Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-09-07
Letter-Writing
de Luxe
By H. IRVING KING
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(Copyrlghtl

CHARLEY BENTON'S weakness
~ was bashfulness In the presence
of ladies. He was fully aware of his
falling and so far Overcame II that
people began to say: "HOw completely
Charley Benton has gotten over his
bashfulness." But in the presence Of
one young lady his old weakness reas-
serted itself and she was the one per.
son in the world In whose presence
he felt he should not be bashful. Her
name was Marian Gray.
He had been in love with her for
in his cOurtship until he came to pop
ping the question.
One day, as Charley was passing
book store where shop-wOrn books
were exposed for sale on little
stand outside, his eyes caught the
title: 'The letter-writer de Luxe
how to put your thoughts on paper"
He picked 1t up and examined 1t. The
book opened as II by magic to page
wherein was printed "Ihe proper
form of letter from a bashful young
man In proposing to his sweetheart
He read the letter printed below IL
carefully. II was not just what he
had been trying to say so many times
to Marian; but Il seemed to cover
the ground.
That night he studied the form-let-
ter carefully, tried to make some al
terations In 1t, gave up the attempt,
copied 1t verbatim and sent 1t off to
Marian. "The dear boy At last |"
said Marian to herself as she glanced
through the missive Then her brow
contracted and she became thoughtful
That does not sound bit like Char
ley" she thought "What do you
suppOse-W
A few minutes later she was In con.
sultation with the parlor-mald. can
ME" said she, have you got such "A
thing as i. book showing you how to
write all sorts of letters" mo, Miss
Marian. | haven't; but the cook has
one that has just beautiful letters
in 1t. They are just wonderful; the
way they are set down"
ASK the cook If she will lend 1t
to me for an hour or So" said Marian.
Marian looked over the book Yes,
there II was, on page twenty-three :
Letter from bashful young man in
proposing to his sweetheart word
for word as Charley had written It.
Marian turned over the pages until
she came to what she was looking
fOr-she knew 1t must be there
Letter from young lady In accept
ing the prOffered hand Of her lover
She giggled and chuckled reading over
the stilted and preposterous "form-let
ter" which took up whole page
She looked at the number Of the page
| | was twenty-seven. Then she went
to her desk, took sheet of note pa
per and wrote Dear Charley: Yours
received. For reply see page twenty
seven. Letter-wrlter de Luxe Mar.
IAN"
She expected that Charley would be
round early the next evening and was
prepared to rush into his embrace and
laugh with him over their little com
edy. But Charley Benton did not
come Another night came and no
Charley
Marian was perplexed; she was an
cry Well, If Charley Benton wanted
TO take Offense because she had re
paid him In his own cOln-let him.
But III just have an explanation OF
his outrageous conduct. anyway" she
said She was to dine at the Bolts
fords Wednesday night; the Bolts
fords were great friends Of Charley's
he was sure to be there
Yes, Charley wns there and when
the little party assembled just be
fore dinner vas announce the two
victims OF letter-wTItlng de luxe greet.
ed each other politely but coIdIy
There was no chance fOI an explana
lion just then, but Marian just Ionged
TO ask him a few questlOns-and tell
him few things She Unanswered
Charley into quiet corner and
opened fire. MAY | ask" said she.
merely as a matter OF curiosity, why
you paid no attention to my note re.
gardlng your offer Of marrlagef"
q was afraid" replied Charley that
could not satisfactorily all the posi-
ton which you so kindly offered me"
~ had some doubts on that score
myself" said Marian, "but | decided
to take the chance"
81 should advise you to keep your
pres mt COOK said Charlie.
"My nrpgpnt cook - crIpd Marian
What has my cook got to do with IT."
and she went on without waiting for
an answer: "You sent me letter
copied verbatim from The Letter
Writer de Luxe and replied by re
ferrIng you to page twenty-seven
''Yoh did," said Charley frlgIdIy. land
page twenty-seven contained form
letter headed: Reply OF lady accept
ing an application for the position
If cook In her household" at did
not" cried Marian, at contained "A
letter from young lady In accepting
the prOffered hand OF her lover"
They gazed at each other for a mo
ment In silence. Then light broke
upon Charley "Was your cooks let
tcr.wrlter' q new aditlOn" he asked
Yes" was the reply. ~ remember II
said Newly corrected and enlarged on
The title page" "And mine was an old
one, snid Charley That's It. the
numbering of the pages wouldn't
correspond Oh Marlani" "Oh, Char
ley~ Curtain