Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-09-02
TER w
Foreground Of the Mystery.


Shad spent a year and a half IN
re little village. 1t was enlivened By
nany visits to the Fun Shop In Browns
cove The mysterious young lady had
thrown a glamOr Of romance upon It.
Once Bony had spoken playfully of
their admiration and Of their wish to
zee her again. Bumpy Brown looked
serious and quickly changed the topic.
He never spoke Of her. The boys had
Jolly times with the tinker and his
bird He entertained them with quaint
1ests and thrilling tales and good food.
His good-natured, merry talk, not like
that of any other man, had made them
fond Of him. They were keen-minded
boys They suspected that his stories
were not all true, that his alleged
friend "Muggins" was a fiction. In
spite Of all this, they loved to be with
Bunny Brown
Shad had now begun to lind himself.
He was growing in strength, stature
and wisdom. He had learned how 10
study. He had acquired an almost
sinful longing for good clothes. Still
he liked not less good books and good
company. His friend, the village doc
Ger, had lent him the novels Of Reade
and Dickens and the poems Of Long
fellow and Tennyson. His best cred
ators were the doctor, the grammar
and the dictionary. he had begun 10
enjoy his letter-writing. He had a
sense Of pride in the long letter that
- had written to Mr.. Converse.
Mr.. Converse was 90 pleased with
the letter that he sent a check Of ffty
cellars to the boy and babe him do
ne he pleased with the money. Shad
went to Ashfeld and bought Hne rai-
want That day he wrote letter to
Ruth Blake In which he said:
Eat last ! can come to visit 900
without being intimidated and op-
prsssed by soiled garments. I hope
mat Jon win like my new clothes and
~. We have gone into partnership
and our business II to make q good
Impression on you- II We fail shall
nst blame the clothes but / shall think
that i am In very bad luck"
II must be said that the undertak-
ing was successful On three Sun
days that Autumn he and the new
clothes we've engaged In this romantic
enterprise. The handsome lad and
me girl went canoeing and rode about
4he countryside together. The boy
succeeded In getting himself deeply in
love. The last Of these visits was on a
sunday late In October. The colonel
was not at home. Shad ate q midday
dinner with Ruth and her mother.
The girl left them for q time to 60
Out on an errand. This was q purely
strategic move. The friendly gentle
woman and the boy talked together.
~Amity Dam In no place for you"
eaid Mrs. Blake. I'm going to try to
help yOu out Of that mire Of rusticity.
You must come to Canton and 60 to
school The colonel and / have been
laying plans. ! have no boy and /
could be a kind Of mother to you"
Il should like that would be very
proud"
''Xou need q mother or a father to
whom you could bring your troubles.
You are so young"
well, my greatest trouble La the
l1aet that am 20 young"
do you call that q troublel l wish
that ] were back at your age was
IN love at seventeen. II was the be-
SHINING Of a great happiness"
The boy was quick to take ad-
vantage Of this opening. He was
ADaded for II He blushed a. he
booked at her and said:
Il guess that / know how you felt
Xou loved to lie down At night and be
alone with your happiness. In the
morning the birds sang Of the love In
yOur heart Even the flowers In the
Geld knew your secret. They looked
At you and nodded their heads ~ Il