The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29
Stories Of the Town
LITTLE CnUNns OF IN
PASSING BY JOURNAL

'The girl was right-she did what many
young woman with a bit of self-respect
would have done and she served you very
properly when she 'froze up as you were
pleased to call it." The imperious little
creature at the end of the table with the
dimpled chin and gray eyes and plump
shoulders was very much in earnest. The
topic was one in which the company was
interested to the point of heated dis
cussion.
Some people had dropped in at hotel
cafe after the theater and were having
supper. An elaborate meal was being
served and with it came a little burgundy
and later some champagne. None for
me-" said the dimpled girl, turning her
glass, and one of the men had laughed at
her. What little Puritan you are" he
said in a spirit of raillery. but she was
steadfast in her resolve to cut out the
wine. She said she didn't believe in a
girl drinking wine with a man, because it
set n bad example before him. One of the
women called her prude and rebuked her
by raising her own glass, sparkling with the
yellow liquid, and proposing toast to the
man who sat- near her.
Here's to you as good as you are and as
But as good as you are and as bad as am
I'm as good as you are as bad as l am"
Was the way the toast ran and the men
around the table gave graceful recogni-
ton of it's merits by drinking her health
The trend of conversation started by the
dimpled girl branched into several cham
nels and at length they got to talking about
the right of a man to seek the acquaint-
ance of a girl without the formality of an
introduction. One of the men said he
thought that under some circumstances
this was permissible. Whether it is or
not" said the man who sat opposite the
dimpled girl, II have had enough of that
sort of business to last lifetime-Ive
been taught a lesson"
Served you right, but let's have it."
said the woman who gave the toast and the
young fellow proceeded. 1.-THE other after
noon came down on a car" he said, land
all the way in 1 sat by a sweet-faced girl
of twenty, who certainly gave me no rea-
son to think any one could firt with her.
She was daintily gowned, for the matinee
1 suppose. The car was crowded and she
sat close to me and / recognized her as a
young woman of my neighborhood whom /
had never met. AT Washington and Penn
sylvania streets she left the car and in
getting up dropped handkerchief-a dainty
bit Of cambria and lace. 1t gave forth an
odor that decidedly pleasing and my
first impulse was TO keep 1t. / thrust 1t In
my overcoat pocket and carried 1t there
for two days. AT the end of that time I
again saw the owner of the handkerchief.
With another girl she was taking at
the corner where / was waiting. Now
want it understood by you people that I
would never have dared to do what / did
had the girl been alone. But there were
two and in a moment Of good nature and
also in a misguided moment / approached
the young woman and lifted my hat. Elk
cuse me- remarked, did either OF you
girls lose a handkerchief yesterday? Both
looked rather astonished and 1 repeated the
question. Drawing the handkerchief from
my pocket / held it I'D and the girl who
had lost it said she guessed 1t belonged to
her. L know 1t does 1 cheerfully re-
marked. you sat in the car beside me yes
terday and dropped it. Don't you remem-
| ber?'
81 guess it's NINE" she said, and you're
going to give it to me. arn't you? Now, the
| thing / should have done would have been
to pass over the handkerchief and that
| would have ended the incident. Those girls
could have forgiven me for approaching
| them III that way. Instead, I remarked,
| No, / guess / won't give 1t to you now
but I will the next time / see you. II
was perhaps good that the car came at
that moment. There was a sudden frost in
that locality that was appalling. The girl
made no reply, but looked as hurt as II
| she had been struck blow. By the time ]
reached the city was thoroughly Disguised
| with myself and 1t wasn't long before
| called up a man who knew the girl and
| sent the handkerchief to her. AS / after
ward learned the thing that hurt her was
| the fear that she might have done some
| thing that would give a man permission
| to speak to her. But she hadn't. 1t was
simply a case OF man making an ass OF
| myself
| 1t was this recital that called forth the
rather sharp criticism from the dimpled
| girl at the end of the table. 1T was con-
/ temptible of you, and besides, it was
| stupid" she exclaimed. Being a self.
respecting girl it hurt her when you SAID
| you would give her the handkerchief wher
you saw her again. What right had you t.
| suggest that you would see hei
| again? No right in the world. II
worried her because she had right tc
= -nE Xa.er1,> rareA~e