The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-04-28
William and marcia.
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Atllcy Vlu-AdbAAOAC0
On the old-fashioned side of the
q green, contained three little, old
fashioned shops.
OF the three, one was vacant Be-
fore the coming of the brick block on
the opposite side Of the green, it had
been the postoffice, but upon compile
ton of the new building, Uncle Sam
Eel that his dignity and prestige
might remain unimpaired. moved
across, followed by the usual crowd
of .onngers and most Of the business.
Until then, also. the little, old-fash-
Toned building had always been proud
ly referred to as 1.-The block" now the
prefix, old, became necessary to dis
tinguish it from its newer and more
pretentious rival.
Two little signs, hanging chuntmily
side by side above the doorways Of
the other two little shops, informed
those who cared to know that the &C.
cupants were. respectively: "Marcie
Goodwin, Milliner." and civilian I'm
deTw0od, Newsdealer and Stationer {"
A short, somewhat stout man of 40
odd years came across the green one
morning, and unlocking the door be-
meath the sign of william Under
wood" entered. Soon he emerged.
minus his hat and coat and after
throwing back the heavy wooden
shutter covering the window, began
sweeping the board walk which ran
In front of the shop.
For this was William Underwood,
the proprietor. Not the William I'm
Norwood whose name the sign bore;
that was "Old Billy" Underwood. 1t
was young Billy" Underwood sweep
Ing the walk; so christened by the VII
layers for convenience in distinguish
Ing him from his father when he en-
tered the shop as assistant, twenty
five years before; and although his
father had been dead these many
years. to them he was young Billy"
still.
And although at the time Of his
death the elder Underwood was con-
sidered the richest man In the county
and William was his only heir, he con-
dnued to keep the little shop. seem
ingly content to follow in the foot
steps Of his sire.
As II awakened by the noise and
hustle, the door Of the adjoining shop
opened and a trim little woman an
peared, broom in hand,
In response to Williams "Good
morning. Marcia" she nodded a CHEEKY
good morning, and going to the oppo-
site end Of the walk, began to sweep
briskly.
As the sweeping progressed and
they neared each other. the conyersa.
ton was resumed.
It's lovely morning for so late in
the fall, William"
Yes; though it does feel a trif1e
winterish."
Another silence, during which both
swept industriously. Then William
said:
Squire Martin tells me that Ruth
Is having a splendid time In New
York"
I'm glad she married well off and
was able to 80 there. / knew she'd
enjoy it"
The sweeping was finished and for
q moment they fingered in front of
their doorways.
Il did not see you at the wedding"
mo, 1 did not 60" Then profess
sional pride asserting itself, she add
ed: Il made her wedding bonnet and
the hat she wore away"
The day was "a trife winterish," as
William had said. and Marcia hav-
ing tidied up the shop, decided a fire
would be necessary to remove the
chill. She had some difficulty in get
ting 1t to burn, but succeeding finally,
came to the trout and seated herself
nv the window, her favorite corner.
Her thoughts weer still Of the we'd
ding. and she sighed softly, rs she
~azed out on the green. 1t was nearly
nineteen years since she left school to
assist her mother in the care of the
shop. Theirs was the only millinery