Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-11-26
Rosalind's
Rustic Romance
By J. P. SHEPARD

Rosallnd Menthorne turned down,
the corner of the page she had been
perusing, closed the book, showed It,
aside on the library table and gave,
herself up to day dreams.
The title of the book was "Thel
Romance Of Roaring Rutherford" and!
II dealt with dashing young western
er who performed heroic deeds by the,
dozen, and because of his bravery was
rewarded with the hand of the cattle
kings lovely daughter.
But Rosalind had another kind of
romance to think about, and she was,
the central figure in 1t. She was loved
desperately and wooed perslstently by
two young men. Only last night one
of them had proposed for his third
time, and two days ago the other had
popped the question" after having
popped 1t thrice previously, Rosalind
was satisfied that she loved one of her
ardent wooers, but could not determine
which of them 1t was. 1t was this per-
picking puzzle that caused her tempo
iuIliy W lOSc lntSISSI III HuuElllB muir
erford.
She was Crabtree Center's most de-
sirable daughter, when 1t came to looks
and personality. She was plump-not
too plump-and she had auburn hair
not red, mind you-and dimples. 1t
might be mentioned in passing that her.
father possessed something else that
was plump-a bank roll Many q
Crabtree Center youth, with one eye
fixed adorlngly on Rosallnd and the
other attached hungrily to her fathers
dollars, had entered the arena, but all
Of them had failed and dropped by the
wayslde; If you can imagine waysides
in an arena.
Only two of them were left. They
were Felix Spriggins and Josephus
SmartTox. If beauty played part both
were out of the running. The former
was built much like the moon and the
latter like a straw. Felix weighed $50
and Josephus 1876.
During his spare moments when he
was not calling on Rosalind, Felix
worked at reducing his girth, using
gymnnstic apparatus which occupied
all the space in his room that was not
taken up with the bed. But the more
he labored to lose flesh the more he
took on.
At the same time Josephus sought
to acquire avoirdupols, but the only
effect of this was to make him thin
ner.
Crabtree Center was small and its
bank, where both worked, was little
structure resembling Jail. 1t would
not have been In existence only for
the fact that the town was built at a
four corners where all the rural high
ways converged and the farmers
used 1t for social and business gath
ering place.
Felix and Josephus are both nice
boys" unused Rosalind as she munched
a chocolate. II could marry either
of them and be happy--lf only there
was something romantic about one Of
them If one Of them would perform
deeds Of daring like Roaring Ruther-
ford he would be my choice; but who
can imagine Felix doing anything he
rOic2 Josephus would be more likely
to display bravery, but what opportu-
nifty is there for deeds Of bravery in
Crabtree Center2 Yes, they're nice
boys, and know they both love me-"
Now, Felix Sprlgglns had a heart
as big as his bulky body. He loved
Rosalind with all Of this generous
heart, and If he gave a thought to her
fathers financial standing II was only
incidental.
Josephus Smartlox was fond Of
finery, and he loved the lucre Mr.. Men
thorn possessed. Yes, he loved Rosa
lind because Of her auburn hair and
dimples, but he loved her more be-
cause of the bankroll Of which she
some day would be the custodian.
EYES," unused Rosallnd, II must have
romance; l must have brave man.
My choice for husband will be the
one who does a heroic deed. will
deliver this to them as an ultima
tum."
1t was necessary, Of course, to de-
liver the ultimatum to each Of her
sutors on separate occasions, for
nothing would have induced them to
get together, not even the power Of
their love for Rosalind.
II will marry the man who performs
the most daring deed of heroism," was
what she said. II don't know how you
can put your bravery to test IN this
backwoods town, but I shall wait I'M.
I'll you do"
The ultimatum appalled, and discour-
aged Felix, for he knew he was not
brave, and he feared his cause was
lost. 1t set Josephus to thinking.
He was not brave, either, but he
had imagination.
Things we're humming along In their
prosalc way In the Crabtree Center
First National bank. Josephus Smart
lox was arranging some greenbacks
into piles and Felix Sprigglns was do
ing something with a big book aad a
bottle Of black ink and a bottle Of
red Ink. There were no patrons in
the bank at the particular hour re-
ferred to.
Hands up, all Of you !" said steely
voice suddenly coming from in front
Of the Enclosure that isolated the en-
ployees. "Stand up, every one, and
back against the wall"
The employees looked up and imme-
llately raised their hands above them
and arose from their chairs. When
Josephus smartlox's hands went up
each Of them held a roll Of banknotes,