Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-01-13
10 AND
HER BAD
BARGAIN
(@ by d. J. walsh.)

the young set in Hillville. She was
a tall girl whose dark hair looked
y like bronze luster in the sunshine.
Her eyes also were dark, her cheeks
full of color, her voice deep and fun.
An honest girl, vigorous, senslDle,
intelligent girl with a warm heart and
quick sympathy for all who needed II.
10 had no trouble to make friends and
keep them. 1t was marvel how she
ever found time for fun, for she
helped her father in his small pruning
office, working a hand press, waiting
on customers and looking after the
books. Besides this she kept house,
for her mother was dead. Thus, even
though JOS day began at six ana
ended at ten or later she had to make
the most of every minute.
It was expected that 10 would mar
ry Cyrus Boyd, who was as popular
as herself. Cyrus earned a good SAL
airy, he was fine looking, steady, pru-
dent and bound to reach the top. 10
suited him and he wanted her. Her
father favored Cyrus and her friends
urged her to take him, for competition
was strong. But 10 only smiled and
continued to be friends with Cyrus
without being anything more.
In the joyous, lively lot of young
people known as "Jo's crowd was
Dan Jenkins, a pale, quiet young fel-
low with dreamy blue eyes. The most
that was ever said OF Dan was that
he was a nice boy. He could play
the piano little, sing little, dance
little, and was always glad to be
useful in any way he could. II there
was any work, Dan was always called
upon because he was willing. He
adored 10 at distance. She was
the only girl to whom he ever paid
the least attention. And because he
was alone In the world, did not earn
much, and always seemed little sad
and bereft, 10 was kind to him.
OF course, nobody ever dreamed she
would marry him, but she dld-unex-
pectedly. CONSERVATION fell upon her
friends.
"Oh, 10" Mary Briggs half sobbed,
you've made a horrible mistake.
When you might have had splendid
Cyrus"
81 know Cyrus is splendid" 10 an
swered gravely. therefore, he does
not need me- But Dan does. Dan
hasn't friend really but me. He has
never had a home or loving care or
dlsinterested direction. He has just
stumbled along, keeping his troubles
out of sight and doing the best he
could"
~ suppose when he proposed to you,
10, you accepted him out of pity?'
Mary said sadly.
HE didn't propose to me at all"
Jo flushed. 81 couldn't make him,
though I tried hard enough. SO pro
posed to him. 1t wasn't even leap
year, either" she laughed "As for
plying DAM just love him"
"Oh, 10! How queer you are. And
how dear. But Pm afraid you've made
a bad bargain ~
| JO HtdTu lildl a uuLtI kAliiNH mat
she had made a bad bargain in mar
rying Dan jenkins Her father was
angry. He refused to allow Dan TO
enter his house he hired somebody In
JOS place. 10 quietly went into a new
home which consisted of two rooms
over Dryers barber shop. Just be-
fore seven each morning Dan was
seen to run down the outside stairs
dinner pail in hand. Just after six he
climbed the stairs again 10 was al
ways there.
She did not drop ont of the social
affairs Of her set entirely. but she
was no longer the leading spirit
When after a little time Dan set up
printing shop of his own it was
understood that Jo had furnished part
Of the money with her savings and
borrowed the rest. she began work at
her husbands side, giving him the
benefit of what she had learned. Her
father laughed, but others sighed
Dear, good 10, what very bad bar.
gain she had made! Dan knew moth.
ing, Of course, about printing and she
certainly knew all too little.
A time of struggle ensued-two
years all told. But 10 kept her color
her smile, her sauntless brightness
And strangely enough Dan seemed Ia
be picking up a little. Dan was de.
veloping mental-muscle somehow. The
dreams had left his blue eyes and in
them was deep purpose and deter
mlnation.
The launching of another newspaper
set Hillvllle buzzing with speculation.
JOS father had tried the newspaper
game and failed in it--even with JOS
help. This was a modest sheet full of
stale news. Dan as an editor! OF
course, nobody knew much about Dan
He had drifted into Hillville a few
years before from an indeterminate
past. Dan had never said much about
himself to anybody but 10.
The little paper was at first hut n
feeble candle in weary world but
instead of going out, as was predicted.
its light grew larger and brighter. II
had to be admitted that Dan really
knew something about the business.
He could write an editorial worth
reading. II was odd This boy VIII
had been so slow to speak could
write conyincingly.
Dan seems to be coming on" Mary
Boyd said, She II was who as Mary
Briggs had wept over JOS bad bar.
| gain.
"Why not?" 10, who had come
home early to make biscuits for SUI,