The Prescott daily news., 1911-05-27
That silly little man!"

Blanche Carey flushed hotly under her cousins words and their contemp- tuous accent
 Why, you could marry anyone continued Jennie Carey; you're pret- ty enough, and your figure is good. Frank Craig is such a silly little fel- low, Blanche. He's insignificant look ing. And that insufferable smile of his! He's always grinning, like a Billiken. Really"
 Please" implored Blanche. One cannot quarrel with all ones relatives, and she had been through two similar sessions that morning.
 "Oh, well of course" conceded her cousin, If it's all settled there's noth- to marry a man who went through the world smirking at everything and ev- erybody-friend and foe. l like them to have spunk enough to scowl once in a while!"
 Blanche went upstairs to her room and threw herself across the bed in a passion of tears. Her mother, her sister, her two dearest girl chums, all had expressed the same thought, with more or less wonder and pity: That silly little man!"
 Hes not silly" she whispered to herself as she sobbed. He's good and generous. He can't help being bash full and s-smiling a little. I'd rather he'd be bashful than horrid and bold, like most of the boys of this town!' She dried her eyes with angry dabs and went downstairs defiantly.
 But they had wisely decided not to comment any more; and her father and brother, when they heard the news at supper were unfeignedly glad. Craig stands well with the substan- tial people of the town" said MT. Ca rey, warmly "He Is making good as a business man; and he's honorable in his dealings. He'll be good to my little daughter" He kissed her ten derly.
 Frank Craig's too good for you, sis" announced Tom Carey, with big brotherly frankness. "If he knew what spitfire you were he'd pass by on the other side. He's no mollycoddle. either; the fellows all like him.
 "Oh. I know the girls make fun of his grin but I'd rather tie to a man that's popular with men, and not with women, than pussycat that the wom- en like and the men don't" With this bit of wisdom, for which his sister h drew into the sporting columns of the evening paper.
 The Pastime club announced the closing dance of the season. Spring was advancing steadily 1t would soon be too warm for dancing. To wind up the winters program in style the club hired the Odd Fellows hall. It was inconveniently located, three sto- ries up, but 1t had the finest floor in town. Notices in the local papers pre- tentiously announced that 1t was to be a dress affair.""
 Craig belonged to the Pastime club: all the young men did He was one of the inconspicuous members who never was elected to office. or served on the reception committee; but he was one of the first to be sought out by the worried finance committee" each spring. when a deficit stared them in the face.
 He called for Blanche the night of the party, resplendent in his first dress suit. His dark, round, mild face was shiny with precipitation; his usual smile was almost painful in its em- barrassment
 Things had gone wrong with Blanche from the start. She had a premonition she wasn't going to have good time. Her new party dress" seemed of an evil spirit, and would not hook. Then she had broken her fan. and one white glove had lost it. self for an hour
 But when she did come down the adoring look on Craig's plain face, the awed tenderness with which he re- garded her girlish beauty, was com pensation enough for her trials.
 They arrived at the hall after the first dance. The stiffness had not worn off and hundred young people were sitting about, still airing their party manners. There was an imme- diate lull when Craig and Blanche en- tered.
 Every eye was turned on them Blanche could feel. rather than near, the whisper that ran round the room: Look at Frank Craig's new dress suit!"
 He felt 1t, too, evidently. The apol- ogetic smile on his face changed to a grin of positive agony. The dress clothes could not have become more