Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

The stranger looked at Alagee. He had
an eve that not only looked, but weighed,
estimated, and classified. Alagee met it
snilingly.
"Trespassing. eho' said the young man
"Far be it from me to quarrel with man
who smokes as good cigars as you debut
there's something haven't quite doped out.
That is-who's trespassing, me or you:
My right here, said Magee, rs lndls-
putable.7
dts a big word" replied the other, "but
YOU can tack it to my right here, and tell no
lie We can't dispute; so let's drop the mat
ter. With that settled. I'm encouraged to
pour out the story of why you see me here
tonight, far from the madding crowd. Have
YOU a stray tear? You'll need it. It's sad
touching story, concerned with haberdashery
and trusting heart and fair woman fair,
but oh how false!'
proceed" laughed NIagee. I'm an add
mirer of the vivid imagination. Don't curb
yours, beg of you
IT'S all straight said the other in hurt
1 tone. Every word true. My name is
Joseph Bland. My profession, until love
entered my life. was that of haberdasher and
outfitter. In the city of Reuton, fifty miles
from here, let the Beau Brummels of the
thoroughfares in on what was doing IN Lon
don in the necktie line l sold them coats
with padded shoulders, and collars high and
awe inspiring. l was happy twisting piece
of silk over my hand to show them how 1t
would look on their heaving bosoms. And
then-she came!
"Yes," he said, "Arabella sparkled on the
horizon of nv life. When | have been here
in the quiet for about two centuries, maybe
| can do justice to her beauty. | won't at
tempt to describe her now. | loved her
madlv. She said | made a hit with her. l
spent on her the profits of my haberdashery.
| whispered-marriage She didn't scream.
l had my wedding necktie picked out from
the samples of drummer from Troy He
paused, and looked at A1agee. Have you
ever stood poised on that brink he asked.
"Never," replied Nlagee. But go on.
Your story attracts me strangely
From here on-the tear | spoke of,
please There flashed on the scene man
She had known and loved in Jersey City. |
said flashed. He did-just that. A swell
dresser-say, he had John Drew beat by two
mauve neckties and purple frock coat! |
had a haberdashery back of me. No use.
He Outdressed me- | saw that Arabella'S
love for me was waning. With his chamo1s-
gloved hands that new guy famed the an
Gent flame"
He paused. Emotion-or the smoke OF
the cigar-choked him.
LETS make the short story shorter, he
said. "She threw me down. In my haber-
dasherv l thought it over. | was blue, bit
ter. I resolved on dreadful step. In the
night [ wrote her a letter, and carried it
down to the box and posted it. Life without
Arabella, said the letter. was Shakespeare
with Hamlet left out. 1t limited at the river,
carbolic acid, revolvers Yes, | posted 1t.
And then
"And them" urged AIagee.
Bland felt tenderly of the horseshoe pin in
his purple tie. "This is just between us, he
said. aAt that point the trouble began. 1t
came from my being naturally very brave
man. | could have died-easy. The brave
thing was to live. To go on, day after day,
devoid of Arabella-say, that took courage!
l wanted to try it. I'm courageous man,
as | say"
"You seem so.' Magee agreed.
"Lion-hearted," assented Bland. II de-
termined to show my nerve and live. But
there was my letter to Arabella | feared
she wouldn't appreciate my bravery: women
are dull sometimes. 1t came to me maybe
she would be hurt if didn't keep my word,
and die So had to disappear. | had
friend mixed up in affairs at Baldpate. No.