The Irish standard., 1911-07-08
THE SILLY
LITTLE MAN
BY Martha Pendleton
THAT silly little mani"

Blanche Carey flushed holly under
her cousins words and their contemp-
tuous accent.
why, you could marry anyone"
continued Jennie Carey; you're pref
ty enough, and your figure is good.
Frank Craig is such silly little fell
low, Blanche. He's insignificant look
Ing. And that insufferable smile of
bis! 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, we'll Of course" conceded her
cousin, IT it's all settled there's moth
ing more to be said. But should hate
to marry man who went through the
world Sinking at everything and ev-
erybody-fnend and foe like them
to have spunk enough to scowl once
in 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 mani"
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 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 defantly.
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 Mr. Ca.
rey, warmly. "He is making good as
business man; and he's honorable in
his dealings. He'll be good to my
little daughter" He kissed her ten
derby.
frank Craig's too good for you,
sis" announced Tom Carey, with big
Fbrotherly frankness. IF he knew what
a spitflre 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 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
could have Rugged him, Tom with
drew into the sporting columns of the
evening paper.
The Pastime club announced the
closing dance Of the season. Spring
was advancing steadily; it would soon
be too warm for dancing. To wind
up the winters program in style the
club hired the Odd Fellows hall. 1t
was inconveniently located, three sto-
ries up, but 1t had the finest floor in
town. Notices in the local papers pre-
tentiously announced that it 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, respondent in his first
dress suit. His dark, round, mild face
was shiny with perspiration; his usual
smile was almost painful in its en-
barrassment.
Things had gone wrong with
blanche from the start. She had a
premonition she wasn't going to have
a 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.
dlate lull when Craig and Blanche en-.
tered
Every eye was turned on them.
Blanche could feel, rather than hear
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
uncomfortable had they been heated
red hot He was at the pinnacle of
miserable embarrassment.
Youth is cruel. Some one giggled
and in the silence a half-subdued
Smoker ran round the room. Craig
WINGED and took feeble half-step of
retreat.
But Blanche's fighting spirit was
reused. She swept past him, head
erect, eyes blazing, like veritable