as for her cross-dressing , she did it so long and so well that just about everyone became accustomed to it in the last years of her life she would often go out in her tweed suit , and with her walking stick , and stroll around the garden district for hours she did not bother to pin up her hair any more or hide it beneath a hat she wore it in a simple twist or bun , and people took her appearance entirely for granted she was miss mary beth to servants and neighbors for blocks around , walking with her head slightly bowed , and with very big steps , and waving in a lackadaisical fashion to those who greeted her .