The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-29
SHE LOVES A COOK
EmpOria Girl Tells Of TangIe
and "Higher Love-"
III Health Sends Teacher to
Work as Waitress.
LIZ .rE.nrn nn .nl.rnn .anaa.s
HE HELPED HER WITH WORK
Pretty Marjorie Dennis Grew
to Love Cecil Melton.
She viii Wed Him When He
Gets Divorces

Kansas City. Feb. 29.-Majorie Der
mis-. young, pretty and formerly a stud
ent at the State Normal school at En-
poria, Kan, was in police court mere
10 explain her love for a man, a cook,
who already had q wife and with whom
she eloped. In a strained voice she
told. with marked southern accent, 81
her relation with the man, explaining
instead Of defending them She did not
try to tell why the cook was her soul
mate. she merely stated that he was,
and that settled it.
At the same time the cook was ex-
planning in another court why he had
neglected to support the woman whom
the world calls his wife, while he was
enjoying the companionship Of his
school mistress soul mate. He was
fined 800 and the woman was releas-
He Helped Her in Time OF Trouble.
Miss Dennis had prepared Tor the
profession of teaching by attending
the Kansas State normal at Emporia,
as well as a normal school at Fay
etteville. Ark. She had secured a pO-
sition at King, Ark, and was begin
ming to progress in her profession
when an attack of blood poisoning fore
ed her to give I'D her work When
she had regained her health her say
ings were drained and her fathers
failure in business had removed the
income Of her college days.
Forced by the necessities of her stu
alton to be no chooser Of work, the
school teacher went to work in an Ok
lahOma City hotel. Rebuffs, yelled in
suits, humiliation became the lot of
her inexperience-and out of it came
the friendship of one of the cooks, 4
man who took it upon himself to make
her way easier by various thoughtful
attentions
The cook and his wife, Mrs. Florence
Melton. had not been happy and the
latter viewed a separation without re-
greet, even encouraging. it was stated,
Miss Dennis to follow them to Kan
sas City for the purpose of supplanting
her.
A young woman of good appearance
and of unmistakable refinement de
spite her unusual doctrine of higher
love" Miss Dennis created an unusual
situation in the south municipal court
Intends to We'd Him Soon.
Cecil was never disrespectful to me
in Oklahoma she said. He was al
ways a kind friend and benefactor.
And it was kindness to escort me home
nights when an unescorted woman is
open to insult. 1t was as much Flor
ence's influence as my own inclination
that I came here We have been most
anxious to care for his two little chill
dren-I found the little things almost
destitute"
Miss Dennis said she intended tc
marry the cook as soon as she could
do SO legally.
You are in an unusual situation,
commented Judge Halstead. I do not
care to handicap you further by plac
ing the stigma OF fine or refOrmatory
sentence against you. You are a wo
man of education and of other ad
vantages and with this warning you
should solve your problem in some way
not at variance with law and public
conscience"
The strain removed, Miss Dennis fell
in a faint as she was leaving the Flora
avenue building. She was carried to
the matron's room and revived.