Read Online This Side of Glory by Gwen Bristow - Free Book Online Page A

embarrassed, he could afford it. The Tonelli Lines owned a vast slice of Central America and were growing. What with his fruit stock and his levee work his income last year had been about twenty thousand dollars, and he didn’t think she’d like to ask her husband’s permission every time she wanted a dress. This was just income. He had tied up the principal so she couldn’t do anything silly, because Tonelli stock was worth holding.
    Eleanor kissed him impulsively. They were in the little study off his bedroom where Fred sometimes worked at night. She sat on his desk.
    “Dad, you’re rather splendid,” she said sincerely. “I mean—I know you don’t like my marriage any more than you did when I first told you.” That was hard to say. They had not mentioned it since Kester’s visit to the office. “Yet you’re doing everything you can to give me a good start.”
    Fred crossed his arms on the desk and smiled at her. “I’m mighty fond of you, Eleanor.”
    “I know you are,” she answered. “I’m mighty fond of you too.”
    Fred put his hand over hers. “Honey, you and me haven’t been getting along very well lately. But I hope you’re right about this and I’m wrong. And I’d like for us to be friends.”
    “I’d like it too, dad. I—well, I’ve missed you,” she said with a little catch in her voice.
    He patted her hand, and for awhile they said nothing else. It was like old times.
    “That Miss Loring down at the office can’t make up letters as good as yours,” Fred remarked at length.
    “I expect she’ll learn. I didn’t know much about it when I started.”
    “She hasn’t got your education. I reckon I’ll have to look around for a girl who’s been to college.”
    Eleanor smiled lovingly. Fred’s respect for college was always touching. “If you ever get into a really tight place, dad, let me know. I’m sure Kester could spare me for a day or two.”
    “No, I guess I’ll manage. I always have. But not many girls have got your brains.”
    “Not many girls have fathers like mine to get them from.”
    He chuckled, then grew sober again. “What was it Kester said that day?—the revenge of the chromosome. I got the idea but I wasn’t right sure what chromosome meant. I had to look it up. And I had a devil of a time finding out how to spell it. But it reminded me of something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
    “Yes, dad?” She pressed the hand that was still holding hers. “I’m not angry with you any more. I’ll listen.”
    “Well, it’s kind of complicated. But I mean, you’re like me in so many ways I can see where you’re liable to get mixed up, and I don’t want you to. I don’t want you to think what you do think, that you can get everything you want out of the whole world.”
    “I’m afraid,” she said, “I don’t quite understand.”
    “Well, it’s like this,” said Fred. “Nothing is as wonderful as you think this is going to be. There always do come times when things go to pieces on us. We’ve got to be ready for it.” He looked into her eyes intently. “Honey, I know now, but I didn’t always. The first time a levee of mine went down before the river it mighty near killed me. I’d built that levee myself from the ground up and I knew it was right. Then I had to learn that sometimes things go down. All you can do is the best you can. Do you believe me?”
    “Why yes, of course,” said Eleanor, in a happy voice that told him as well as herself that she did not.
    Fred shook his head. “Anyway, try to. It makes things easier to stand. Eleanor, I don’t care what you’ve got, somehow it always stops this side of glory. Now remember that. Not for me. For you.”
    “Yes, dad.” She leaned forward and put her arms around his neck. “You’re a very superior person, dad, and I love you very much. But don’t have any sad premonitions about me. I’m going to be all right. I’m so happy—I’m going to be so happy with Kester—”
    “Yes,