Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-07-03

q
10, 1891. Mcclure Newspaper syndleatel
(WNU service.l
p OGER BLENT awoke with the
~ first birds that splendid summer
morning, and after he had listened
dreamily to the flutIng song of a
wood thrush in the orchard, gradually,
the pressing affairs of everyday life
banished the wonder from his dark
blue eyes. t5ln
Every morning and every night, too,
came that tearing pain In his heart
when he thought of lovely Lou Har-
denge Between times he crammed
his mind with business affairs at the
bank.
1t is needless to say that he was
desperately in love with Lou. So
great was his pride that he held aloof
from the charming girl who bewitched
him, because he was merely clerk
in her fathers bank-the First Ma
tiOnal of Happyday village.
Roger Blent had been born and
raised in the old-fashloned house
where the thrush sang at dawnlng,
and although the Blents had no money
to speak Of, they did own the old
house crammed with antiques, and
Rogers father kept bees and raised
mushrooms In an old shed on the
place.
The face that was reflected that
morning in Rogers mirror as he tied
his tie was dark and keen, with the
dark blue eyes of the Blent family.
Roger was undoubtedly handsome as
well as tall and broadshoudered, and
as he went downstairs whistllng
blithely, his mother sighed and smiled
because her boy was happy.
Three minutes to CO." he said,
kissing her soft cheek, and sitting
down at table. 81 am the last one up,
of course"
your father has gone across the
island with some honey-grandmoth-
err is wedding her garden, and of
course | am up from habit"
IFS great morning." said Roger.
Wonderful. Sukey is here to wash
today and she says that the Har-
dengesall came home from the noun
tains last night"
"Yes?" said Roger, folding his nap
kin and thrusting 1t into the heavy
silver ring. He kissed his mother once
more and dashed off down the village
street.
Promptly at eleven o'clock a very
smart little roadster dashed up and
Mr.. Hardenge came into the bank.
The car still fingered. Roger had
seen the crown of a small white hat.
How do you do, Roger" came Mr..
Hardenge's pleasant voice and then he
was talking about the mountains, and
how, after all, there was no better
place than Long Island for the sum
mer.
And then Roger Blent received the
surprise of his life, for Mr.. Hardenge
invited him to dinner that evening.
Then the bank president went outside
and spoke to his daughter before she
drove AWAY.
II was Lou herself who came to
meet him as he mounted the terraces
that faced the bay. She was charm
ing in peach-colored crepe and her
dark hair was boylshly colffed. Her
lovely hazel eyes regarded him soft
ly, shyly.
Il am glad that father made you
come" she said with cOntented lit.
tie sigh THE country is lovely. but
we have so few real nelghbors. All
my life I've wanted nelghbors Peo
pie who lived next door with whom
one could be frlendy--One reads
about them In books, but, being a city
child, of course never knew any
neighbOrs, although we had plenty of
friends. But somehow that seems
different"
any mother has been called a very
nelghborly woman" remarked Roger.
"She is dear" said the girl enthu-
"Her hair Is so soft and
white and her cheeks so pink have
seen her at church, you know. Your
father, toothey seem to be so de-
voted-llke elderly lovers, you know"
It was a delightful meal and the
conversation seemed to run on mat.
tiers concerning the Blent family.
The older people asked questions In
n subtle way, and Roger was happy
to answer. Soon they were all talk.
ing abOur the Blent traditions, the
family helrlooms. and then they
harked back TO some of Rogers ia
nous ancestors
1--WE think great deal OF family,
Roger" said Mr. lIardenge after
awhile, though my own people were
simple, honest Engllshmen and we
had no family background, and my
wife was Welsh schoolteacher."
ayes" said Mrs. Hardenge, my
husband was poor man when he met
and fell In love with me-but he de-
clares II ! had been the daughter OF
a nobleman he would have asked for
my hand for he loved me so much !"
81 wonder" Roger said bravely, III
that policy holds good today, Mr..
IIardenge Suppose one OF your bank
clerks loved your daughter--sup
he had nothing but his position n fine
ancestry and little money saved 10
YET loved hor and was willing 10
work like slave for her"
"Il II Inuupupd 10 he you Rn0or