Читать книгу Beverly Gray's Career - Clair Blank - Страница 4

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“So that is how it is,” Lenora finished triumphantly.

“Wait a minute,” Beverly pleaded, “let me understand this correctly.”

The three girls were on the verandah the next afternoon. They had just returned from Anne’s cottage and Lenora was telling them of some of her plans for the future.

“Your great uncle left you ten thousand dollars and a little real estate. You propose to take this money and go to New York. Is that it?” Beverly continued.

“Exactly,” Lenora answered.

“What do you propose to do when you get there?” Shirley wanted to know.

“Get interested in something,” Lenora replied. “I know that sounds a little vague, but I am rather vague about it. I have an idea about investing my money in something, but at least I want to have a good time. And I’m sure I shall,” she declared.

“No doubt,” Shirley agreed laughingly. “I never saw you when you weren’t having a good time. How do you do it?”

“Elementary, my dear Shirley,” Lenora said ponderously. “Now my brilliant idea was this. I’m going to New York. Shirley already lives there. We’ll see a lot of each other. Now, Beverly, why don’t you come along? You want to be a writer and newspaper reporter and you would have the opportunity in New York. We could get a small apartment together and it would be like our college days back again. What do you say?”

Beverly knew what she wanted to say with all her heart. It was true she wanted to be a writer and newspaper reporter and there was no opportunity for her career here in Renville. But after college she had promised her parents, since they did not want her to, that she would not go to New York. She had promised to remain here with them, under their protection, in Renville, and she was nothing if not a dutiful daughter. She had promised her parents and now, no matter what it cost her, she would keep her promise.

She shook her head regretfully. “As much as I would like to, I can’t.”

“But why not?” Lenora demanded.

“I’ve promised my parents to stay here at home,” Beverly replied. Abruptly she changed the subject. “What is Lois doing?”

“Basking in the sunlight on Wildwood’s sandy beach,” Lenora replied. “I’m on my way to make her the same proposal you just refused. She wants to sketch. She could do it just as well in New York with me as she could at home. What do you think?”

“Of course,” Shirley replied. “But I don’t see how you two will be able to live together. At Vernon you were always arguing and you didn’t room together. But once you share an apartment——” she shook her head sorrowfully. “I pity the neighbors.”

“Is that so?” Lenora demanded with a toss of her head. “We shall get along very well and you may come to see us often.”

“Thanks,” Shirley grinned. “I shall probably be camped on your doorstep every day.”

“A pleasant prospect,” Lenora declared.

“Excuse me, girls,” Beverly rose. “I’ll make some lemonade. It might cool us off a bit.”

“I’ll help,” Shirley jumped up immediately.

“Sit still,” Beverly said, pushing Shirley back into her chair. “You are a guest.”

“Believe it or not,” murmured Lenora.

Beverly went to the kitchen and was industriously squeezing lemons into a pitcher, when her mother entered.

“There were two letters for you, Beverly. I’ve put them on your desk.”

“Thanks.”

“Beverly——”

“Yes?”

“Your father and I have been thinking things over and we feel that we have no right to stand in your way.”

“What do you mean?”

“We know it is your dearest wish to be a newspaper reporter and though we feel it might be dangerous and perhaps not the exact career for you, we want you to do as you think best. You are old enough to decide things for yourself. If you think it would make you happy to go to New York and try to get a position on one of the papers, we won’t hold you back.”

“You mean—you mean I can go back with Shirley and Lenora?”

“If you want to,” her mother answered smilingly.

“If I want to!” Beverly threw her arms ecstatically around her mother. “I want to more than anything else in the world! But you and Dad——”

“We want what you want,” her mother smiled. “But Dad thinks it wise to make a bargain.”

“A bargain?” Beverly asked in surprise. “What kind of a bargain?”

“It is just this. We know if you went to the city and—didn’t make good, that you wouldn’t come home again. You would stay there and struggle along. We don’t want that.”

“What do you propose?” Beverly wanted to know.

“We’ll let you go on a six months trial. If at the end of six months you have had enough of newspapers and New York life, or you haven’t made any headway at all, we want you to come home to us.”

“And if I have a job and am working hard at the end of six months?” Beverly asked.

“Then we won’t press you to come. It is up to you.”

“It is a grand bargain!” Beverly declared jubilantly.

“Dad will send you your regular allowance until you have a position and are able to look out for yourself,” her mother continued.

“But I——” Beverly frowned thoughtfully and sought vainly for words to convey what she was trying to say. “I—don’t want my allowance.”

“What will you do?” her mother asked.

“I’m—I want to do everything myself. I don’t want money coming in just as though I didn’t—need a job. I’m going to make my own living myself! Don’t you see? I want to have to depend on myself—not somebody else.”

Her mother smiled sympathetically. “I understand. Anyway—remember our bargain!”

After further demonstrating her affection for her mother with a kiss and a loving hug Beverly danced out to tell Shirley and Lenora. The girls were delighted to think that now the three of them would be together again—at least for the six months allotted to Beverly.