New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-29

destined o receive a shock. at the gates We
me the Rudest Woman in Asia driving in. Beren-
garia covered under the pale blue sunshade-
est Woman, peering suspiclousIy under the lowered
p2rasoL as the tum-tuHS dashed past foTL-
thought Of tie Rudest wonans triumph when the
''stop!,. She cried TO me. as We swung round a
corner OF the road just out OF sight OF the house
Quick! Have yoU got pencil and scrap or pa
I drew uD BY the side OF the road. and fortu-
nately had both. Berengarta scrubbed something
and addressed it to MI Lovejoy, The sySe took i
with many hurried instructions as 10 the Iethod
OF its delivery, and to time. hat Beren-
gara said in that note never knew, but the story
or that little scene in the veranda never got
abroad. We sat in the tuLl-tum waiting for the
II suppose my hats ruined" said Berengaria
doisfully yet with an appealing look az me TO say
looked at it doubtfuIly. The chiffon CONNECTION
had SO much admired not an hour ago hung limp
or, .oh, no. said hastily: catching Bsrengartas
better than the truth just then 1t viii be all
rlS2t When II 5 dry. 1 added h9petuIy1
was able to demand further sacrifices OF truth on
my part. 1 devoted all my attention TO driving
uuwontedIy silent. Almost befor~ I had pulled up
she had jumped out and run I'D the veranda
Il won't be five minutes" she said. she disap-
peared inside the bungaIow - 1T. -,
and smart in aDofIar leTitcbin- bat and cost1ue
minutes
drove back rapidly again: so that we might not
be noticeably late. We arrived in excellent time
Only half a dozen there before
prominent among whom was tAo rtudest Woman
In Asia and the new Deputy Commissioner. whom
Berengara had described after their first meeting.
IAN unwashed-loOking little man, who wore
pince-nez and frayed trousers Berengara sailed
In gracefully. though knew she was IN state OF
saw t at on ne {roT tbs st oroans fec
that we safe far. Presently. TO my horror.
I heard some one across the room mention the
garia's face reassured me. She herself had led
up to the subject. she confessed % me afterward.
She said she had felt trresistby drawn to talk OF
punkahwaIas-partly to see if her terrible advent
.I once knew OF an engagement that was broken
Off, owing to = punkahwala.' Berengaria was
'ohF said. looking round quickly, as fels
BerengariaS lmaglnaro2 vas IG rg away NV
little experience. I hadn't PROPOSED d-,-,. ..
pleading with me not to deprive the story OF halt
Il had made up my mind to do it next day
you've never alWy told e G5ite all the story
The Rudest Woman stopped making up violent
people put It and thrust IN her word
DO tell US all about it, she said
expected to hear the story IT IS ali So long ago
to tell the tale herself so that don't feel any
computation In relating the circumstances. -,
been out to bachelor dinner at the club returning
Extraordinarily early for a bachelor dinner
ulurmured the Rudest Woman
terrupton every one had gone to bed and not
you don't mean 10 say exclaimed the Rudest
Woman that you couldn't find your room?'
at these repeated Interruptions ''it was my pun
kahwala that was not TO be found 1t was tmPos-
was. without a punkah. I couldn't call out and
search round the dark veranda was only pro-
dFe{Fs OF two gIs 6g Id az T T Bd Pgn
could think OF nothing else to DO. so, IN a rash
moment. took Lne rope rom tne ne hands OF one
waIa, with strict injunCtions 20 hurry back. The
WAS rather amu 1 at fSs 't'' and puIied so
energy
What a joke one might have had" said tbs
TT came to be something more than Joke"
Fad Sent OF G G refur anu It grew horrbig
| monotonous and nv arm began to ache badly 7
| felt tired and sleepy. and in weak moment sat
| down on the punkahwalas box suddenly real
what if he didn't come back AZ all, should have
! ages that he had been away. distinctly remenl-
Der nodding once or twice and pulling myself to-
whaC!l on the head. and an appariton in the door
who was it?'' asked one OF the guests breath
1T was a lady, said hesitatingly.
! The lady murmured Berengar1a:
/ What Not the YOU going to propose
& 4 mex. day'" in7inHa''d the Nuds'' Woman IN
! .,Oh. how interestingr',
| to hear more. but was afraid Of showing undue
! curiosity The Rudest Woman maintained her
| reputation for iutrepidity
| What did she look Hke?'' she asked
| The question took by surprise.
"Oh, something white and lacy" I stammered
Berengaria blushed. but the Rudest Woman evil
| IDENTIFY wanted TO hear more
| And you didn't propose next day." she said
| NO"
Again there vas pause; again IT was broken
| by the Rudest Woman:
| Won't you tell Why"
| hesitated. Berengarfa stepped into the breach
| He has been known to say that one taste OF
/ that lady's shoe and tongue was enough" she
/ was that alI?' asked the Rudest Woman, in a
| tone OF evident Disappointment
| Her language was rather strong, even TO a
/ And the shoe hurcr''
/ TT was an extremely weIl-directed blow" 7 adj
/ mitted, and. l fear; showed unr1tstakable signs
/ OF previous practice"
II don't believe that's all" said the Rudest
I Woman. unCOuvnCed.
/ I felt was being pushed too far. and rose to
/ put down my cup.
! That's all I've ever heard n1urrnured Beren-
/ garia. looking up at me doubtfully-
| I smiled.
I'm sure that's not all" exclaimed the Rudest
| Woman confidently.
! There was an effective pause. kept nv eyes CT
/ the ground The pause grew prolonged. I felt
/ that IL was the moment 70 speak
! she what little hair she had in curl pa
/ perS." I confessed
| Several ladies moved Uneasily.
| THAT is really all added hastily.
/ But Bereugaria biushed again. and rose to 70
As we passed out. I caught one last sentence from
| the Rudest Woman in AsiaS lips.
Only 10 think" she eXClairning aubis1ousIy-
! TO the Deputy Commissioner. Only 10 think
/ that that might happen 70 some women 7 know
/ any nghtI'-(The Bystander-