The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
BIDDING MRs.GoDFREY COOLEY
Good Intentions Forgotten in the
Parting Hour.

Do We ever say more idiotic things than
when We go to railroad stations TO see our
friends off? 10 our faces ever look more
vacuous than when we hurl our last i'm
beetle remarks in at the car windows? Do
we ever make feebler jokes or more i'm
brue our advice in commonplace? l think
not
Mrs. Godfreyis a charming woman and she
has been heard TO say that she was proud
of her friends, but 60 not think she was
proud of them yesterday when they gath
cred in the union station to bid her fare
well before she left for Honolulu. Meth
er did she herself shine with any particu-
lar lustre. We were gathered in the wo-
mems waiting room when she came in.
After she had greeted US all, bought her
ticket and sent man down to check her
baggage, most appalling silence fell on
the group. ]
You'll write to me before you get to
San Francisco. won't you?" Margaret
Deane said with the most intense fervor.
"oh. of course" Mrs. Godfrey answered.
Thereupon six other friends exacted the
same promise.
Another silence fell broken by Mac
Donald. viii you have to change cars?'
he asked anxiously. Macdonald thinks no
more. of crossing the continent than he
does of buying cigar. bu; he added. It's
the deuce 10 change cars. you know"
NO. l don't have to change cars till
get to Frisco" Mrs. Godfrey said. This
remark was hailed as q joke and we all
laughed uproariously.
You are the iolliest womani" little
Wakefield said admiringly. Wen all
miss you awfully."
A chorus of regret arose. Mrs Godfrey
said that we must remember that she was
coming back in the spring.
And then you'll be our Honolulu
queen" the Infant said.
Now. don't get the plagued sweet old
Mrs. Chisholm said. " and have you got
my belladonna plasters for seasickness?
And have you got those tablets? They are
SO good if you'll you feel bilious.
and
Mrs. Godfrey, you ought to have some
dried beef to ehaw II you get saasick,'
Macdonald said. Everybody now Offered a
sure cure for seasickness, and Mrs. God
frey pretended that she would buy them
all in San Francisco.
Another silence fell on the company. 81
wonder what time you get TO Omaha"
Margaret Deane asked. Mrs. Godfrey
didiet know nor care, but Wakefield and
Macdonald got a folder and spent several
minutes in fixing the exact minute. We
then held a short argument on the best
position
in which nobody felt the slightest inter-
est was settled, Wakefield discovered that
il was time TO go down to the train.
The women all squealed at this an
nouncement; the men fought courteously
for the privilege Of carrying Mrs. Cod
frey's hand luggage. We all went into the
car with her. The men shook hand with
Mrs Godfrey and the women kissed her
damply between sots. Now, do write 10
II I,.f,,
Der about the belladouua plaster"
Yes. 40 write often and tell us all
about the Sandwich Islands, the chorus
cried. Good by-good-b
We filed out of the car and then gath
cred in a knot under Mrs Godfreys win
dow. We wiped our eyes and smiled out:
Don't get married while you are gone"
the Infant said in sudden accession Of
idiOcy.
Mrs Godfrey laughed and Wakefield
and Macdonald looked at the Infant as If
they desired ardentIy to eat her-bones,
picture hat and all. Mrs. Chisholm said
that marriage was a lottery. Nobody dis
puted this and Margaret CHANGED the sub
ject by asking If Mrs. Godfrey was sure
she had her ticket and her check.
The traveller showed them to us. 1t
was time for the train to move. We all
said again. Good by-be sure to take
care OF yourself Don't forget to write
and those other senseless things that peo-
pie say through car windows.
Mrs. Godfrey smiled and said "Good-by,
good by"
The train moved out of the shed and we
were turning away, when the Infant had
a CLEAN of lucidity. why, Mr. MacDon-
aid. you forgot to give her that box of
candy and Mr.. Wakefield has got his
roses in his hands vet "
The two men looked first foolish, then
vicious. Mrs. Chisholm dived into her
reticuIe and set up a loud wall. And l
forgot to give her the belladonna pIas-
ers." She turned to the Infant Here, |
lear. you take them. They'll be real cou-
,Cnent when you go to school this fall"
Thank you the Infant returned. She |
ooked hopefully toward Wakefield and /
expecting them to follow suit !
with the flowers and candy. but they only |
slared at her and Hent up the steps to-
ward the street. The rest Of us followed. |
somehow we all felt that We had not dis
inguished ourselves in the parting hour.