Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-14
THE EVENING STORY

occasionally. Her world went suddenly
void. Nothing seemed to matter but
her work.
She got an evening job in clipping
bureau and almost doubled her pay.
She began to save every cent she could
rake and scrape. Some tibe perhaps
when Prissy and Dot had the good jobs
she would help them to they would pay
her back.
At first she heard from Bill through
mutual friends. She understood. He
was trying to forget her. Well, she
hoped he wouldn't have as bad a time
of 1t as she was having. Somehow she
felt that she would never again want
to marry any man. Bill was all In all.
No other man could ever measure up
to him in honesty, truth and honor,
and she would have no less.
Bills family began to look prosperous.
His mother had nurse when she was
sick. As soon as she recovered she took
the boys and went West to Bill.
Celia's family, too, began to show the
effects of her money earning. Her
mother went marketing mornings with
an assured air. The had a good beef
roast Sundays. Dad got a new suit.
Prissy and Dot began to look forward
to business school.
Then suddenly the manager Of the
clipping bureau which employed Celia
evenings had q nervous breakdown. She
was ordered away for rest and quiet.
And Celia gave up her law Office job to
handle the affairs Of the bureau.
For two years she shaved to keep the
business running on . paying basis. But
she didn't have the chance she wanted.
Mrs. Grant had ways that didn't COIN
eide with Celia'S ideas. There was little
hope Of Mrs. Grants ever coming back
to take charge of the bureau herself.
Celia talked things over with her family.
Prissy and Dot had just finished their
business courses They agreed to help
their sister for nominal wages or none
at all until she could get things going
good. Dad had bit of cash to offer.
And so Celia became owner and man
ager OF the bureau, which was conduct
ed on the dimly lighted top floor OF q
shabby old building where the rent was
cheap.
Eight years passed. The history OF
those eight years If written would con-
sist Of Just one struggle after another,
struggles to pay bills, get subscribers,
keep accounts, gather In necessary data.
Prissy and Dot after a year of 1t got
other jobs. Celia didn't blame them.
She couldn't afford to pay them what
they deserved. She hired q couple of
rather inefficient but willing workers
and did the rest herself. Her day began
at and ended at IL. Always when she
locked the door she found dad waiting
to accompany her home. And NON had
hot soup waiting for her.
Gradually Celia won. Gradually she
began to find herself possessor of q
L h0 h1,c a
sense of self confidence.
She moved her business into O new
block, where she had plenty Of space
| fine windows with lettering. on them
heat, light, good ventilation. She added
to her working force. She went to the
| city for her clothes. Trim, shingled
marcelled, she looked the ideal business
woman who has won success. Her town
| folks admired and envied her. Only
| she knew what her success had cost
her.
Gilbert Owen asked her to marry
him. She looked into his kind eyes ane
hesitated. Why not? He was wealthy
: healthy, reputable. AS mistress of tn
wonderful house his wife had left vacan
| year or SO before she could hav
everything which Is supposed to max
woman happy. And she could rest
/
Brief vacations at the Seashore or OF
motor trips did not bring the Required
ease She wanted home of her own
not just the best room In dad and NOM
new house.
NO" she said with q final shake o
her head, "I can't. I have notion tina
marriage isn't marriage without love.
don't love. So that's that"
One morning she sat down at he
desk before a stack Of mail that hat
come in answer to a form letter tina
her secretary had sent out. Among tn
letters was formal message from Bill
He wanted her to send him a scrapbool
Of clippings about himself MY famil.
and friends demand it," he added
Your form letter was handed to me b,
friend
What had Bin done? Celia didn'
know until she started to make tina
scrapbook Then she found out. Why
Bill was manager of a big corporation
up for office. His pictures showed hin
a trifle stout, but hearty and genial
Bill, too. was success.
Celia made the scrapbook with ne
own hands and sent 1t with a con
gratulatory note, Bill's. secretary sen
4 acheck signed by Bill. Nothing else.
pmQpths Kalked entnehe