Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A2 so large a part in feminine adolescence, had never seriously touched Estelle. That, too, was the inevitable result of her environ- ment. Young men admired her, adored her, and plied her with attentions. But Estelle felt herself in some way above them all. She accepted .their adulation amusedly, just a little as a princess of the middle ages might have accepted the adulation of her courtiers—or laughed at the antics of her favorite jester—but nothing more. Perhaps Estelle had no capacity for love; or perhaps, because of what civilization had made her, those men cf deeper feelings knew that she had ncthing to offer them— and so went their way. Estelle was mildly interested when she first saw Jimmy that morning in her father’s office. He was a new type to her, so obviously different from any man she had ever met. She had no thought of ever meeting him socially; indeed, the idea then would have filled her with indienatien But the sturdy manliness of him attracted her in spite of herself. She liked Mr. Leffingwell Hope—better, perhaps, than most of the young men of. her acquaintance, for the secretary, seeing in her a practical and easy route for his. own self-advancement, had for nearly a year been making himself as charming as _ possible; but she could not help comparing him to Jimmy. They were as different as two individu- als of the same sex could well be, and al- though Estelle did not know it, Jimmy did not suffer by the comparison. Estelle was mildly interested in Jimmy from the moment she first saw him. There ‘was no sentiment in her thoughts of him, merely curiosity. She remembered, too, when he had first seen her, the look of awe that had come to his face. And later she had seen plainly his resentment at her pres- ence in the office. Resentment from a young man was something new to Estelle. It did not make her angry; it piqued her, and she could not forget it. When Jimmy had been with the company about two weeks Estelle came to the office again, and saw him there. Later she learned from George Cooper how he hap- pened to be there, and what he was doing. THE ARGOSY. She. felt a little ashamed of herself at the sudden realization that she was interested in one of her father’s office boys, and decided to forget all about him. Soon after that she went to the seashore with her mother for the summer. When she returned to the city in the fall the very first time she went to the office she passed Jimmy in the corridor. The change in his appearance was startling. His hair was no longer close-cropped high over his ears. His clothes were those of the city; his whole bearing had changed. Nothing could make Jimmy look in the least foppish. He was still rugged and manly looking, but, Estelle thought, no longer uncouth. As he passed her he smiled an answer to her nod of recognition. There was no re- sentment in his smile, but neither was there admiration for her, nor awe. It was just a calm, impersonal smile as though he had already forgotten her existence as soon as he passed. This piqued Estelle still more—and made her vaguely angry. She sought out George Cooper at his desk. ‘“T just. passed that young man—Mr. Rand, isn’t that his name?—in the corri- dor,” Estelle began, after they had ex- changed a oS remarks. ‘“ How is he get- ting on?” Mr. Cooper was a little surprised at her question, but he did not show it. “ He’s getting along fine, Estelle,” he replied with enthusiasm. ‘“ Have you met him—TI didn’t know that.” 5 ‘“'No,” said Estelle carelessly. ‘“‘ He was in father’s office one morning—lI thought he looked interesting. Why?” ‘““He’s a dandy chap. Not a city boy at all—used to be a coal miner. We’ve been out together a good dead—Ma rion likes him tremendously.” (Marion was George Cooper’s sister.) ' “Oh,” said Estelle. Then, after a mo- ment—“‘ He was going to tell father about some plan he had. Father told me it was some foolish idea. What ever happened to Ab??? ose The office manager hesitated. He rather liked Estelle. She was a silly, vain little thing, but he liked her—perhaps partly be- COMICLOO© S C@©