The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-05-20
TO HER ADVANTAGE
BY HlLDA MORRIS.
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-

per
Back in Stanton old Ellis Stevens
bookshop was a famous place, for
friendly gatherings and gossip. Its
hospitable table full of magazines, its
big base-burner with a fire glimmerlng
red through the mica windows, its we'll
lined displays of paper, pens and other
literary appliances made it popular
place for evening gatherings. Young
Ellis had been brought up in that
bookshop; he loved the very sight and
touch of q book. SO when ambition
drove him to the city with a little cap
ital 1t was natural that he should start
a bookshop of his own. This was a
modest place at first, but it grew rap
idly, as some shops have way Of do
ing.
There was one young girl who came
into the shop rather often. Ellis had
noticed her once or twice-she seemed
to be always reading magazines,
though she seldom bought more than
q pen or an eraser. Ellis Stevens,
watching her out a particular morn
ing when there were few other GUS
toners, felt a growing conviction that
he had seen that girl before some,
where. He stared after her as she
left the shop. Where had he known
that girl? In Stanton? 1t was pos.
sible.
The girl did not appear that day,
however, and Ellis made Il discovery.
She had forgotten something. On the
counter near where she had stood lay
a book, a well-thumbed copy of Pen
dennis. And on its fy-leaf was writ.
ten, "Rose Maxwell, Stanton, New
York"
Rose Maxwell! He remembered
now. She was one of the innumerable
Maxwell family who lived in the old
gray farmhouse out on the Greenville
road. He had seen her in school, per.
haps or at the church affairs. She
would come back for the book, of
course.
But the weeks went by and Rose
Maxwell did not return to the shop,
1t was strange--she had been in the
habit Of dropping in every day or so,
before.
A month or so later Ellis made a
flying visit to Stanton, and there he
learned that Rose Maxwell had not
stories, 1t seemed; one of her produc-
tons was in last months Spectrum,
Ellis got her address from friends
without any trouble, and hurried back
to town. He meant to find Rose Max.
well-of course it was his duty to re-
turn that book.
SO the following Sunday Ellis Stew,
ems, carrying "Pendennis," called at
Rose MaXwelps boarding house. An
incongruous landlady met him at the
brown-stone entrance. Miss Maxwell
had moved No, she didn't know her
present address. No, she couldn't give
him any idea as to where to find her !;
she had moved some weeks ago. So
the following morning this notice ap.
peared in the columns of a daily pa.
per:
IF the young lady who left a copy
Of Pendennis' in Stevens book store
at Eighty-third street will come tC
claim her property she will learn of
something to her advantage"
1t was rather a remarkable adver,
tisement, but it brought results. Rose
Maxwell came. Ellis was busy with
an old gentleman who was fussily
purchasing an edition of the English
poets, and it was some time before he
could speak to Rose.
After an interminable while the old
gentleman departed, and Ellis APP
preached the girl. She was still read.
ing, but she looked up with a smile
Ellis thought she was pale and lit,
tie thinner. Perhaps she had been Ill,
after all.
WAS it you who advertised my
PendennisY" she asked. 1T was ]
who left it here, several weeks ago"
81 know 1t was" he answered. 81
thought you would come back after 1t,
| waited and waited before | adyer-
tised-because-"
'BeCause" she repeated curiously.
Because l thought I'd find you, Miss
Rose Maxwell. You see | knew you
that Is | remembered seeing you In
Stanton, and / tried all sorts Of ways
to find you. l looked in the directory,
Why, even went back home to Stan.
ton to find your address-but | found
you'd moved"
She was looking at him curiously,
her eyes wide.
"But why should you take so much
trouble2" she asked. THE book Is Of
no value"
mo, but--well, | wanted to see you.
had to see you again. Don't you
see"
She looked down, her face flushed,
and stroked the edge of the counter.
"Not exactly" she said.
"Why I-I-You little Rose Maxwell,
love you! Don't you see? had to
see you again and tell you so, whether
you could care or not. | loved you
from the first minute you set foot In
my shop"
She looked up, starry-eyed.
That's why you advertised some.
thing to my advantageY" she asked.
"Yes--that was conceited Of me. ]
didn't mean to be conceited. But II
you could care little, Rose, l could
make you so happy"
"You doear old goosep she ex.
claimed. "Tve cared all the time