Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
The Misdemeanors of Nancy.
ELEANOR FOYT.
".
A Good Lie Gone Wrong.
P

e.
| went back to my aunt's to spend a month
No one knew l was expected; and the day
after 1 arrived 1 went to a picnic. The
judge was there. Every one was surprised
to see me. and he seemed a trife upset, but
he was very cordial In the afternoon the
crowd started across the woods to the place
where the servants were to have supper
ready. The judge happened to walk with
me, and l sprained my ankle.
Il really did, Bobby; no fake at ALL 1t
sweled so that my shoe had to be cut.
tried to walk and not make a fuss; but
we Jagged behind, and finally l couldn't
take another step. l just dropped down on
the grass and the tears came into my eyes
The judge pumped down beside me and
saw the tears. He had never seen me cry
before l seldom do it. Bobby l have
feeling that crying before a man is taking
an unfair advantage. making a dueling
opponent stand with the sun in his eyes, or
something of that kind. 1 do like fair
soul. Tears, like a lie. are too good
thing to be wasted. They should be re-
served for crucial occasions.
But l cried. My naughty friend thawed
slightly.
Why. you poor child, is it as bad as
that?" he said.
Il nodded. sympathy was the last straw.
My ankle did hurt so. and he had been such
a horrid brute. and l felt so shamefully
abused that l. wept floods 1t was dis
gushing exhibition, Bobby, and I'm not
pretty when | cry. My face all screws up
and gets swollen and splotchy. But the
judge did the only thing a rational man
could do, under the circumstances. When
l got my breath Bobby, you can't help
being bad-tempered but you needn't be
impolite You've an evil mind. | was about
to explain that I was choked with tears
well, when 1 did get my breath. 1 told
him what l thought about his behavior. 1
was positively eloquent over my wrongs. I
would have convinced any jury.
of YOU not in to
blame for the coolness,' said the judge.
Indeed 1 wasn't. You never had
better friend
And that October Sunday
1 explained about that and you said it
was all right. Why weren't you honest
about it? L hate man who can't tell the
truth
"Oh, Bobby, didn't just lay myself open
to an upper cut?
THE judge smiled. didn't like that smile.
"'Yes, 1 know. 1 suppose I was unrea-
sonable. You did hurry home and got there
just after I left
His tone was queer. 1t had unnatural
sweetness about it. But there wasn't any
thing for me to do except stick to my story.
Yes I said.
"'Well, my dear young woman, it may
INTEREST," you to know that when l left your
house, at three minutes past two, 1 called
on the girl who lives next door to you.
don't remember her name.
Margaret Wilson,, l said family.
great light began to dawn upon me. No
one ever called on the Wilson's. They were
utterly hopeless.
Exactly. 1 had been invited to call
there, but had never intended going. 1
changed my mind and went. 1 made a
very long CALL Miss Wilson was quite
futtered by the sudden burst of apprecia-
ton. / suppose she wonders why | never
came back. 1 stayed until 1 you get
out of the trap al your door. Then look
ed at my watch. 1t was fifteen minutes
past six. l took my hat and went home.
l wasn't happy. but l tried to give you the
benefit of the doubt.
Your telephone story the next morning
did away with the doubt. 1 hate woman
who can't tell the truth, I don't allow any
woman to make a fool of me twice
''Oh, Bobby, Bobby, If he is ever like
that when he sentences a criminal to DEATH
the poor thing will never live to be hanged.
/ touched bottom in shame and mortifica-
ton. He got up and lowered over me. He
looked horribly big and angry. His tone
was enough to wither me. 1 heard my hair
SINCE.
Then suddenly the humorous side of the
thing rolled over me like a flood. To think
OF the touches / gave to that lie. while all
the time he knew the truth How | patted
the story and bolstered 1t up and polished
1t. and then tied myself up in a hangmans
moose, while he listened with that detest-
able smile The joke was on me. and 1
would have appreciated it if l had known
| was to die the next moment. l dropped
back on the moss and positively howled for
gree men L lldu Mysteries lOf the 1lrSl
time in my life.
1.-The judge was livid with rage
Il thought you might have the grace
to be ashamed of it. But it seems l don't
know you yet
II wiped my eyes
oh, yes. I'm ashamed but It's the fun
niest thing I ever heard And off 1 went
into more Mysteries
He glowered.
. Stop that, or I'll lose my temper and
shake VOur no said African 70
the fore, you see.
II sat up and looked defiant
You're the one to be ashamed I said.
Are you proud of having such an ugly
vicious disposition that your best
friend is afraid to tell you the truth, and
is driven to lying because she can't depend
on your sense of justice, and can't bear the
thought of losing your friendship?
g L wouldn't have lied to any one else |
hate lies. 1 had done a foolish thing and
was sorry, and l cared such lot about
what you would think, and l knew you
wouldn't be manly and kind and Well,
Bobby, I'll spare you the details.
1T was beautiful piece of special plead
ing At the end of 1t any judge and jury
would have freed the original defendant
and sentenced the original plaintiff to be
hanged by the neck until he was dead
The judge was most contrite.
Il finally forgave him.
"A woman makes "a fatal mistake, Bobby.
If she ever allows a man to think ne IS for
giving her. The judge and l have been
the best of friends ever since: only ne
doesn't believe anything l tell him, unless
swear to 1t before notary, and he has
his doubts then. That's why he keeps on
asking me to marry him. l tell him / can't
do 1t, but he doesn't believe me- It's a
most painful thing to have bad reputa-
ton, Bobby. l hope my experience will
be a warning to you"
1T will said Bobby. with gloomy sig
nifcance
Nancy laughed.