Evening star., 1922-08-20

hind the. protection of his seventy
eight years Miss Lescott regarded
him silently. y 80
The cold hands don't matter" he
went on, more. briskly.. you've been
overworking. Of course. and your cir
culation's below par, but that'll take
care of itself when you 60 south. Cor
nelia. But the other ching
Cant be helped" she interrupted
quietly.
He shook his head. How old are
you. Cornelia: l forget"
"Thirty-seven" She managed to
rap it out smartly.
You'll never marry, now-not your
type. But your independence doesn't
prevent you from needing love-you
may not know that. yet. but youll
md it out some day. We're all alike.
1T you mean that lin lonely
"Hah! Beginning to notice that
there's something missing, in spite Oh
the business and the money and the
success? Thought I'd have to argue
it with you
You needn't. know. And I've
t-ied-I can look ahead, DR.. Char
lie
The half-mischievous twinkle went
out of his eyes. "Cornelia. that's the
whole trouble. suppose you went
about it as if it were business prop
osition. eh? Undertook to make that
girl fond of you by
well, how else could I do it:
thought that if I gave her things
knew she ached for she'd-
He shook his head slowly. queer
when you're keen as a knife about
most things. too. The more you did
for her the better you liked her-and
all it got you was thanks
She nodded II didn't like her, at
first. I don't know why I do now
She's absolutely selfish, and as cold
as wet shoe. and yet
And yet you've been wanting to
cry because she hasn't taken the trou-
BILE to send you post card since
she left. eh? Happened before. hasn't
it? Took that other cousin OF yours
abroad with YOU, year before last,
didn't you?
cornelia Lescott nodded. Amy had
FORGOTTEN her as quickly as Eleanor.
Il can't make people like me. 1t
must De 4 HlII CudS uoh pSSSS'
Rats, You can't make people like
YOU by the methods you'd use to win
a buyers friendship! That's the
whole trouble. Cornelia-youre So
SO ef1cient. You made 'em both ever
lastingiy conscious that you were do
ing things for them. And 1t takes
pretty broad-gauge human being to
love a fairy godmother!
~ i y
TIE leaned his elbows on his desk.
IL Look here. girl: If you've got
any more young female relations, try
the other thing on the next one. Give
her a chance to manage you. Lean
on her. A business is good thing to
love, but 1t can't love back. You try
my method and see II 1t doesnt
work"
Cornelia Lescott smiled thinly as
she drove to her ofice. Twice bitten.
thrice shy. she told herself. Amy and
Eleanor had taught her that she
wasn't the type to attract and hold a
girls affections. The same qualities
that had made her a success as
business woman made her failure
as anything else. abSiu -. a"ss
The ofiee seemed to echo the as
surance as she. attacked her days
mail briskly. The big. cheerful room,
with its effect Of solid accomplish
ment, welcomed her amiably into the
life for which nature must have ex-
pressly fashioned her.
Her morning conference with Ca
rewe deepened the impression. 1t was
clear that Carewe regarded her pure
ly Is a business personality. She
found a gentle satisfaction In his re-
spect. He was competent to judge
and he never nattered.
when do you expect to leave, Miss
Lescott?" 1
HIS brisk question brought her back
to the unwelceme topic. I'm not sure
that I'll 20 at ALL" she said slowly.
Vacations tire me more than work.
He shook his head decidedly.
That's a mistake. il you'll let me
say so. 1t may tire you more than
staying on the job, but 1t doesn't tire
the same muscles and nerves. That's
the point I hope you'll decide to go,
as usual"
She guessed that he liked to be left
in control He didn't miss her. she
thought. He'd be glad when she
went. Probably they all felt the same
way None Of them had any feeling
about her except as she concerned
their material conditions. As per-
SON she simply didn't matter.
"oh, suppose I'll go. as usual.
she said listlessly. 1T seems like
moro Of a nuisance this year. that's
all. I'll let you know when decide
LIE gathered his papers and went
IL out. She plunged into her own
work with a sense of escape. After
ALI there was always the business.
1t was hers, not merely in the sense
of ownership. but by right OF crea-
ton. Shed buiit it up from the
.trugkling little plant her father had
left behind him. She loved it. she
told herself, and It was worth loving.
\better worth loving than shallow,
elfish girls who
Dr. Charles voice seemed to sound |
her ears: You can love a business. !
III right, but it can't love back. 80
and you need something that can"
She sat up straight. her lips tight, |
q queer singing sensation in her
eyes, She could ask Georges eldest
RiYi and see whether there was any I
thing in DR.. Charles system. Pa
thence; wasn't 1t? She must be nine |
teen now. George never could make i
money. and there were three or four |
younger children.