Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-01-31
A
Metanorphosis
o0
By Lillian Hail Crowley
Copyright. 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
syndicate.)
James Morgan was thinking /

James Morgan was thinkingi
Il wonder why the girls never seem
glad to see me7 They never act just
plain glad when ] 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.
lie went to the parties. never think
ing whether he could dance well or not.
1t had not occurred to him to think
anything about 1t.
The night before he had heard the
following conversation between two Of
Haviland's most charming girls:
II wish James Morgan would stay
from the parties. He is the awkward
est creature / ever saw, and the home
Hest I"
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"
Let's drop him! He has no right
t" make US iserabe-tramplng all
over our feet at the dances"
And such clothes We don't ex-
pect much In little place like Havl-
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 d 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 q
miner--nevertheless he was very pc.
lite. He raised his hat to the women
he knew and jumped to pick up 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. "One
feels that a strong chest not only In
dlcates physical strength, but strength
of character as we'll"
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. !
wonder If I'd play tennis and things If
| could develop my chest"
lie noticed the mans manner of TAX
ing off his hat to the women he met
sometimes James only touched his hat,
lhzlly, with one finger. He knew the
girls 50 well-why hother2 James re
membered, too that he didn't jump
quickly to the polite assistance of PEG.
pie. True. he was glad to help any.
one In trouble, but this was different.
Maybe that's what Margery and
Alice meant. don't do those nice
things He was puzzled, but went on
with his self-analysls.
He went again to the movies. This
time he saw a 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 way"
Then he noticed clothes. He had
never given his toilet much thought ex,
cept to be clean, to buy a suit wher
necessary-which was seldom pressed
and pale blue tie for Sundays. He
wore 1t to the bank after 1t had be
come soiled
All the business men In the pictures
were trim looking, their clothes wer,
pressed and coats buttoned. james
walked along the street with suit Goa
and overcoat open and his hands In hi,
pockets. None of these men did that
Yes" he thought, that's the way
to look. 1t isn't because they're movi,
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'
been cut right In the first place. II,
had parted 1t so near one ear that 1
was inches too high on the other side
He brushed It straight back. He wa
surprised at the good lines Of his fore
head, something he had not notice,
before.
Next day a successful young maj
from one of the large cities of the stat
came into the bank. James locke,
him over First of all he saw that tn
man was neatly dressed and was I'm
conscious OF his clothes. James wa
always uncomfortable when "dresse,
mp" as he called 1t.
I'm ask him to select me tie fror
his place"
""'t"inly" r'p'icd the young maj