Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1893 — Cornered. [ARTICLE]

Cornered.

Naturally I was pleased when the hostess led up and introduced me to the prettiest girl in the room. And I was agreeably surprised when the young lady gave me a gracious smile and claimed me as an old acquaintance, frankly adding that it was needless to introduce us—unless I had forgotten her. And I had. “If I ever met you before, it must have been in the dark,” I thought to myself. For how could I have failed to remember her? I have a very fine memory for that sort of face. I had not caught her name. I could not place her. So I put a bold face on and remarked, unblushingly: “No, indeed, I have not forgotten you! But I thought a second introduction might be safer. I did not care to hope that your memory was as good as mine.” 1 could see by the young lady’s expression that this little speech “went.” It was accepted at its face value, and I was beginning to congratulate myself on my presence of mind—-for social lying does not come easy to me—when the womanly curiosity of the hostess led her to investigate. “How funny! So you and Jenny have met before?” she inquired. “Oh, yes,” I answered, promptly. Then she deliberately floored me with the point blank question, “Where?”—Harper’s Bazar.