Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-11
THE DAILY STORY
Bob's Wisdom


aunts carriage turned the corner OF the |
village street. Then she went back into !
the house. She was now sole mistress Of
~
II wonder II It's ungrateful in me 20
feel such Joy oven my new independ-
ence7' she wondered as she wandered
from room 20 room Aunt Alice was a
darling TO come here after mothers
death. and stay here so long. really do
appreciate that. Yet"
She really could not repress the hap
piness that surged through her at the
realization that she was at last supreme
manager of herself and the house. There
had been times when Aunt Alice seemed
TO forget that she had reached her
twenties. girl OF n was more than cap
able OF running house. II had been
blessing that Aunt Alice suddenly decided
20 marry.
II might have deteriorated into a Jelly
FISH, II she hadn't" smiled Geraldine.
out OF sheer JOY she ran up the broad
staircase. and danced into the large front
bedroom. This was the room that Aunt
Alice had had. Now II belonged to the
new mistress. In a fever of happiness,
she few into the small back room which
she had occupied, and began taking the
things out OF her bureau drawer in prep
aration for moving them.
81 declare. it's like n piece OF fiction.'
she thought as she worked. Now all
that's lacking Is the hero"
Then her brow clouded. She dropped
the armful of things on the bed. Rest
lessly. she walked TO the window and
stood looking down on the smooth lawn.
For in her heart she knew that the
hero was not at all lacking No, indeed.
| There WAS n herO-hut-
| Hes not the kind of a hero l want!
| she murmured stormily. Haven't just
escaped from one reign of tyranny?
Does he suppose I'm going to step into
another? No. sir. Bob Hartly has a ma
| ture even more domineering than Aunt
Ance's. why. he's noted for his pug
| nacity."
Indeed, Bob Hartly was noted for his
fighting blood. In business, in politics. in
club life, he was distinguished for his
| ruthless acts.
Its not i'll temper" people said of
him. ITS just that he's made that way
-strong-willed. He walks over every
| one, rough-shod."
And that's the man who has done
everything in his power to make me
fall in love with him." said Geraldine,
| resentfully. "Well he can't 40 it-not
with all his offers of good times and his
flowers and books and candy. I'd like
him IL 1t weren't for that famous pug
nacity. Does he actually think l haven't
| heard about II? Does he think any girl
would have him-with such a nature as
that?"
That afternoon, when he called, she
ioated down the stairs a little more COOL
ly than usual.
How do you do. Mr.. Hartly?" she
smiled indifferently.
Bob Hartlys face fell. He had rath-
er expected to find her in a less formal
mood after the excitement of her aunts
departure and the realization of becoming
sole mistress of the large house. He had
como to take advantage of this moment
of excitement.
(Which is decidedly acknowledging
that I've been counting her for two
years." he had vindicated himself
well how do you like being mistress
of this big placer" he asked studying
her as he seated himself behind the green
vines of the porch. 81 wonder II you
order the servants around haughtily-the
way l did when 1 returned from college?
I wonder II you're experiencing the same
sort of thing l experienced then-the re-
alization that l was my own boss?'
Accidentally he had found the very thing
that would make her drop her barrier of
formality. Like flash she sat forward.
Her eyes snapped.
II guess 1 ami" she cried happily. Ism t
It wonderful feeling? l suppose most
that but some women never do. If Aunt
Alice hadn't married l might never have.
It's just a wonderful glow of indepen-
dence that you'll never let go of when
you've once experienced it,
Bob Hartley sat up. He looked at her
keeny. What he saw in her face made
his own eyes narrow a little. A slight
smile passed his lips.
mo-" he answered swiftly; that s
right Don't let go of It! You just hang
! on to that independence. Be careful in
. forming any new alliances with rela-
tives. Don't put yourself in close COM
. pany with any one who'll try to manage
you. 1 tell you, the state of single
blessedness is the best one"
Shortly after this he left. As Geraldine
watched him disappear down the street
, 1t seemed to her that his step had an
1 eager quality, as though he had forgot
ten something and had rushed off to at
tend to II. When she thought 1t over II
> came back to her that he had left rather
abruptly. Indeed, he had never before
4 made so short a call.
! (which really doesn't matter in the
least" she told herself loftily.
, Later that evening. however, she was
/. not so lofty In her thoughts about Bot
Hartly. AS she walked in her garden
after dinner. she said to her stableman:
, did you get Miss Devon's trunk on or
| time, TomF
Yes, Miss Geraldine" he answered
And / can tell you she's married 9
good man, your auntie has. What die
4, he do but help me lift II OFF the car.
riage. There was Mr.. Hartly standing
right there, miss, but he didn't offer
E He was just calling proud-like to know
' II the train would be on time"
4 "Mr. Hartly therep Geraldine knitted
, her brows. Mr.. Hartly had not men
e toned being at the station at the tim,
r OF her aunt's departure. DO you NEAR
/ that Mr. Hartly was there to see then
n offY" she asked the man.
The answer was rather a shock.
y "No, Miss Geraldine. He was ther,
waitin' for some girl that was comm OF
- the train. / heard him ask the station
r agent II she got on"
"Ah, yes" said Geraldine dsinterest
i edly. turning back TO the house
0 But when she found herself in the pri
Q vacy OF the great front room she NJ
longer affected disinterest. In nervou
restlessness she walked up and down
All at once she felt suffocated-sick
II don't love him. l don'tP she vowe,
! TO herself. "lts ridiculous to act thi
, way"
Suddenly the memory of his hasty de
| -.