The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-05
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
AUNT SUSAN ARRIVES.
CHAPTER 1877.

After Kenneth left, / settled enc'
more back int routine work and thi
little pleasures I insisted mother aHt
have together. These usually mean
an evening with Tom and Mary. or G
visit to a motion picture show. Living
costs were so high that even with m,
good salary ! did not feel that W,
could afford the theater, save once IL
a great while.
1t was strange, but I did not thinl
as often of Kenneth as I had before hi
came to see me-and before / nearl,
married Aifn. Naturally 1 could nei
dismiss him from my mind, but nc
longer did he come to me in that sans
wayne no longer caused me to hest
tate In any plan or thought I might
make OF have in connection with an
other. stopped Streaming of him, and
he no longer flittle between me and
my thoughts of others. Yet felt sure
l Wauld marry him when the si1
months were up--it seemed to me the
only honorable thing to do.
His first letter came. He said:
"You will never know what a dis
appointment it was not to bring you
hack to the ranch with me. I need
a wife, my hoine mistress, ! can
not yet quite realize how 1t was you
turned, or changed your mind. so
suddenly. I think you care for me
Il hope so. But 1t seems as think
it over that you had become sud
denly afraid to trust me, afraid /
might not be geed to YOU, orasome-
thing. have alse wondered IL your
loyalty to your employer had any
thing to do with your decision.
Surely there are many girls who
would be- glad of your position,
capable girls who could do the work
as well.
II find myself thinking of you in
all my spare time, trying to under
stand just why you refused to come
with me. I am not blaming you,
Zena. Perhaps 1t is natural for you
to hesitate, to want to know me
better before you give yourself to-
me. yet am terribly disappointed"
There was little mere-principally
messages to mother, Mary and Tom.
Someway I was disappointed in his
letter. I realized shouldn't he-that
had sent him away alone when he
wanted to stay, and to take me with
him. But he needed a wife, his home
a mistress" No word of love, but--did
want him to say he loved me? ]
made up my mind that I did not.
IF anything should happen would
MT marry him, it would make it harder
to say no if he made 1--we to me-"
unused as reread parts of his letter.
I showed it to mother.
Naturally he was disappointed. But
he took a good deal for granted, Zena.
I am sure you did right to wait" Then,
"A nice friendly letter, under the cir
Don't forget to remem-
Der me to him when you WRITE
Mother was determined not to In
fluence me in any way. She NDuld
neither praise nor blame Kenneth. She
felt, and said, that she had been the
cause of my missing SO much that
should have had that she was sensi-
tive on the subject.
To my delight, Aunt Susan Bracket
wrote she was coming to US for a
short visit Mother and went to the
train to meet her. Really the porters
and taxi drivers gould not be blamed
for smiling. sS q,
''wait until I set some Of these
things down, Zena, then I'll say how
deydov, abe greeted us.
She had her birds in a large cage,
her dog, a basket of fruit, and a box
of home made goodies, beside her real
luggage which a porter carried for
her. These things she carried herself.
Rut neither mother nor I minded,
we were so glad to see her. And when
we were all packed tightly in a taxi
it was impossible to get her and her
belongings home any other way-we
all talked at once. &
You see, l couldn't come and leave
them at home" the them" being the
birds and the dog. "Then I knew
Mary wouldn't give a rap to see me
uniess brought her some homemade
bread and cake. Careful, Zenal
There's a berry pie in that box. hold
1t carefully it's marked Right side
UP, with eare.'"
You know 1 would be glad to see
you, Susan, had you brought nothing
but yourself" mother returned, laugh
Ing. MOT that I wont eat everything
you have brought and enjoy it,
II can't wait to get home to sample
some OF the goodies" I broke in.
well have them for supper"
mother said, land let Susan eat what
we have provided. She shan't have
one bite of her own cooking"
So, laughing and chatting, we
reached the house to find that box
of flowers and a note Of welcome for
Aunt Susan had arrived while we were
at the station. This time I had no
need to look at the card to know that
Mr.. ClaxtoH had sent them. How Kind
and thoughtfs6 he was,
1 had told him of Aunt Susan's ex-
pected visit, and he had asked to be
allowed to meet her.
(Tomorrow-Mr. Clazton dimes with