Lost on Dress Parade (Henry)
from the Collection «The Four Million»
Short Summary
New York City, early 20th century. Towers Chandler, a young architect, saved money for periodic nights out pretending to be wealthy. On one such evening, he encountered a girl who had fallen on the sidewalk.
Chandler invited the girl, who introduced herself as Miss Marian, to dinner. During their meal, he boasted about a luxurious lifestyle he didn't actually have. Miss Marian seemed impressed but questioned the purposefulness of such a life.
After dinner, they parted ways. Chandler returned to his modest room, reflecting on the evening.
"That was a stunning girl," he said to himself. "She's all right, too, I'd be sworn, even if she does have to work. Perhaps if I'd told her the truth instead of all that razzle-dazzle we might—but, confound it! I had to play up to my clothes."
Meanwhile, Miss Marian returned to her wealthy home, revealing to her sister that she had been pretending to be a working girl. She expressed her desire to marry someone with ambition and purpose, unlike the idle rich men she usually encountered. The story ended with both characters having played false roles, missing a potential genuine connection.
Detailed Summary
The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.
Chandler's Preparation for His Night Out
Mr. Towers Chandler, a young architect, was preparing for his special night out in New York City. He carefully pressed his evening suit in his modest hall bedroom, determined to look his best.
Despite his modest income of $18 per week, Chandler had a unique approach to enjoying luxury.
Out of each week's earnings Chandler set aside $1. At the end of each ten weeks with the extra capital thus accumulated, he purchased one gentleman's evening from the bargain counter of stingy old Father Time.
This carefully saved $10 allowed him to experience the life of the wealthy for one evening every ten weeks, a pleasure he cherished deeply.
An Unexpected Encounter
As Chandler strolled along Broadway, reveling in his temporary transformation, he witnessed a young woman slip on an icy patch and fall. He immediately rushed to her aid, helping her to her feet.
The young woman, who introduced herself as Miss Marian, appeared to be a refined working girl in a plain black dress. Chandler, seeing an opportunity to enhance his evening of luxury, invited her to dine with him. After some hesitation, Miss Marian accepted his invitation.
A Dinner of Deception
At the restaurant, Chandler found himself swept up in the excitement of his assumed identity.
Then it was that the Madness of Manhattan, the Frenzy of Fuss and Feathers, the Bacillus of Brag, the Provincial Plague of Pose seized upon Towers Chandler. He was on Broadway, surrounded by pomp and style, and there were eyes to look at him.
He began to regale Miss Marian with tales of his fictitious wealthy lifestyle, mentioning clubs, social events, and even hinting at owning a yacht. However, Miss Marian's response was unexpected.
"This way of living that you speak of," she said, "sounds so futile and purposeless. Haven't you any work to do in the world that might interest you more?"
Chandler, caught off guard, dismissed her concerns, maintaining his facade of a carefree socialite.
The Truth Revealed
After dinner, Chandler bid Miss Marian goodbye and returned to his modest lodgings. As he put away his evening clothes for another long wait, he reflected on the evening and the girl he had met.
Meanwhile, Miss Marian returned to her own home - a handsome mansion. She was greeted by her worried sister, revealing that she was actually from a wealthy family and had been playing the role of a working girl.
In a conversation with her sister, Marian reflected on the kind of man she could truly love.
"I could love a man with dark and kind blue eyes, who is gentle and respectful to poor girls, who is handsome and good and does not try to flirt. But I could love him only if he had an ambition, an object, some work to do in the world."
The story concluded with both Chandler and Marian unaware of each other's true identities, each having played a role for the evening, and both left pondering the authenticity of their encounter.