The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-25
TIE EVENING STORY
Stumbling q Man.
(By Lawrence Alfred Clay.)

Mr.. Giles Danforth was a young man
twenty-five years old. There was
nothing in that face to make him con-
ceited. He hadn't had anything what
ever to do with it. He had a good
figure and a handsome face. No con-
ceft over that. He was born that way,
just as some artists are born homely
and ungainly. Mr.. Danforth was en-
titled to credit for never having fooled
with dynamite and blown his hand
some nose off and come out of the af-
fair with a couple of lop shoulders, but
thousands of men have been just as
sensible.
Mr. Danforth had made a success at
landscape pair ting, and thus achieved
a reputation. No conceit, He simply
had gift that way, just as one man
may have a gift of carving a roast
goose in the most delicate manner,
where forty others will bungle and bag
gle.
Mr.. Danforth's art had brought him
a good-sized bank account Still no
conceit! He had known of men getting
fairly rich by raising cabbages or
onions.
Mr.. Danforths friends said that
when he was ready to marry he could
have his pick of a score of lovely girls.
His chest didn't swell out the fraction
of an inch. No, no, no! Mr.. Dan
forth may have had a few fads up his
sleeves to bring out at the proper date,
but he couldn't be charged with con-
ceit, vanity, ego or swell-head, He
thought well enough of himself to keep
out of poker games at the club and not
fall over ashcans on his way home
Mr.. Danforth was at a summer resort
on the Long Island coast. He was
there to rest a bit, smoke a bit, sketch
a bit and to be human in other direc-
him away, and the other guests, to the
number of a score, fastened to praise
and flatter.
Mr.. Slavil, the rich manufacturer
asked for an introduction and talked
sense, but his daughter Nellie said:
II don't want to know him. You
can see that he's conceited from top to
toe, and I just hate conceited folks.''
but 1 didn't find him So"
That's because you are no hand to
read human nature"
He might be permitted a bit of con-
ceit over what he has accomplished"
He can We a whole barrel of it,
for II I care. Just see the old cats
of women languishing alteration on him!
And see how perk and pleased he is!
No, / don't want to be introduced If
1 should be, I'd snub him good and
plenty"
That wasn't Nellie Slavin at ALL Even
her father was surprised at her ex-
preston. She had never been known
to snub a man.
Can one person have crouch |
against another without causing a re- |
flexo Mr.. Danforth found himself to
his great surprise, musing to himself:
Mr.. Slavin doesn't introduce his
and I'm sure it's not his
fault If she doesn't care. I don't
Good looking girl, and all that. but
strain of the snob there"
After three or four days the thing
called Fate took a hand. While ira
a narrow path on the hotel
grounds Mr.. Danforth came upon a +
lady to whom he lad been Introduced
an6 Miss Slavin, to whom he hadn't /
An introduction now was inevitable. I
There was no handshaking. Accom-
panying her very stiff bow were the
words: (
"Glad to know you, Mr.. Manforth."
Mr. Danforth," corrected the intro
1ucer.
''Mr. Dayforthv' said Miss slavin.
pass on.
1.-The ice-cold snubI'' laughed the ar
list as he pursued his way. well, it's
4 contrast and something new, and I
.ather like it,
And Miss Slavin went on to the hotel
% find her father and say to him:
st told you 1 would do it, and I
1aver'
whats that?"
"Snubbed the great artist! TIL wager
hat he will feel chilly for three days
o Gomez
But I'm sorry. I think you have
nisjudged the man."
Don't you suppose I know conceit
rom humility"
But your snubbing a man won't cure
tt
But it will show him that-that-"
THAT what?"
"Oh, you don't understand"
The girl flounced off and pouted by
,erself for an hour. In her pouting she
lso wondered if she had done as smart
thing in snubbing Mr. Danforth as
he at first congratulated herself on
lie must have surely realized that he
vas being snubbed.
At the dinner table that evening Mr.
)anforth bowed to Miss Slavin. Miss
,lavin knew that he was going to and
lad Just time to turn her head away.
FOR a moment she was elated, and then :
anne the feeling that she was rude
instead of smart She was not at all
she went out by herself ]
or an after-dinner stroll on the shore
f the sound
She had plodded over the sands for