The Lamar register., 1920-06-02
A $500
KERMANSHA
By R. RAY BAKER

His brow corrugated in dark
frown. Armen DoomborIjian stood at
the window of his business place and
watched Doctor Azaad Boyajian march
past on the opposite side Of the street,
head erect. shoulders back. twlrling a
cane
Armens black eyes followed the
hef until he arrived at bazaar near
pfPfe end of the block. The doctor did
not enter the bazaar. Instead he
-passed through II doorway which
nened on stairs giving access to rooms
the store.
armen was not angry. He Just felt
sad; or rather, he was just plain Jeal-
Gus. For he knew AZaad was calling
on Araxia Altoonjian, whose father
was proprietor of the bazaar and whose
home was above II.
Slowly Armen walked toward the
back Of his store, traversing its en-
tire length with few steps: because
II was only a niche. II appeared that
the construction of the various build
Ings on the street had been started at
either end of the block. and thar they
HHu Ihlltu 10 meet III lHt tlluult. III
order to avoid wasting building space a
little coop Of building ten feet high
and twice as wide had been fitted be-
tween the two walls. For space was
expensive on the Midway OF this Lake
Michigan summer resort.
The contents of the coop. however,
rivaled that of many large bazaars in
Intrinsic value. for 1t was filled with
Persian rugs. so full that Armen found
difficulty in making Il path in his wor-
rled pacing of the floor.
Arrnen's means OF livelihood was
against him In his campaign for Ar
axia's heart. Araxia favored the pro-
fessions when II came to husbands. In
her opinion. selling rugs was nenial
existence. Armen, however, could not
bring himself to dlssociate his life
from the business he had always
known and which his fathers had fol-
lowed before him. He loved rugs. and
he knew them as an artist knows col
ors.
He could not understand nnybody's
resisting the charm OF the magnn-
cent handwoven fabrics which seemed
to difruse al atmosphere Of enchant-
ment from the mysterious East.
As he paced the floor Armen
stopped now and then to caress one
Of his beloved rugs which he had
/. hung from the ceiling-rows upon
Atows Of them. This scheme OF dis
play was not satisfactory. but It was
the best he could devise in his
cramped quarters.
II love you" he whispered to the
rugs. Next TO AraIia and my moth
er. far away in Armenia. l love you
best"
Finally he seated himself at the rear
~ the store and concerned himself
with reflections on his unrequited love.
He hoped no customers would appear,
because he wanted to think OF things
more ethereal than business. His sales
this week already netted him sl,ooo.
and that was sufficient. Armen was
accommodating n neat sum in the bank
Or. Azaad BoyaJian was the fly In
Armens ointment. Before the other
came back from college with his de-
gree Armen had been making progress
in his love AFFAIR In spite Of AraNias
aversion to his occupation. He had al
most persuaded her that the rug busi-
ness was art. and she had even prom
ised to look over his assortment some
day.
Then Azaad came no and spoiled
everything. He liked Ar"Nia. and ne
AS.a professional man. He opened an
land set out after n practice. This
came slowly; in fact. the doctor APP
peared to be having little more than no
success. But this had no effect on Ar
Asia's admiration. He wns profess
NossI man. which II was better to be,
though a financial failure. than
s merchant. no matter how sue
sful. Besides. Azaad was hand
ne and strong. albeit he had very
citable nature, which Arax!a excused
temperament Armen himself had
rather attractive physiognomy' bur
Ae was short of stature.
So things began to go against Ar
en-. Instead OF calling twice each
week on Araxia. he was allowed TO see
her but once. while the doctor weDt
eAree nights-and they were not pro-
0ssional calls. Then, before long. Ar
msn was left out entirely, for Araxia
olways found some excuse when ne
Dked II he might call.
Only yesterday Araxia had been In