Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
TRAVELLED ON NERVE.

0ny0OWs WHO IL HctSE ud0lo " tVSO o0S ou
account Of any lack Of that occasionally
useful quality colloquially known as gall.
He u . clerk In the Department OF State.
He has a wealthy spinster aunt. who lives
in richly appointed home on Rittenhouss
square in Philadelphia. The aunt, while
wealthy and generous, has ideas Of her
own an to how young men should comport
themselves and take care Of their money.
The State Department young man. who has
been pet Of his spinster aunt's since his
boyhood. has always contrived to frame
himself up In her vision as a model youth.
He Is still 80 regarded by her, although he
had . narrow shave recently, in which his
stupendous nerve alone pulled him through.
About the middle OF December the spin
ster aunt wrote to him and asked him to
run over to Philadelphia for day to see
her some time during the holidays. He re-
piled that he would visit her in Philadel-
phia on New Year day.
I shall take one OF the early trains on
New Year morning" he wrote to her. ''ar-
irving there about or 2. We shall dine at
q restaurant. and in the evening we shall
go to the theater. I shall write and en-
gage the seats in advance. I suggest
dining out because I know that on the holt
days you prefer seeing the people in the
restaurants to dining in state in your own
home. So we shall have a coy afternoon
and evening"" etc.
On New Year eve the young man got into
poker game at the home Of one of his
office mates, and when the game broke up,
at or in the morning, he was all in,"
to use the current phrase. On his way to
his room from the disastrous poker game
ne 1ingied the 60 cents that he had left in
MS pockets and remembered that he was
to start at or clock that same morn
ing for Philadelphia.
II can't see the jolly old girl through the
afternoon and evening on 60 cents" he
unused. I'm have to dig one Of the fell
lows up on my way to the station, and hold
MIN up for double saw-buck"
he barely had time to dress and make
.ne station when he woke UP, however. and
SO there was no opportunity for him to ne
gotiate loan. He had pass to and from
Philadelphia and % cents in silver after he
nae ..r PAID mis- car fare down to the station.
rms Is an honest Injun mess" said he
to himself as he settled back In his seat
when the train moved out Of Washington.
Just one nickel over four bits to blow NV
aunt to a good time this afternoon and
enough to know that the government
nanded me some part Of my wages the dav
oeIore New Year, and she'll be wondering
why IS 1t that fellows aunt's always
chlcken-feed money that he earns. and ali
that sort OF rot? But maybe ri. meet one
OF the fellows when get to PhilHe that I
can put under the gum"
However, his aunt had ruessed .orra,+,,,
as to what train he would take from Wesh,
lngton. and she was at the Broad street
station to meet him. She greeted him af
ae5tessionately. and he put up brave front,
ne saw that he would have no opportunitv
70 nunt up one Of his Philadelphia pals and
make touch" In order to gain time he
S suggested to his aunt that they take
t hoie wax before luncheon. 1t was clear,
beautiful day. The spinster aunt said that
she felt Just like having a good walk.
Ihey strolled up and down Chestnut street
and then over to Walnut street to watch the
NeW rear parade-they parade in Philadel-
phla on New Year in much the same way as
they do on Easter Sunday. In the course
OF the stroll the young man and his aunt
passed a huge hall in which q free food
snow was going on. The doors Of the hall
were open. and people were going In The
idea Aao oil
Why. here's food show going on" he
said to his aunt. I've always wanted to
see what a food show is like. Did YOU ever
attend one, aunt?"
NO" she replied. good-naturedly. Lets
go In and see what it's like"
They passed in. The hall was gorgeously
decorated. and the display of good things
to eat was something appetizing. There was
a "demonstrator' in every booth-pretty
young women who cordially invited visitors
to sample their eatables. The aunt began
to nibble at the good things, and SO did the
young man.
why, aren't the things they have here
nicer exclaimed the aunt. as they passed
from booth to booth. partaking OF some
thing palatable at each Of them.
"Delicious! replied her nephew, washing
down dainty biscuit with a cup Of fra
grant cocoa.
After they had walked. as It seemed,
about half mile around the vast hall.
nibbling at something at nearly all of the
booths, the aunt stopped and laughed anus
eddy.
well. declare she said. 'if I am not
perfectly-stuffed! I have not eaten so
much in ever so long. and could not dream
of sitting down to q dinner after this ex-
perience. Isn't 1t jolly, now. the very idea
Of one making a satisfying New Year din
ner at a free food show" and her sides
shook
"Out-and-out jolly!' conceded her nephew.
breathing more freely.
By the time they left the free food show
it had grown quite dark.
perhaps we had better take the car and
go up home to rest a bit before dressing for
the theater.; the aunt suggested. II did
not meet you with the carriage today, you
know. because I wanted to give the coach
man the whole day off-and I dote on riding
in the street cars. any way.
The mention Of the word "theater" stung
the young man pretty sharply. and he did
some pretty busy thinking as he put his
aunt onto the street car.
Aunt" he said to her when he took his
seat in the car beside her, II think ought
to warn you in advance about this theatre
cal performance for which I inadvertently
wrote for tickets. didn't know anything
about the character Of it when I wrote for
the tickets, but the show was in Wash
ington last week. and the fellows who saw
it told me that 1t is-er-you know-one Of
these French pieces. and-er-"
ooh, Is 1t improper, Archibald?" inquired
his spinster aunt in an alarmed tone.
IT am afraid it is somewhat so. aunt"
her nephew replied, land I thought I had
better tell you before"
'You are quite right and a very good
boy, Archibald" said his aunt, austerely.
1T should not think of attending an i'm
proper theatrical performance"
The young man was glad of his aunt's
Quaker upbringing then.
1T shouldn't mind SO much" he went on.
looking disappointed, 'only 1t is so hard
impossible. in fact-to get into theater on
New Year night unless you've bought seats
way in advance, and
"Oh never mind, then, my boy" said the
spinster aunt, graciously. I'VE shall go TO
the Academy Of Art instead-there are
number of new pictures there that 1 haven't
SEEM and I prefer seeing the pictures at
night to viewing them in the daylight, any
way"
They dressed, after resting. and went to
the Academy of Art, from which they
emerged at 10 o'clock or whereabouts. The
young man delightedly recognized cab
man on the cab stand across the way whom
he knew well, and summoned him. The