The Adventures of a Modest Man

e too doggy for a man of my years. In my button-hole reposed a white carnation, and as I strolled into the smo

his novel as I entered the doorway. "Gad! You haven't c

have two grown-up daughters aboard! How ar

lves, hands stil

ing back to Pa

n, I liv

so you do!

trospective silence which ends inevi

old men left t

om

changed a lot. Men who'v

changed,

illiams?" I a

he same. The Luxembourg Quarte

ng there," I

, askance. But my features remained

began careless

casually; "I'm glad. She

ming," I said, selecting

hi

get he

mean De

es

hatever became

became o

ied, and spent the better part of his life in trying

eter's

Harroll confided in me, Catharine Delancy confided in me, John Dela

I've a pair of daughters myself, and I'm trying to shoo awa

ams s

at those two did to Joh

tentively as he began with a wave of his gloved hand, a story of

her-the young man's naturally optimistic spirits suffered only temporary depression; and

aid Mr.

ecome tenth vice-president of the H

I w

you let me

was no

g man cheerfully, "there m

n-in-law, and I'm not going to have you. That's one of the reasons I allow you the run of the hous

son-in-law?" asked the youn

reason why I should want you

few moments. "No," he said, "I can't re

but it doesn't count in this case, because you

ooked at

rl marries, she marries one of her own kind. I don't

you l

nfatuated

he fire, "it's curious, isn't it?-but, do you know, I thi

perhaps this is a good opportunity to say good-by f

man, placidly. "So I've wired for qu

smiled at

acation late," s

late, I

can afford Pa

ut I'm

cle by the string. Then he threw away his cigar, conceale

d-night to Catharine, si

d bored, but nodd

n started toward the drawing-room, "I w

uld, sir-if

mildly, "I'm damned if I have y

oom, however, was lighted, and Catharine Delancy sat tucked up in a deep window-seat,

o the disreputable habit of sitting behind closed doors and gossiping. You have done it thirteen

ated himself beside her and lift

red, "are you rea

g to The Breakers for a week or two-s

shing with pleasure. "Was fath

say he wa

es and miles together in bicycle-chairs, and we'll yacht and bathe and ride and golf, and catch am

you hear that sort

ll tell you-there! you've done

f suddenly detaching himself from earth and gazing speculatively toward heaven, lost in a revery far from flattering to the ignored onlooker. And now he

of southern Florida; but even the rustle of the paper d

the map, considered him aga

regarded him in this new light, impersonally for the moment. So far away had he apparently drifted in his medita

ooked her strai

son half over, and to be caug

s-and he was not looking at her, after all: he was looking th

well-built, careless young fellow absorbed in thoughts which excluded her. No doubt he was so ha

among the cushions, and smiling down at her, held out his hand. She took it, met his eyes with an effort; but what message she div

Then I shall see you at

u will come

I will

u-change y

ange. May I

You may write

every day-if

ind," she sai

the room. She heard a servant open the door, she heard Ha

itation by the swish of a silken skirt, and glancing up, beheld a tall, p

d, "I'm in love w

ocle, screwed it into his left

hought I'd better t

well to let me know. Ah-er-

in particular, when Jim came in. He said he was going to Palm Beach, and I said, 'How jolly!' and he sat down and picked

's the way i

it was,

you'll o

u thin

oubt of it, li

hav

nocle and looked at the fi

pose that Jim is-d

aid her father, thoughtfully, stirring the embers and spoilin

Delancy. "I'll try another, with

and lighted a fresh cigar,

re will be trouble," he mused. "There rem

forefinger, gazing vacantly at the patt

re' business, 'grass-cure' and all. It can't harm eithe