Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

DON'T often ask you to do any
80 thing, Just to please me-" said Mrs.
Shirley grinned. ooh, don't you'll"
- she jeered good-naturedly. You
ask me not to smoke and not to use hpstick
and not to read in the bathtub. You ask me
to do something or not to do it, just to please
YOU whenever you're driven into corner and
can't think of any logical reason. What you
mean is, don't often do it."
VERY we'll" her mother agreed. Have 1t
that way. You don't often do anything just
to please me"
"No. don't" Shirley agreed, because you
see, Mother darling, with all your faults, I
love you still and want to keep on loving you.
And II once started letting you make me do
all the things don't want to, In no time
I'd find myself disliking you."
Mrs. Neal laughed unwillingly. There was
no use arguing with Shirley-she could twist
things around till she'd make you think black
was white.
Her mother, however. was one Of those
gentle, stubborn women whose strength Is as
the strength of ten. She was the easiest
person IN the world to out-argue, the hardest
to convince. And one of her most tenaciously
held convictions was that mothers know what
10 best for their children.
ct don't think many girls" she went on
plaintively now, would consider it hardship
to leave this kind Of weather for month IN
Florida"
~But who'll be there now In FebruaEy7"
"Wen, thereu be Warren"
IA sudden spasm of distaste swept Shir-
leJs face.
Fl know t." she said fatty. "And that's
the reason don't want TO gol"
Her mother sighed. IT can't see why you
Get yourself against Warren"
"I don't set myseH against him." Shirley
denied. "1t comes perfectly natural. I just
can't stand anything about him. don't Ike
-
You might find his manners better II you
were ever civil TO him."
Il could be civil enough to him II he
wasn't being eveTlastangly pushed down my
throat"
"shiriey, what utter nonsense! Pushed down.
your throat indeed. I don't suppose You see
Warren Spencer Once IN three weeks"
CHIRLEY turned suddenly gentle. IT know
~ what you and Aunt Hat have IN mind,
Nuns and don't blame you q bit. I've
always loved Aunt Hat more than any Of my
real aunts, and I'd adore her for mother
in-law. II Warren were anything like her,
I'd marry him In q minute. And 1t would
be wonderful, Of course. with all Aunt Hats
money tied up in the firm and Warren doing
50 wen there now, and both Of US being only
children and everythtng-it would be perfect.
I can see that.
but listen, Mother darling, you wouldn't
really want to see me marrying man can't
stand, Just because the families have been
friends for 20 years and because it would be
q good thing for the business"
"Of course not" said her mother 1mpa6-
emily. This b the first I've heard Of any
idea Of your marrying Warren. And as for
his being pushed down your throat-wen,
that's the most utter nonsense. His father
and yours were partners In business before
they we're married, and your Aunt Hat and
was born. Certainly you wouldn't like 70 see
such q friendship broken up at this late day.
Just because you children have taken an un-
reasonable dislike to each other.
And you needn't worry about Warrenis
bo4heTing you any IN Florida. He'll probably
spend all his time lying in the sun getting back
his strength"
AN right" said Shirley. I'm go to Florida.
But warn you here and now, the first time
that you and Aunt Hat maneuver TO get War
rem and me together and then leave US alone,
III take the first train North"
You needn't worry" Mrs Neal replied. I'm
sure don't care whether you and Warren are
even pleasant acquatntances. Only for PHYS
sake let's stop talking about it."
All the talk IN the world couldn't change
the truth any And the truth, Mrs. Neal was
sure, was that Shirley and Warren were per-
fectly suited to each other. She was sure, also
that little propinquity would make them real
lie this. Florida ought to be perfect. Warren.
Sur weak after pneumonia, couldn't run away
very fast or very far.
1t was an afternoon In the beginning OF their
second week there that Shirley came to one Of
the doors Of the Beach Hotels bridge room and
glanced in. At one Of the tables Mrs. Neal and
MIS- Spencer sat waiting, impatiently Etnltng
the cards. Between them, his back to the door,
sat Mrs. Speneeris SON.
Shirley stopped short IA the doorway. 6he
gave her mother . brief, accusing loo& and
vanished AATs. Neal had said vaguely thAt
they would try TO ind fourth for bridge