Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-08-29
WHY BILL
BOUGHT THE
BOOKSTORE
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

NNNh DOOhSiOPg oNAooo thO
square, hands thrust deep In her
sweater pockets, her shabby black vel
vet tam stuck obllquely on her bobbed
hair. 1t was Sunday afternoon, her
shop was closed, and she was much
dissatisfied with life.
Sinking on to bench, she crossed
two slender feet encased in very down.
at-the-heels patent feathers and gave
herself up to sollloquy.
'Daresay o. Henry once sat on this
very bench. mulling over plot. Won
der what he would have done with the
story of my young life Let me see.
Ambitious girl In a small country town
wants to get out of her present en-
vironment which is stultifylng. Has
a cousin in New York. Through her
secures job as assistant to old couple
who own bookstore in Greenwich vii
lage. Old couple dies, leaving store
plus lot Of debts to aforesaid girl.
Girl sickens Of struggle. Boy back
home wants to marry her. Also a
clever but poor young journalist in the
city. What shall she dor"
Sonia-her real name was Sarah, but
whoever heard of Sarah in Nc
Dougal alley-sat for some time consld-
ering her perplexities Then as she
saw approaching a long-legged young
man, she sighed made up her mind on
the spur of the moment, and rose to
meet him.
Bill Armstrong was true son of
New York and Newspaper row. He
had been born somewhere In the West
Eighties, had earned his first money
selling papers on the corner, and was
now a hustllng reporter with keen
nose for news, an ever optimistic point
Of view, and lean purse. Somewhere
upstate was a rich uncle well along
In years but only on the very rare Oc-
caslons when Bill was low in his mind
did he think Of the old gentleman.
Bill loved Sonia, although not keen
about her habitat and much Of his
hustling was done with her as the In
centive.
Now as he saw her familiar figure
a tender feeling surged within him
which changed to dlsmay at her first
words.
"Bill, am going home and marry
the prosperous Edward have told you
about. The bookshop doesn't pay. l
shall sell 1t for what can get, and
clear out. I've quite made up my
mind, SO don't attempt to dlssuade me.
don't want to marry ON nothing at
all, and not even on the prospects Of
that rich uncle's remembering you
handsomely some years hence when
he dlesl"
Hurt and chagrlned Bill walked on
beside her in silence, pressed her hand
when they parted, promised to help her
sell the shop, and turned sadly away
He knew the uselessness of arguing
with Sonia once she made up her de-
termined young mind.
A week or 80 later when Sonia
stepped from the train to the all but
deserted platform Of her home town,
she tried to imagine that she was filled
with joyful anticipation and that all
she needed was to see her old friend
Edward to complete her happiness.
That evening, however, as at her aunt's
house she awaited his coming, tiny
doubt of the wisdom Of her plans as
sailed her.
And when she saw him, she knew
she could never marry him. Edward
had changed from the boy she remem-
bered He looked prosperous-oh,
very But he was stouter, q little bald
and very dull, lacking all the vital
eagerness of Bill. How could she have
imagined she loved him?
After a desultory conversation, Ed
ward arose somewhat heavily and
came over to her. Sarah" he said,
ARE you through with this city nom
sense and ready to settle DOWN. II
you are, let's be married"
His unromantic manner projected on
the girls mind a picture of what the
future would be, married to Edward.
\ vision Of respectabiiity, stoIid and
dull. She shook her head. II shall
never settle down, Ed she said bright
ly. Thanks, all the same"
So there you were Sonia wept bit
terly that night. "Oh, DEAR" she told
her pillow, 1--WE certainly hashed my
life. I've sold the dear little shop
and can't stay here The bills didn't
leave enough TO support me for very
long. It's back to the city for me
and n job. Oh, dearW More tears.
Back she went and because the
thing she had lost had grown suddenly
valuable, she went down to the book
store to say good-by before hunting
up new quarters.
Very familiar II appeared and Sonia
was gratihed to find that the owner
had made few changes. How could
she have been idiot enough to let 1t
slip through her fingers without
final struggle3
As she turned away she felt touch
on her arm and looked up into Bits
eyes.
Sonia !" he said, whatever in the
world"
But she interrupted him. "Oh, Bill.
| was crazy to give up the bookstore
and crazy to think could marty 3D.
ward and crazlest Of all TOTO give
up you"
BIZ seized her hands. do you
DOR SALE