The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-12-19

plain glad when l come along. The
fellows, too-they're all right, only
well, I'm not really intimate with any
of Them
| James had logged along in the little
town where his family had been as
comfortably off as most of the families
of their set. He had logged through
the state university just as unthinking-
ly as he had spent the preceding years.
He drifted into clerkship in the bank
and mentally wandered through his
duties as colorlessly as he did every
thing else.
He went to the parties, never think
ing whether he could dance we'll or not.
1t had not occurred to him to think
anything about it.
The night before he had heard the
following conversation between two of
Haviland's most charming girls:
Il wish James Morgan would stay
from the parties. He is the awkward
est creature l ever saw, and the home
liest"
Every time he asks me to dance
wish | had stayed at home"
"The trouble is, Margery, we've been
fairly polite to him, just because we've
known him always, and he doesn't
realize he's horrid and uninteresting."
Lets drop him! He has no right
to make us misunderstanding all
over our feet at the dances"
pect much in little place like Havi-
land, but he's positive fright! ~
The two girls, Margery Raymond
and Alice Wrightman, had fallen into
this conversation one night at a party.
James had come around corner intent
on asking Margery to dance. He would
not have listened Intentionally, but
the knowledge had staggered him. He
tiptOed away from his Waterloo and
went out on the veranda to collect his
scattered wits.
Il never dreamed of such a thing ~
he told himself. At last he went in
and babe his hostess goodnight.
This brings us to the day in the
bank when for the first time in his life
he was puzzled After dinner he went
alone to moving picture play. 1t was
western play. The hero was a big
fellow wearing the rough clothes of a
miner-nevertheless he was very DO
lite. He raised his hat to the women
he knew and jumped to pick up a plate
dropped on the floor by the boarding
house keeper.
That's the kind of man a woman
Is proud to have for son." he heard
voice behind him. What a magni-
ticent figure" the voice went on. zone
feels that a strong chest not only in
| dicates physical strength, but strength
of character as WELL"
Instantly James Strengthened his
dropping shoulders.
Looking at the hero, James thought:
HE is fine-loOking fellOw-gives one
real pleasure just to look at him. l
wonder if I'd play tennis and things If
l could develop my chest"
He noticed the mans manner of tax
ing off his hat to the women he met
sometimes James only touched his hat,
lazily, with one finger. He knew the
girls so well-why bother? James re-
membered, too, that he didn't jump
quickly to the polite assistance of peo-
pie. True, he was glad to help any
one in trouble, but this was different.
Maybe that's what Margery and
Alice meant. l don't do those nice
things He was puzzled, but went on
with his self-analHsis.
He went again to the movies This
time he saw society play. There was
dancing. James opened his eyes wide
to see how the other fellows danced.
Alice had said he tramped on her feet.
He saw the men, cleverly and grace
fully guiding their partners through
the crush.
"Why, that's part of it," he thought
you're responsible in a way"
Then he noticed clothes. He had
never given his toilet much thought ex-
cept to be clean, to buy a suit when
necessary-which was seldom pressed
and pale blue tie for Sundays. He
Wore it to the bank after it had be-
come soiled.
All the business men In the pictures
were trim looking, their clothes were
pressed and coats buttoned. James
walked along the street with suit coat
and overcOat open and his hands in his
pockets. None of these men did that
YES" he thought, that's the way
to look. 1t isn't because they're movie
men; lots of other men dress that way.
He noticed, too, the bright, interested
and alert expressions on their faces.
! At home he looked in the mirror.
! His hair needed trimming. 1t hadn't
! been cut right in the first place. He
had parted it so near one ear that it
was inches too high on the other side.
He brushed it straight back. He was
surprised at the gooG lines of his fore
head, something he had not noticed
/ before.
| Next day a successful young man
from one of the large cities of the state
| came into the bank. James looked
him over. First of all he saw that the
man was neatly dressed and was I'M
| conscious of his clothes. James was
always uncomfortable when dressed