Evening star., 1922-06-25

Tho memory Of the WEAKNESS he
had discerned In his secretary came
back to trouble him. She had grown
visibly older in the past year. The
day had stayed warm into evening,
and they, Nanine and Eldreda and he.
were seated on the porch. There was
an illusory glimmer OF moonlight. At
intervals there was . faint stir In
the LOCUST trees along the sidewalk
and the ingratiating. subdued ripple
Of q piano. At irregular intervals
Eldreda sighed sxplosively. agoniEed
with the tragedy Of everything, and
though she was veiled from Lewis
Beitleman by tho dark, he knew ex-
actly to which emotions she was CIV
Ing form and body.
lDERHAPS, with his slight assist
ance, she might mount in daz-
sling arc to stardom in the sky. He
wasn't, he felt. mean. But. aside
from the already comparatively large
cost Of his family, there was the
greatest need now to turn everything
possible back into his business. 1t
could be counted on to make. when
all was considered. tremendous re-
turns. In three years, II might be,
they could easily send Eldreda to the
South Seas, and he said SO aloud.
IT suppose" her voice answered out
of the gloom, you chose the South
Seas SOS you wouldn't have to buy
mo any clothes"
"on tho contrary" he replied ex-
plicitIy. ~ was trying to think Of
the farthest and most expensive place
I could. 1t seems like, with you and
your mamma, . person - always mis-
understood"
Don't pick continually on Eldfeda-
! won't have It," her mamma put In.
You can't seem to learn that FL
dreda's delicate. She's not pot. but
a fine vase, easily shattered"
''well," he replied pacihcally. 'it's
too nice an evening for ructfons,
Things is going too smooth for that"
The smoothness Of "things'' brought
Miss Conifee back to mind, and after
a moments forced hopeful considers
ton he spoke Of her to his family.
Now, take Miss Conifee-"
who's she?" Nanine demanded.
That's his stenographer," Eldreda
explained.
.she IL more than that, Eldreda." !"
he patiently corrected her. Miss
Conifse is q good half Of our busi-
moss. She's been with me now for
fourteen years, ana in the first month
after got her she near to paid for
all she's had since. Taste! That's
where she's valuable. that's what she
ID. We're q small house. but toll
you our works been oomplimented by
big people. We are going, not COM
Ing. What am getting st 10 this.
and I know" He hesttated
shortly and then began again with q
rush. II know you'll both back me
up Miss Conifee's been with mo
us-for fourteen years now: aud she's
part Of the place. The truth Is. she
can't work any more without me than
I can her. II anything happened to
that, she'd be gone It's her mother
and her honesty both together. Her
mothers got y kind Of expensive
sickness, ana Miss Conifse won't
IAhS AIly AEVxn A1S0 WI - NV0e
goned moderate salary. She won't
have q penny more, after all she's
given Us. But with your help. with
your approval I've thought Of . way
to make her safe when pass On 70
my California. IT'S this--Ws win
give her IN interest in the businsss- =
make her = mail partner liks."
He waited, on the mark Of In op-
!. timistio interrogation. through the
deep silence that fo1fowsd-A silence
finally shattered with an unQuaiidsd
,derisfon.
"Partnsrr' said NaninA '.TaFtnsf-
Asr-a -stenosfapherk You're mad:
Fain't your' '%&f
Els lnomsntary uhwarraptsd sx-
| psctations, like glass. fell swiftly,
shattoFing. On the hard ground Of
reality. E1drsda gigxisd.
~ -
lauoU don't know. ths bsst bssauss
I you hsysa't ees1 hee. why. sASs
q ailliea Gna leeAs ltlee m Old Whisk.
lhSoom With naeax of tAe sexsMp eufl