Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-22
Cleveland Moffett and Oliver Herford.


the train that Eleanor was enlightened
as to Miss Thompson's new purpose.
Mr.. Bakers secretary? It's absurd!
she declared.
please don't say that. Mrs. Baxter,
pleaded Betty. i've only just found out
about-father. and-I couldn't respect my
self if just did nothing and let Mr.. Bax-
ter support me-" =.
approved Hiram.
The train rushed on and presently. as
happens in railway journeys, the three
lapsed into silence. Hiram thought OF
his business worries and of his plan for
solving the problem Of the relatives;
Eleanor thought of her son, and Betty
thought of various things. Poor child,
she had enough to think Of! What sad
awakening after all her bright dreams!
She wondered who would live now In her
be hers again. Who would stand Of sum-
mer evenings, as she had stood so often,
on the balcony outside her bedroom and
watch the swallows circling over the
chestnut trees on the Champs Elysees?
Perhaps she would never see Paris again!
Then she thought Of Bob Baxter, the
playmate of her childhood. whom she
had not seen for years and years. not
since she was a little thing with yellow
braids down her back and freckles on
ways said. She wondered If Bob remem-
bered her as a homely little thing. Per-
haps he did not remember her at all.
She turned toward the fleeing landscape
and, in the window, caught the reflection
of her own lovely face. Miss Betty
pendent, drudging secretary! 1t was
sickening maddening; she could not bear
it. And then. through the torture OF her
thoughts, came tripping brightly a whim-
steal fancy that brought back the laugh
ter to her eyes. And the laughing eyes
in the window seemed to say: "How
could he possibly remember your
"Guardy,' she asked, softly, would
you do something for me?"
Sure / would said Hiram.
Gwen If 1t seems silly-just to make
me happy?'
"Try me, little girl"
"You said it would shame the relatives
what 1 am going to do?"
ut will-you bet it will-when they
know"
But I don't want them to know. That's
the point. 1t isn't any snobbish reason
I'm not ashamed Of working. but she
threw all her feminine power into one
don't want them to know that am Betty
Thompson. 1 don't want any one to
know it except you and Mrs. Baxter.
Please let me have my way Let me just
be your new secretary, Miss-er-i'H take
some other name"
mo, no, 1 won't stand fer any fake
name. Take yer own name. I'll intro
duce We as Miss Thompson, my new Sec
rotary. They'll never suspect that Yer
Betty Thompson
But some of the relatives will be sure
to know YOU" objected Eleanor. :.
1.-The relatives have never seen me,
said Betty.
Bob has seen YOU"
Not since I was ten years old-that's
eleven years ago. Was / terribly home
ly, Mrs. Baxter"
"well. my dear, you were by no
means a beauty
you certainly have changed" put in
Hiram, admiringly.
Thank you, Guardy Then it's all set
tied. I'm to be the new secretary. Miss
Thompson? Not Miss Thompson. the
new secretary-you see, there's differ
ence. Is it bargain?" she asked. giving
them her two hands. while mischieyous
light danced in her eyes. us 1t? You
don't mind, do you? I'll work, I'll dc
anything, but 1 want your promise that
I'm to be the new secretary, Miss Thomp-
son.
(To be continued tomorrow