have cause to regret it | shall
know better in future, and the expert
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 | am well
protected. / am thankful that l 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-
tion which would only make me thor
oughly stiff and uncomfortable | can
just hear an ordinary man beginning:
Its d damp day or, Pretty wet.
isn't it?" or Have you far to go,
miss?'' or addressing some equally
commonplace sentence to me.
1t seems strange, though, to walk
along so close to anyone and not utter
word l wonder if | ought to speak:
but no, he appreciates my position.
What could | say, anyway? | Will
thank him when we separate, and
that is all / can do. | may not be
gracious enough, considering his po-
likeness, but how can one be gracious
to stranger? Oh, for surreptitious
peep at book on etiquette!
Instead, take a quick look at him.
He is very frank looking, and he has
straightforward, steady, brown eyes,
as | discovered in my first startled
glance at him. Altogether, it would
have been impossible to have snubbed
him. Perhaps l am little shaky in
my conviction, and l am trying to
justify myself, but
Here | stumble thanks to my van
ity in wearing French heels. which
did make me tritle unsteady, and
should fall were it not for his quick
assistance.
Thanks 1 murmur, with my
MY eyes meet nlS.
and a pause ensues; but then a pause
has been ensuing ever since we met
or-that is-came together.
Il hope l am not taking you out of
your way" l add, with happy inspir-
alton.
Not at ALL" he rejoins, earnestly.
Il trust you will allow me to see you
to your destination.
ssNn,1 ra worry Lind nm 70
nine hundred and twenty-seven on
this street, SO we are nearly there"
In another moment we have reached
the door, and l look up at him CRATE
fully. an6 say:
Il thank you very, very much"
Pray do not mention it." he an
swcrs, as he raises his hat and howing
with charming smile he turns
and runs lightly down the steps.
Lunch is nearly over, and I have
been unusually silent and distrait.
Even the announcement of a new en-
gagement has failed to arouse me to
more than momentary interest
Did l do right to accept half that
umbrella? or should / have declined it
courteously, but conclusively? OF
course, no man could pass by girl
who was in such a fix as l without
some slight compunction, particular
ly if it were SO evidently in his power
to assist her. But, having made the
proposition, would he not have felt
more respect for me had IT been po-
itely refused? Or would he have
thought me prude, and regretted his
chivalry?
"Er-yes, thank you. very chival-