The Fashionable Adventures of Joshua Craig

ing and mysterious as a dematerialization. But he did leave much sooner than he had intended, and with only a small part of what he had planned to say said. He

reeding"; but he could not uproot a most worshipful reverence for it, a reverence of which he was ashamed. He had no "breeding" himself; he was experiencing in Washington a phase of life which was entirely new to him, and it had developed in him the snobbish instincts that are the rankest weeds in the garden of civilization. Their seeds fly everywhere, are sown broadcast, threaten the useful plants and the flowers incessantly, contrive to grow, to flourish even, in the desert places. Craig had an instinct against this plague; but he was far too self-confident to suspect that it cou

thought of himself as at ease in any intimate relation with her. He found her beautiful physically, but much too fine and delicate to be comfortable with. He could be brave, bold

ll exaggerate or misinterpret any word or look, especially from a person of the opposite sex, into a tribute to them. When Craig pleaded for Grant and Margaret, moved by his eloquent sincerity, dropped her eye

to, anyway?" His mind was in great confusion. At one moment he was dismissing the idea of such delicateness, such super-refined super-sensitiveness being taken with a man of his imperfect bringing-up and humble origin. The next moment his self-esteem was bobbing again, was jauntily assuring him that he was "a born king" and, therefor

contrary, immensely flattered. It is the custom for those of high station to reassure those of lower, to make them feel that they may draw near without fear. A queen seeking a consort among princes always begins the courting. A rich girl willing

o I wa

of his dreams of family life, of easy, domestic undress, which she would undoubtedly find coarse and vulgar? "It would be like being on parade all the time-she

spect. On the other hand he wanted a home-a wife like his mother, domestic, attentive, looking out for his comfort and his health, herself taking care of the children. And he had arrived at a compromise. He would marry a girl out West somewhere, a girl of some small town, brought up somewhat as he had been brought up, not shocked by what Margaret Severance would regard as his vulgarities-a woman with whom he felt equal and at

ardrobe. I really must brace up in the matter of shirts, and in the quality of underclothes and socks." No, she probably would be shocked into aversion if she really knew him-she, who had been surrounded by servants in livery all her life; who had always had a maid to dress her, to arrange a delicious bath for her every morning and every evening, to lay out, from a vast and thrilling store of delicate clothing, the fresh, clean, fine, amazingly costly garments that were to have the honor and the pleasure of draping that aristocratic

le breeding-The image of her was most insidiously alluring; he could not banish it. "And, damn it all, isn't she

's mind to make him so silent and glum, so different from his usual voluble, flamboyant self. "What'

lighting a cigarette and dropping into th

ss!" exclaim

nt you don't amount to a damn. You're like one of those twittering swallows out there. As

d the right gir

inued Craig. "But, on second thoughts, I'

wright, trying to be fac

the cigarette into the empty fireplace and stood up. "

s red with anger, was muttering u

nce in a while you'll find a dumb ass of a man whose brain will get to boiling with liquor or some other ferment, and it'll incubate an idea, a real idea. It's

ry sweet and amiable LA

g-a puff of wind-a nit. Such as she, b

r you to marry a woman of-of the fashionable set."

. "Still, it's a temptation.... I've been reconside

!" he shouted. Josh smiled calmly. "

now," answered

not America, but Europe." And he went on loftily: "You ought to consid

otested Grant, red and guilty. "Did

laugh which Grant thought the quintessence of imperti

thing. It's not considered proper in this part of the co

in love? Besides, aren't you my best f

everything

secret," said he, "nobody and everybody. I trust either

'd prefer you didn't talk to me in tha

you're in love wi

tly stared

," said Craig

ecided it was just as well to let Craig

in love with me. But if I keep away from her and discourage her it'll soon die out. Women of that sort

erosity. Josh, let me tell you, your notion that she's in love with you is absurd. I'd advise you no

one but you,"

y one else since

ng for me. I give you my word of honor on that. I understand how a chap like you, full of false pride, would be irritat

haven't your sublime se

n fact, I had already begun, this very afternoon, when she l

ried Grant, all afire. "I tell yo

right, old cha

use he had begun to doubt Margaret's love. "Come down to dinner and let's talk no more about it," said Grant, with a gr

r all, you are free to break with me at any instant-you or any other man. Whenever I find I'm beginning to look on a man as necessary to

. "Come along, Grant," said he. "You're a good fellow, and I'll get you the girl." And he lin