Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-24
MAGAZINE SECTION
Evening Star S
Daily Story
THE OUTSIDER
BY LAURA KIRKMAN.
Copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure News
manor Sxndfoofa


Kenneth Grey WINGED as he passed
a group of young people on his way
to prayer meeting. He knew that
their amused eyes We're ON his highly
polished shoes, which shone brightly
in the glare of the street light
"Spotless," he heard Jessie Dean
giggle as he passed.
He'd say immaculate, corrected
another voice mockingly.
kenneth was glad when he reached
the church. Inside its solemn arms
he was able to forget the derisiou
that stung him on every side. For,
although he had always known him
self to be an outsider in Greenville
Centre. he had never become accus-
fomss to tbe spirit of mockery with
whicA he was treated by the towns
young people. Although he was their
own age, he mad not a friend among
s them. Sissy Grey" hs had been
called ever since he could remember.
On this particular night he entered
the church as he had done thou
sand times before-went into his pew,
bowed his head a. moment, then
raised his eyes to give one sweeping
glance around the church-
But there the similarity to mis- con-
duct on other nights stopped His
sweeping glance terminated on the
slim hand of a young girl sitting in
the pew in front of him and ne
caught his breath. The hand was
nanicured,
Kenneth stared al the strange gift.
She and he were the only two per-
sons in GreenyilIe Center with mani
cured hands He felt almost relation
ship for her.
Who is she?' he asked himself
repeatedly. 'Is she a summer guest,
OF is she some ones city relative"
At length he decided that she was
a summer guest. He had heard that
old Mrs. Hartwell intended advertis-
ing for some this summer.
Little did he hear of that sermon
He sat through the evening as though
spellbound. Here, before him, was
new type of girl-a girl who would
not-would never think of laughing
at a man whose nails were mani
cured.
Would she laugh at me for pick
ing and choosing my words ne
wondered recalling the myriadS OF
smiles that his vocabulary had called
forth.
But this question he had no way
OF answering. He could merely SIT
and look at the back of her pretty
head until meeting was over.
Then he followed her home. She
did come from old Mrs. Hartwells
She was undoubtedly summer
guest.
AS the girl turned up the walk, and
he wandered on, thinking about her
he saw that Bob Granville was COM
II TttrninQ Wnon thew
had passed, he. saw that the fellow
turned in at Mrs. Harrwell's gate.
Mrs. Hartwell was a distant rela-
tive of Bob. Not for years had he
been to see her.
Kenneth halted in the shadow of
an elm tree and listened. Plainly, he
heard Bob's voice ring out:
Good evening, Aunt Hanna!
Aunt HANNAH repeated Kenneth
Indignantly. "As If he ever called
her that beforel" He's just trying to
make friends with that girl. He
thinks she'll go around with him just
because he has money-the way all
the other girls do. Well. she's not
esreenville Centre girl, One glance at
his grirny ffngernails will be enough
1t was a relief to him to see. as
the week flew by, that although Bob
Granville called on the summer girl
every night she never went out with
him.
"she can't do any more than be
polite to him when he calls, )" he told
himself hopefully. IT'S me she'll go
ut with--when I meet herr
And at last he did meet her. 1t
was at a church social. Quite frank
Nv. he went up to old Mrs. Hartwell
and asked her If the young lady
would object to meeting him As he
made the formal request he heard
one of the town boys giggle and re-
peat his words to one or two OF the
girls,
impression-with his fingernails,"
came in loud tones, just as Mrs.
Hartwell presented him to the girl
The girl heard. She looked behind
her in surprise. Then. casting
swift glance as Kenneths hands, a
light of understanding broke over
her face she had grasped that his
nickname was Sissy"
After a few hurried and nervous
words. Kenneth excused himself, and
left the girl He walked swiftly from
the grounds Up the street he few
Binding tears stung his eyes. The
girl had been prejudiced against
him even before she had had
chance to judge of him.
For in that light of understanding
that had passed over her face ne
thought that he had seen as well a
shadow of derision. Perhaps she
was amused to see the hands of
country boy manicured Perhaps he
had not taught himself lp the right
way; he had only had directions from
Il magazine to follow. Or perhaps
he stood still on the sidewalk as the
thought came to him-perhaps the
polish on his nails was ridiculousiy
bright. He had noticed the polish
on the girls nails was decidedly
duller Had this been oversight or
intention?
After this he kept away from those
places which the girl frequented. He
felt i'll at ease in her presence. II
she had noticed his difference from
the other town men naturally 1t
would not have been so bad-even IL
that difference were overdone. But
now that her attention had been
called to it--now that she was watch
ing for it!
The last possibility of their ever
when Lefty Gleason. made friends
with her Lefty was Kenneth's |
worst enemy.
what fun she'll have telling the
girl how diligently / practice on the |
piano. he thought bitterly.
That story-a true one-was one |
of Letty's best pieces of evidence
against him.
For time he let his piano go un-
touched, He preferred to play in the |
winter-when the windows could be |
down. In Greenville Centre 1T was |
a disgrace for a man to have an &C |
compliShment of this sort.
Then, one night, he flew to the old |
,.sa..o a,affas of The 70 ~ !