Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-07-01

The Conch
She'll
Everybody Was Named
Smith.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.
By cLARISSA MACKIE.
Observation-Disclosures aIassAAsaAAssi

daAsaSssiaaaaAsasasa sssaAsasaaas saaaaasaaAH
While Mary Smith was visiting her
rich cousins. the Drews, in the city she
met Ralph Meldon, He asked permits
sion to call upon her at her home, East
BAY
Ralph Meldon did not get down to
East hay for several months after
that. At last he closed his rooms and
went down to his brothers farm. some
ten miles distant from East Bay.
The next day numbering stage car
ried him over to East Bay and depos-
tied him before the postoffice. It
pleased Ralph to walk down the crook
ed village street and pick out the
house In which Mary Smith lived.
A brown church stood at the corner
where an intersecting street made q
sharp triangle Next to the church
was tiny white cottage powered In
honeysuckle vines and ivy. Tulips
and hyaclnths made gay the brown
earth borders on either side the neat
path that led to the front door
Instinctively Ralph turned in at the
gate and strobe up the path. It
was not until his hand had lifted the
brass knocker that he remembered to
look for the conch shell on the porch.
The door opened. and neat maid
servant looked curiously at his town
cut garments,
is Miss Smith at homer asked
Meldon confidently.
"Yes, sir; walk right In"
Ralph followed the girl into a dark
ened parlor, where she left him. The
stuffy little room with its rose gar
landed carpet. marble topped tables
and grim rows of chairs did not
breathe eloquenuy Of sunshiny Mary
Smith, but Ralph's heart beat faster
at the sound of light footstep out
side the door.
Presently the door opened, and a
lady stood before him, tall and gaunt,
with small severe features and frown-
ing black brOws. Her black hair was
drawn into a hard, incorporating
knot Oh top OF her head, and the thick
ltilbtn VI hFt SpCNtuNicS BuNu al uuh-
ed ierceness to her black eyes.
She bowed stifiy as Mellon arose to
his feet, and she surveyed his gloves
and stick with open disapproyal.
81 don't want my life insured" she
snapped. opening the door SUCCESSFULLY.
Mellon Redeemed under her insulting
tone. Really. madam" he was be-
ginning when she sienced him with
gesture.
Neither do wish to buy a set OF
The Worlds Greatest Literary Lights,
nor The European Encyclopedia nor
any other books for which you are the
agent. am very busy todayw She
opened the door wider, bur Meldon did
not stir
"You are mistaken, madam. l am
not an aReni for anything whatever
merely called TO see Miss Smith"
II am Miss smith," was the tart re-
ply.
"Mlss Mary Smith, should have ex-
planned"
II am Miss Mary Smith"
"Then have made mistake In
the house hope you will pardon
the Intrusion" said Medon quietly as
he passed through the door
Its common enough name" re-
Joined Miss Smith less acldly as her
visitor went down the steps She look
ed admirlnGly ut the tall, well setup
figure Ms he stepped briskly up the
street "HC must be looking for May
Smith. dlre say he wants summer
board"
Ralph smiled to himself az he looked
at the next cottage to the one from
which he bad been almost forcibly
elected. II WINS 'Iplle as attractive az
the other one. and IT, too. had a large
cOnch shell on the front porch
In response 10 his knock pale, tired
looking girl came TO the door
II am Mary Smith" she said in an
swer to his carefully worded inquiry.
"Im afraid I've made another mis-
take" said Ralph. with pleasant
smile as he turned away. II am look
ing for Captain Smiths cottage
Captain Smith lives next door" in
terrupted the girl. You'll find him at
home, for he has just gone In"
THANK you" said Ralph relievedly.
As he walked up the next neat
graveled path Ralph Mellon was pain
fully aware that Smith" was not an
uncommon name In East Bay and that
sea captains we're as thick In the vii.
lage as the proverbial bees In barrel
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