THE ROMANCE OF A PLAIN MAN BY ELLEN GLASGOW AUTHOR OF "THE DELIVERANCE," "THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE," ETC. New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1909 _All rights reserved_ Copyright, 1909, By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up and electrotyped. Published May, 1909. Reprinted May, July, August, September, twice, October, 1909. Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. CONTENTS I. IN WHICH I APPEAR WITH FEW PRETENSIONS II. THE ENCHANTED GARDEN III. A PAIR OF RED SHOES IV. IN WHICH I PLAY IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN V. IN WHICH I START IN LIFE VI. CONCERNING CARROTS VII. IN WHICH I MOUNT THE FIRST RUNG OF THE LADDER VIII. IN WHICH MY EDUCATION BEGINS IX. I LEARN A LITTLE LATIN AND A GREAT DEAL OF LIFE X. IN WHICH I GROW UP XI. IN WHICH I ENTER SOCIETY AND GET A FALL XII. I WALK INTO THE COUNTRY AND MEET WITH AN ADVENTURE XIII. IN WHICH I RUN AGAINST TRADITIONS XIV. IN WHICH I TEST MY STRENGTH XV. A MEETING IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN XVI. IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND XVII. IN WHICH MY FORTUNES RISE XVIII. THE PRINCIPLES OF MISS MATOACA XIX. SHOWS THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE XX. IN WHICH SOCIETY RECEIVES US XXI. I AM THE WONDER OF THE HOUR XXII. THE MAN AND THE CLASS XXIII. IN WHICH I WALK ON THIN ICE XXIV. IN WHICH I GO DOWN XXV. WE FACE THE FACTS AND EACH OTHER XXVI. THE RED FLAG AT THE GATE XXVII. WE CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND US XXVIII. IN WHICH SALLY STOOPS XXIX. IN WHICH WE RECEIVE VISITORS XXX. IN WHICH SALLY PLANS XXXI. THE DEEPEST SHADOW XXXII. I COME TO THE SURFACE XXXIII. THE GROWING DISTANCE XXXIV. THE BLOW THAT CLEARS XXXV. THE ULTIMATE CHOICE THE ROMANCE OF A PLAIN MAN CHAPTER I IN WHICH I APPEAR WITH FEW PRETENSIONS As the storm broke and a shower of hail rattled like a handful of pebbles against our little window, I choked back a sob and edged my small green-painted stool a trifle nearer the hearth. On the opposite side of the wire fender, my father kicked off his wet boots, stretched his feet, in grey yarn stockings, out on the rag carpet in front of the fire, and reached for his pipe which he had laid, still smoking, on the floor under his chair. "It's as true as the Bible, Benjy," he said, "that on the day you were born yo' brother President traded off my huntin' breeches for a yaller pup." My knuckles went to my eyes, while the smart of my mother's slap faded from the cheek I had turned to the fire. "What's become o' th' p-p-up-p?" I demanded, as I stared up at him with my mouth held half open in readiness to break out again. "Dead," responded my father solemnly, and I wept aloud.