Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28
HIS DOUBLE MISTAKE

This chappie-noe to know whom Is to
confess ones self unknown among the
capitals jeunesse doree-would probably
give his collection Of tin-tags and two
cigarette papers I'd keep this story out Of
print. The hypothetical aid. however, Is
hereby and herewith declined.
One evening lasttweekLfhe chappis went
to the Pennsylvania station to make his
good-byes to friend bound for California.
Tne chappie went through the gate with
his friend and saw him op board the train.
As 4s. the ,,,s train moved out train from New
The chappie. retracing his steps toward
the exit gate. idly watched the debarkation
Of the passengers from the New York
| train. ~
| Suddenly his face became il1umed with In
terest. He looked like man who feels
that he has got the eye."
| TAN, slender, graceful. very pretty girl,
with black. Wavy hair, was the object of
ms interest. She was the picture of 1.-THE.
| sinuous ioveHness as she stepped from the
| parlor car. She wore a modish, neatly
| fitting mackintosh-it was drizzly even
| ing-and most becoming travelling turban.
! her TWO small handbags were silver
finished and of fine workmanship. She
wore sort OF smilingly saucy expression,
| and she had given the fnerest glance at the
chappie, which, however, was, from his
i point of view, enough.
When she started from the parlor car for
| the exit gate he took long steps, and when
| he reached her side his hat went up and
he was mumbling:
| "Aw-er-pawdon, but youah face Is SO
| vewy familiar, y,knaw."
indeed! replied the wavy-haired girl
easily, for the chappie wasn't in the least
j not"
| MOP" said the chappie, wholly I'M
abashed. "Weally, feel as II I must have
met you somewheah, don't you knawf And
1t would give me so much pleasuah, WEAKLY,
IL you would pahmit me to cahwy youah
/ twaps for YOU"
The girl looked down at the 'chappie
amusedly. for she had him topped by about
| half head in the matter of stature.
I 'Oh, very WE'LL said she, with sus-
picion Of mischief in her eyes which he
didn't see, .''if you'll be so kind.
| She handed him the pair of handbags.
| The chappie accepted them with alacrity
| and flush of triumphant pleasure.
| They walked through the ladies' waiting
| room to the door.
"A cab2" said the chappie. insinuatingly.
"Oh, dear. no. certainly not" replied the
young woman. "A car"
The rain was coming down steadily by
| this time, and the chappie held his umbrella
over the young woman-clutching the two
| small handbags with his other hand-as he
! put her on one of the west-bound green
| cars. ne stepped III dIteF uSI dliu lOOh a
| seat beside her.
ooh. really, you must not accompany
| me" said the young woman: Il am more
| than grateful to you for assisting me, but
| you really must not accompany me.
| "Oh, please" said the ehappie, languish-
| ingly.
The car had started. anyhow, and SO there
| was no help for it. The girl looked dis
pleased for moment Then. of a sudden
| she smiled broadly, and the light of mis-
| chief appeared, stronger than before, In her
| fine eyes. 5Il
| "Wheah, might inquiah, are you going?'
| asked the chappie, with a killing glance.
| The girl named a. number on Connectlcut
| avenue, the home.2of a well-known and
| wealthy Washington business man, as the
chappie. who makes,a point Of having these
| matters pat knew. 3
| Jaw, indeed he said. 'Then you are
visiting sd s4.4i
| 'Oh, yes, have been there for some
! time" replied the girl, with an amused ex-
| The chappie looked as If he regarded HIM
self as the lueikiestIdo unmuzzled
| "And you have had aloyely time In MOO
Yawk, I'll be boand?' aihe asked in the
amiabIe tone of "a conversation manu-
ooh, not particularly" replied the young
| woman, dabbing at the side combs In her
wavy dark hair. "pveobeen shopping In
| New York not foromyseifs but for others
| and 1t is such terrible nuisance to shop
i for others" she replied, still with that
queer, mischieyous smile fhckering over her
face. yti,'
when the car arrived at the corner where
she wished to get off theigirl signaled to the
conductor yr@.o H- = -
The chappie hastily gathered her things
together and assisted her off the car and
raised his umbrella over her.
| AS they made for the sidewalk she said:
81 am so very. very much Obliged to you
for your helpfulness. l Will bid you good
night now
SBut, I say. won't you please pahmit me
to see you to yourah doah?' persisted the
chappe, pleadingly.
not said the girl. However, il you really
wish"
but do, very much, indeed" said the
chappie.
by side, until they came to the impressive
corner residence
The chappie was going up the front
steps. The young woman, however. made
for the side entrance. the entrance for
tHoh, I see," said the chappie. after hav-
ing looked mystified for moment. ''youah
people are out, and you wish 10 nave the
By this time they had reached the yard
steps leading up to the side entrance
The girl took her two grips from the
aOh, yes, the butler will let me in"
said the young woman, and the broadest
kind of a smile was overspreading her
pretty face. Il always come IN tnlS way,
YOU know. I am the maid for the two
young ladies who live here. you see, and"
The chappie's countenance looked most
diyertingly blank in the gaslight
..Oh. aw, WEAKLY" he suffered, foolishly.
'rWhy. / thought, y'knaw, that
Eyes. I imagined you did," said the young
woman. 80 much obliged to you. WEAKLY.
for cahwying my twaps," and she broke
into a soft and very musical laugh.
Then the side door opened, the young
woman disappeared, and the chappie
sIouched over to the car crossing with the
music of the girls laughter In his long
very long--ears.
II most chappies were not very credulous,
this one would not have believed that the
girl was the maid for the two young
ladies'" which she wasn't and isn't On
the contrary, she was and is one Of the
Young adies herself