Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-11-01
ON THE BOARDWALK
Anlta's Pink Dress Was Mighty
Becoming.
BY ELLA RANDALL PEARcE.

By a strange coincidence, Just as
the clock was striking that balmy
hummer night, Miss Anita Wallace
started out for a solitary stroll from
The north end of the boardwalk,
while at the south end, Mr.. Franklin
Sholes, having shaken off his gay
friends at his hotel, lighted cigar
and sauntered moodily northward.
The strangeness of 1t lay in the fact
that only forty-eight hours before
these two young people had quarreled
and parted-forever, as each one pas
Sionately affirmed.
Il shall go to the Canadian forests
and you may never hear of me again."
was Sholes' parting shot
I'm going abroad with the Mac
Phersons" called out Anita hooking
ly. "Goodby."
Each one believed in the others In
tention, but after a day spent in mis-
cradle reflection decided that broken
heart could best be mended nearer
tome, so, doubtless actuated by sim
lar reasons, both the detected lovers
once, but strangers now" had migrat-
ed to the popular shore resort where
year ago their courtship had begun
and run happily through a wonderful
summer season.
Anita's thoughts we're travelling
backward as she slowly pursued her
way with her pensive face turned to-
ward the sea What was the shifting
throng of pleasure seekers to her?
What did she have In common with
the festive world, where in every d.
rection that her glances turned she
saw couples arm In arm, fond-eyed
and smiling? Franklin Sholes was
on his way to Canada and she was
alone!
After all, | was foolish to come
here OF all places" reflected Anita.
Il don't want to care for him any
more. l want to forget, and there's
nothing like stirring up old memories
to make folks remember. And those
were happy times! But he has
ohanged-and hate stingy mani"
Some distance ahead a solitary
figure leaned over the narrow railing
and tossed a half.fnished cigar into
the waves.
Tastes like a stogie," muttered
young Sholes. We'll, suppose Miss
Anita Wallace is on the high seas to.
night. The sight OF the ocean gives
me the blues-what did come down
here for, anyway Brings back the
old days when Anita was 80 dear and
sweet. Society's spoiled her-and
hate frivolous, extravagant woman!
Besides, my income would not sup
= port her. Glad found II out in
time"
Then, as he leaned over the dark,
tapping water, his meditations keyed
to their melancholy music, he re-
called Anita as he had seen her last
"a dazzling figure in pale pink, with
delicate hand-embroideries of deeper
rose shades flecked with crystal beads
"a beautifulmgown, but quite incon.
sistently worn by young woman Of
modest means
There had been other times when
his practical mind had revolved
around the perplexing subject of his
sweethearts attractive-and, as It
seemed to him, wearing
apparel 1t was Sholes' frank criti-
cism that had started the quarrel that
ended 80 disastrously. How defiant,
how tantalizing Anita had been, and
how harshly she had forced him to
speak
"Oh, well, she'd be no wife for
poor man. Vanity and extravaganza
have broken up many a home But
perhaps | might have expressed my
self more automatically. Anita's
young and has been flattered a lot.
And that pink dress was mighty be
coming"
Then he continued his way. Mean.
while Anita, hoping to find diversion
for her faded mind. had turned In at
one OF the little Japanese bazars that
bordered the boardwalk, where the
regular evening auction sale was in
progress.
The place was thronged. but she
found a single front seat at one side
where the glib auctioneer's interest
ing prattle came plainly to her. He
was disposing OF some fine linens; a
small Oriental rug followed. and after
that the nlmble assistant brought
out some gay fiat boxes that dis.
bursed soft folds OF radiant color.
Little silk scarf made in Japan,
all hand embroider," chanted the
auctioneer. Here's a beauty-what
you call that color? Yes Mexican
Beauty. II is most suitable for 'Mert
can beauty-yes, It will make lovely
the lady who wear IT, How much you
offer? Anything to start-how much
for this 'Merican Beauty scarf? Five
dollar, thank you-all dat7 II Is hand
embroider, not machine, you under.
stand? Ten dollar, thank you. Do
hear more~
Because OF her bitter, FESTIVE mood,
Anita became suddenly possessed Of q
desire to possess that lovely, silken
thing, Haunting at her its rosy pink |
sheen and delicate embroideries. Two |
nights ago she had worn an EN-.
broidered rose pink gown.
Twelve" called somebody on the |
other side Of the bazaar. Thirteen" |
stammered Anita, close at the auc.
tioneer's side, and, when the word
was repeated, two or three higher bids
we're made The auctioneer nodded |
his head toward the far corner.
do hear more? Eighteen, thank
you. Eighteen is bid, eight"
Twenty" said Anita, her pulses
thrilling with the spirit OF the contest.
"Twenty--do hear more? Twenty