Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-10-21

up his mind on starting in in his
fathers old Office that this informa-
ton seemed to leave him at sea. He
had figured In his mind just how he
would bring the old office wing into a
thoroughly up-to-date doctors suite.
1t was on Testers third call that
first day, after they had read through
the lease with the greatest scrutiny
that Mr.. Quick seemed to see way
out.
"Of course" he said with a mild
smile on his face, at isn't likely that
Susan Jane will remain In business
as 1t were-indefinitel
isn't she making it gof"
"That isn't it. She really seems to
be doing very well. The point is that
Miss Jane is more than commonly at
tractive. know of two-I might say
three-young men who would marry
her tomorrow If she consented. dare
say there are more. She is not of a
yielding nature. You might know that
from the way she stuck out about va
eating. 1t wouldn't be easy to per-
suade her. Still"
Are you still bachelor, Mr..
Quick2"
Mr.. Quick's confusion as he admitted
that he was led Lester to surmise that
he was one Of the three he had men
toned moment before.
"Well, go to It," laughed the young
ole n 80 Irya,.
for wedding present-only you must
not be many months about It,"
1t was just as DR.. Clark was about
to leave the office that Quick called
him back. He was stroking his bald
head reflectively. II was only going
to ask you," he said. whether you
were not also single. 1t might be, you
know, that Miss Jane would prefer
medicine to real estate-thirty years
to forty-fve."
Lester laughed Storekeepers were
not in his line, but he did not want to
give Quick offense by saying so.
He had distinct antlclpatory image
of this Susan Jane person-aggressive
calculating, possibly pretty; just the
kind Of woman that would appeal to
Quick, with horizon that stretched
only from one business deal to another.
Still 1t was preposterous Even II
she did have the lease, what was a
lease compared to the fact that this
was his office, that the memories and
associations of old DIR. Clark were all
connected with this little building?
Lester decided that he would try to
appeal to the sentiment Of this I'M
yielding Susan Jane person II he could.
He might intlmldate her; he might
suggest that when the people of
Sprucehurst learned of the stand she
had taken they might not be so well
disposed toward her little business ven
ture ms they would If she opened up
her shop in some other nearby quarter.
Susan Jane proved disarming. There
was nothing the least aggressive or
stubborn In her appearance. She stood
before him as he explained, her
shadowless blue eyes opened round
looking straight into his. They were
dlsconcertlng, those eyes, and as Susan
Jane stood there the picture Of trust
full innocence he did not know whether
the real Susan Jane beneath was
laughing at him; whether she was
about to yield to his request, or
whether she was really flirting with
Lester Clark didn't carry out his err
rand Just as lie had planned 1t. When
he had finished his explanation Susan
Jane laughed, spontaneous, easy
laugh like that Of child, and Lester
found that he was laughing with her
He felt somehow guilty when a Gus
toner came In to buy some knitting
yarn and painted lampshade. He
could have felt no more guilty had that
customer found him actually kissing
Susan Jane. Really he had just been
looking very deep into those round blue
eyes trying to find some revelation Of
Susan james real thoughts, but they
revealed nothing.
When he left he shook hands, and
with holiness unlike him held the
hand and drew Susan Jane a step
nearer to him as he looked again into
the blue eyes. "Be good girl, now
and give up the lease" he said.
"When are you coming agalnr she
asked.
Tomorrow" he said and they both
laughed. He was almost out the door
and turned back. II have heard that
you may have to give up, anyway" he
said. "Mr Quick says you will prob
ably get married."
perhaps ! shall" said Susan Jane
as she closed the door after him.
DR.. Clark's courtshlp was a quick
one. His days were spent In pursuit
Of Susan Jane, fathoming those eyes
and waiting for the intoxlcation of her
laugh, and at night after he was away
from her he used to steal time from
thinking Of her to make plans about
the office when he had his sign In
place Of the violet and blue one. He
proposed within a week Of his return
to Sprucehurst. Susan Jane accepted.
The next day he gained her promise to
be married within the month.
"rhen the lease may be destroyed"
he said ~ can go ahead planning my
Office"
Susan Jane said no. She believed
that women should have profession
MS well as men. She would certainly
not give up her little store. DR.. Clark
could start his office In the main
house. And 80 intoxicated with Joy
was Lester to think Of marrying the
bewitching Susan Jane that he made
no protest.
II was after they were married that
she gave up the shop, sold out her
little stock and settled down to house
wifely duties. AZ didn't want people
to say that the only reason You mar
ried me was to get me out OF my
SHOP" she said, though OF course ]
~. 80. ~