New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
TRUTH ROSE AGAIN.
THE COLLAPSE OF Az EXPLANATION
OFFERED AT A SOCIAL. CRISIS

|
again were verified by incident which took
place on a South Brooklyn ferryboat recently
1t was ore Of those quiet little that the
world never hears about but the obscurity OF
| which does not detract single jot from the
poignant grief Of the culprit detected red-handed
Among those who came aboard the ferryboat at
South Brooklyn TO come to the city was q young
woman. There was something Intangible about
her that impressed with the fact that she
was college girl whose contact with society
had made her a rigorous observer Of all the
little niceties of fashion and form. She &C
companied by young man. but he was Of no
especial interest, .nf seemed TO shine only in re-
hected glory. Otherwise he had calm to rec
ignition.
This young woman found a comfortable seat
and settled down. Hardly had the beat pulled
out before two young women passed along the
deck and. catching sight Of the girl who had just
seated herself. both OF them smiled affabIy and
said cordially and in unison:
why. how do you do. Maron?"
The girl addressed beamed with pleasure. and
turning to one OF the girls cried:
why. Jane. where in the world did you come
from" and then she spoke cordially to the other
saying:
Il am awfully glad to you. What have you
been doing with yourseIf?''
oh. she replied ambiguousy. lots OF things"
After this burst of greeting on both sides 4 sud-
den air OF consraint settled the little party.
The man had been ignored He did not know
either Of the girls who had so suddenly appeared
on the scene He stared modify out at the
water, and the young woman who with him
was evidently i'll at ease. No move was made by
the girl TO introduce her escort TO her friends
and he discreetly turned his face away and
watched the foaming water race past the paddle
wheels After few moments Of desultory and
forced conversation one of the two girls said:
We'll. 1 guess we Will go here and sit in
the sun" Suiting the action to the word the two
girls strolled of and found camp chairs on the
other side of the deck. They were hardly Of
nearing when the other girl turned flushed face
to the young man and said in vexation:
Did you ever such a mess? For the llre
OF me 1 couldn't think of the name OF that tall
girl know Jane real well. for we roorned to-
gether at Vassar. but the other didn't know so
well at college. and for the life of me l couldn't
think of her name. That is the didn't
introduce you"
The properly sysnpa thetic and re-
marked that it was an embarrassing position.
Then suddenly he awOke to a great herosm and
said in a studied manner:
III tell you what you do. I will go up front
and you go over and talk to them. Tell them that
you couldn't think OF my nane-that you Just
met me ut dance-that you never were quite
properly introduced to me. and that | lust met
you on the bout" The girls eyes sparkled with
pleasure She said gratefully: That's awfulIy
good OF you. You won't mind q little bit,
will you? You understand"
That's all right said he manfully go
ahead" Then he walked off. She picked up her
skirts ard traied over join her two friends
and from the merry laughter that came from the
party ii was evident that she telling her
fb with zest. She once riEhted herself viii.
her friends. and fortunately the elusive name was
mentioned quite by way of chance. and in a
n oment she was thoroughly established in the
favor of her friends once more. Laughter and
talk ran on at rapid rate until another young
man strolled up and. catching sight of the three
girls, stopped and spoke to them. one Of tn,
two at once began to tell him of the ludicrouS
position that they had just been in. The first
girl colored violently and bit her lip. She tried
vainly to stem the story. but it use. Tia
man was duly impressed with the joke, and
laughngly glanced toward the spot pointed out
by the girl where the first man was standing
The face of the newcomer suddenly underwent a
change. and he turned the girl and said
wOnderirgly:
Marion didn't know the name Of that fellowt
Why, they engaged"
In recounting the adventure TO her fianca
afterward he asked her what she had said or
done. She replied pitifully;
There wasn't anything to say do. Ii was
just hopeless-it was simply impossible"