Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12
HE FELL FROM GRACE

The usually sedate citizen had, Ii Is true
erred. On election night, that is to say ne
fell from the aqua vehicle with quite
thud.
Consequently, when he started DOWN Town
to his office on the following morning ne
was filled with misgivings. There was an
incident or so of the previous evening that
he did not clearly recall. He was GER
tain, however, that this incident or 30
would be recalled for him; for man that is
born of woman dearly loves to relate unto
his erring friend the dreary tale of the lat
ters imbecilities of the night before. This
man reflected gloomily, as his car pushed
down town. of the narrowing things which
he was to hear of himself. He was pre-
pared for the worst.
Ohio! here he is!' exclaimed his first
friend when the man who had erred alighted
from his car. Poor old Injun! Narrow
shave you had. all right. If hadn't come
up just in the nick of time you'd ha been
trying to tell Judge kimball all about 1t in
the Police Court this beauteous, russell
morning. Hows your top-piece?'
In what manner was l violating the
law?' inquired the citizen who had erred.
Ignoring the question.
Huh! The nerve of him! Better ask me
what you weren't doing to violate the law!
Trying to lick all the hackmen in town,
pulling cops playfully by the ears, standing
in front of electric cars and daring EN- to
you'd ha' been in a little six-by-six this
morning. waiting for the Nubian Marie
What did your wife have to say?'
oh. that's coming later dsmally re-
piled the citizen who had erred; and he
broke away from friend No. 1 and went to
procure spirits of ammonia, clam juice, and
things.
well, well, well-you're alive, hey?' was
friend No. rs greeting as he came up be-
hind the citizen who had erred and pounded
MN heavily on the back Feeling punk,
Ell? oh, you'll be all right by next Thurs
day week. l thought sure you'd get into
a rough house with that big marine,
though"
What big mariner" inquired the citizen
who had erred. huskily.
Why, don't you remember that huge
Muil1gan OF marine whose cap you play
fully tipped off into the gutter? said
friend No. 2. TOOK all of the soft-soaping
of the bunch of us to keep him Off of you,
especially as you declared that it was your
particular graft to bite the arms Off of
| marines, the bigger and Irisher the better.
Don't you remember that?'
mo-" replied the citizen who had erred.
huskily, diving into a drug shop to get
something to ease his nerves.
why, old pal, you really look as If you d
been to bed" was the greeting of friend
NO. 3, examining the citizen who had erred
with critical eye. Last thing l saw of
you last night you were standing at the
corner (of 'teenth street and the avenue,
recitlng Grays 'Elegy' to the sky, and
swearing between verses that you never in
tended to go home any more in this or any
other life. Changed your mind, hey? Well.
OLD chap, that was great imitation Of
John Mccullough in The Gladiator that
you gave the bunch. Could hear you bel
lowing it two blocks away"
The citizen who had erred pressed his
hand to his fevered brow and moved on.
Ha! Here comes the newly revealed
singer" exclaimed friend No 4, bearing
| down upon the citizen who had erred. Say.
| why the deuce didn't you ever tell US that
| you were such much as a singist?'
Was l singing?' weakly inquired the
man who had fallen from the sprinkling
| cart
We'll, should say yes" was the joyous
reply. Don't remember standing on the
corner of 'umpty street last night and en-
tertaining large and enthusiastic crowd,
composed chiefly of small boys and drivers
of night liners, with Down Where the
WurZburger Flows Ell? Why, say chum,
1t was great. We moved you along Billy
and 1. or you'd have been pinched, sure.
Better cut that sort O. thing out, old chap.
You're too much of an Ogalalla when you
get that way. You've been up the pole
now for a couple of years, anyhow, haven t
you? Well, you'd better climb up again
and lash yourself to the mast. Nothing in
the hooking bowl, pal, and you ought to
know it by this time"
| "Oh. know it, responded the sad-souled
citizen who had erred. hopping the per-
| spiration from his throbbing brow.
Why, good morning, old man." said
friend No 6. coming up behind the citizen
who had erred and placing his hand on
his shoulder. Il hope you don't feel
seedy? You can at least have the consola-
ton of feeling that you know how to be-
have yourself like a white man in a gang
of Indians, such as we were last night,
and that's more than any of the rest of
us can say"
The fists of the citizen who had erred
relaxed.
Were you with all the EVENING" he
asked friend No. g.
Took you home in my cab" replied
friend No. 6. Met you about 10 o'clock,
and didn't leave you from then on"
The citizen who had erred took friend No.
by the lapel of his coat and led him con-
fidentially into a hallway.
Say, look here, old chap" he said to the
man who had given him the one word of
encouragement he had got since his appear
ance down town, for which the gratitude
welled up in his soul You know that
note of yours that 1 hold? 1 was thinking
about that note the other day. I'll let you
have six months extension on it If you
want It,"