The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Most Sentimental Man, by Evelyn E. Smith

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Title: The Most Sentimental Man

Author: Evelyn E. Smith

Release Date: August 25, 2009 [EBook #29791]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_Johnson knew he was annoying the younger man, who so obviously
lived by the regulations in the_ Colonial Officer's Manual _and
lacked the imagination to understand why he was doing this....
Evelyn E. Smith is famous for her bitter-sweet stories of the worlds
of Tomorrow._

the
most
sentimental
man

_by EVELYN E. SMITH_

Once these irritating farewells were over with, he
could begin to live as he wished and as he'd dreamed.

Johnson went to see the others off at Idlewild. He knew they'd expect
him to and, since it would be the last conventional gesture he'd have to
make, he might as well conform to their notions of what was right and
proper.

For the past few centuries the climate had been getting hotter; now,
even though it was not yet June, the day was uncomfortably warm. The
sun's rays glinting off the bright metal flanks of the ship dazzled his
eyes, and perspiration made his shirt stick to his shoulder blades
beneath the jacket that the formality of the occasion had required. He
wished Clifford would hurry up and get the leave-taking over with.

But, even though Clifford was undoubtedly even more anxious than he to
finish with all this ceremony and take off, he wasn't the kind of man to
let inclination influence his actions. "Sure you won't change your mind
and come with us?"

Johnson shook his head.

The young man looked at him--hatred for the older man's complication of
what should have been a simple departure showing through the pellicule
of politeness. He was young for, since this trip had only slight
historical importance and none of any other kind, the authorities had
felt a junior officer entirely sufficient. It was clear, however, that
Clifford attribute