The
HUSBAND’S STORY
The
Husband’s Story
A NOVEL
BY
DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS
AUTHOR OF
THE FASHIONABLE ADVENTURES OF
JOSHUA CRAIG, OLD WIVES FOR NEW
THE SECOND GENERATION, ETC.
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1910, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Published September, 1910
Printed in the United States of America
THE HUSBAND’S STORY
WHY
Several years ago circumstances thrust me into aposition in which it became possible for the friend whofigures in these pages as Godfrey Loring to do me afavor. He, being both wise and kindly, never misses agood chance to put another under obligations. He didme the favor. I gratefully, if reluctantly, acquiesced.Now, after many days, he collects. When you shall haveread what follows, you may utterly reject my extenuatingplea that any and every point of view upon lifeis worthy of attention, even though it serve only toconfirm us in our previous ideas and beliefs. You maysay that I should have repudiated my debt, should haverefused to edit and publish the manuscript he confidedto me. You may say that the general racial obligationto mankind—and to womankind—takes precedence overa private and personal obligation. Unfortunately Ihappen to be not of the philanthropic temperament.My sense of the personal is strong; my sense of thegeneral weak—that is to say, weak in comparison. If“Loring” had been within reach, I think I should havegone to him and pleaded for release. But as luck willhave it, he is off yachting, to peep about in the remote[2]inlets and islets of Australasia and the South Seas forseveral years.
To aggravate my situation, in the letter accompanyingthe manuscript, after several pages of the discriminatingpraise most dear to a writer’s heart, he did methe supreme honor of saying that in his work he had“striven to copy as closely as might be your style andyour methods—to help me to the hearing I want andto lighten your labors as editor.” I assure him and thepublic that in any event I should have done little editingof his curious production beyond such as a proofreadermight have found necessary. As it is, I havedone practically no editing at all. In form and in substance,from title to finis, the work is his. I am merelyits sponsor—and in circumstances that would forbid mewere I disposed to qualify my sponsorship with evenso mild a disclaimer as reluctance.
Have I said more than a loyal friend should? If so,on the other hand, have I not done all that a loyal friendcould?
I
I am tempted to begin with our arrival in Fifth Avenue,New York City, in the pomp and circumstance befittingthat region of regal splendor. I should at oncecatch the attention of the women; and my literaryfriends te