Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04
NEW KIND OF GRAFT

II have discovered q now wrinkle In
graft declared Washington lady who
resides In Mt Pleasant land the discov-
cry has DECREASED my faith In human
kind. was standing at my window one
afternoon recently, watching the gathering
of storm. The heavens In the southeast
were black, there were flashes Of angry
lightning and mutterings Of thunder.
CHANGING to look down r saw lady,
small tree directly in front OF my house.
She stood close up under the little tree.
seeing that the conditions were growing
worse every moment. but making no move
Soon there came q binding flash, loud
roll of thunder and the wind tore up the
street Her umbrella was almost wrenohed
from her hand, but there she stuck. The
big drops had begun to fall and in few
moments the rain came down in torrents.
1t beat up and down and all around her,
and / could see she was getting drenched.
/ raised my window and called to her to
come in. At the second call she heard me.
and made for the house. I few down and
let her in and took her into my parlor.
II am soaked. she said. IT was SO
foolish for rae to come out. for saw the
storm coming. but had an errand which
thought could not wait, 30 / risked It, I
thought perhaps 1t would be only little
shower, soon over. cannot afford to be
wet; 1 am afraid It will make me sick
she took of her hat and shook 1t and
laid 1t on chair. Her skirt was dripping,
so she said she would take that or and
hang IL W while she waited. / ran up
stairs and brought her one, of mine, to-
gether with a linen waist almost new2
1.-THE rain continued to pour, so told
the woman to be seated, and stayed with
her and entertained her as best could.
There was an almost continual downpour
for about an hour and half. She made
several starts, when 1t held up little,
and said she would wear my things home
and send her maid for hers; but before
she could get started the rain would be-
gin again and she would have to give 1t
up. She had not given me her name nor
told me where she lived. although I gave
her several opportunities to do So
''At about @ o'clock ment Toned that we
had telephone, and IL she wished would
call cab, as she had seemed anxious to
be gone, but she said no. that she lived
just around the corner, and 1t was not
worth while. In the meantime the MEM
bers of my family had come In, one by
one, and soon was called into the dining
room to see about dinner. She begged me
not to let her interfere with my duties.
so I went Into the dining room which
reception hall and thin madras curtains.
1 had been there only few moments
when heard the front door shut. and go
ing out found my visitor had gone. with
out calling goodbye or saying thank you.
or anything. went into the parior and
found she had put on her wet skirts and
left mine; but she had worn my linen
waist and taken hers--in fact, everything
belonging TO her except pair OF white
Isle gloves which were on foot-stool be-
hind chair.
That was three weeks ago. and I have
never seen the lady or my waist since.
/ am glad I did not bring her my gold
buttons to fasten it with. as came very
near doing / fear will not be so ready
to call any one in out Of the rain another
time"