Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-04-18
THE WOMAN, THE BOOKS
AND THE PRETTY GIRL
By H KNIGHT


The Pretty Girl looked m%ournfully
into the box from which she had
taken the last piece of candy.
DO you know" she said, with a
disconsolate air, that I'm tired of
being frivolous and silly. / want to
take an interest in something seri.
GUS
Or do you mean a serious interest
in something's" alphabetically in
quired the Woman. THE two are not
exactly synonymous. and sometimes
you get nor pleasure out of being
serious yourself"
Yes. there are those people who
take an interest in bugs. They take
a real serious interest in bugs, but It
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 if 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 a nice
little man who spoke English with an
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 n 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. IT'S 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 vas 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 Pref
ty Girl to do whatever she happens
to want to do.
Then a 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 a solid cover.
Isn't it too cute?" exclaimed the
Pretty Girl, as she ran her finger
along the smooth binding. 1T looks
just like n of those fancy candy
boxes. Do You know" turning sud-
denly on the Woman, who was adj
miring a 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 conversa-
ton back to more intellectual lines.
"~Sixty-ive 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 SPLEEN
did calf"
What a 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 nc 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 a mistake
about Englishmen having no sense Of
humor.
DO you sell many books?" was the
next question the Pretty Girl thought
10 ask.
well, no; but, you see. we have
such expensive books that the ma
iority of people don't buy them. We
have a 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 IL
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 would be
better than collecting furniture, be-
cause l live in a fiat and antique
things are 50 big n china gets
broken. l think I'll begin right away;
now, how much is this? ?" picking up a
tiny volume of Keats.
That's six dollars; a very artistic
piece Of work II 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-
ofn tho Hhrarv nnf a.. h,.- a