The Dolores star., 1907-03-29
THE WOMAN, THE BOOKS
And THE PRETTY GIRL
By KATHRYN KNIGHT.


being frivolous and silly. I want to
take an interest in something seri-
GUS"
Or do you mean a serious interest
in something?" sympathetically in
quired the Woman. The two are not
exactly synonymous, and sometimes
you get more pleasure out Of being
serious yourself"
Yes. there are those people who
take an interest in bugs. They take
real serious interest in bugs. but 1t
often does seem awful silly. Now.
why can't / take an interest in some
hing? I'm going to. I'm going to
take an interest in china or old furni-
ture or books"
Then the Pretty Girl looked very
important, while the Woman listened
in awestruck silence. But it's silly
to have convictions II You don't back
them out. and the Pretty Girl is not
slow.
Let's go right around to that book
shop the Book Worm told us about
and look at the books"
The book shop was kept by q nice
illtic ludu WHo sDohe LuSHSu Win OIL
English accent. which everybody
knows is different from an American
accent. He was delighted to show the
Pretty Girl the books OF which he
was the custodian. They were
''tooled" books; the classics were
dressed up in handmade costumes
that were perfectly beautiful.
There was one set of fooled Shake
speare that was lovely. Radiant in a
binding of red and gold, it fairly
shone resplendent.
Now. this" said the custodian.
was done at our English house. 1t
is one of the finest specimens of hand
work that we have"
Isn't it perfectly beautiful" ex-
claimed the Pretty Girl. Its just too
sweet for anything" And then. in a
burst of confidence. you know l am
not really interested in this sort of
thing, but I'm trying to be-"
The Woman, who had been trying
to uphold the dignity OF the personal
ly conducted party by admiring an old
. engraving which she afterward found
out it was wrong to admire, because
said engraving had been colored,
gasped. But the Custodian of the
Books did not mind; he merely
.beamed upon the Pretty Girl and
brought down some more books
which were utilized in her education.
Somehow, everybody helps the Pret-
'ty Girl to do whatever she happens
to want to do.
Then lovely volume of Tennyson
was displayed. The binding was of
dark brilliant green. and the golden
edges and the binding met in what
seemed to be solid cover.
Isn't 1t too cute? ?" exclaimed the
Pretty Girl. as she ran her finger
along the smooth binding. "It looks
just like one OF those fancy candy
boxes. Do you know" turning sud,
denly on the Woman. who was ad-
miring copy of Jack the Giant Kill
err" ''he didn't send me any candy
last week."
How much is this?" gasped the
Woman. picking Jack hastily up in
an endeavor to bring the converse
tion back to more intellectual lines.
"Sixty-five dollars. 1t is one of the
most beautiful copies in existence.
See, these engravings are exquisite
and the type used resembles fine
Italian writing. The binding is splen-
did calf"
What mercy it isn't cow" broke
gurglingly from the Pretty Girl, who
beamed at her own joke.
And because the Pretty Girl made
it-for no other reason the Woman
felt sure, the Custodian of the Books
beamed too, which led the Pretty
Girl to remark as soon as she reached
the outside that it was all mistake
about Englishmen having no sense of
humor.
DO you sell many books?" was the
next question the Pretty Girl thought
to ask.
well, no; but, you see, we have
ouch expensive books that the ma
jority of people don't buy them. We
have number Of good customers. the
kind of people who know Just what
they want and who don't mind paying
the prices asked. These are the peo-
pie who already have splendid H.
braries and who are always looking
out for something to add to them"
Il think I'll start a library" solilo-
quized the Pretty Girl 1T &ould be
better than collecting furniture, be-
cause l live in a flat and antique
things are SO big and china gets
broken. think I'll begin right away;
now. how much is this?" picking up
tiny volume Of Keats.
That's six dollars; very artistic
piece Of work it is. too"
The Pretty Girl pursed up her lips
thoughtfully.
Il wonder whether I'll need a new
pair Of slippers to go to the dancer"
and then she beamed on the Custo-
dian-"I believe I'd better wait to be-