The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-23
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
IONG-DELAYED COMMUNICA-
TTON.
CHAPTER 12s.

One day the postman brought me a
letter from mother enclosing a note
from Our old lawyer. Mother had
bound him not to tell our address, and
SO no one had been able to find US
thru him. 1t may have been, probably
was, foolish, but neither mother nor
wished any of our old friends to know
anything about us. Silly pride, many
may say. yet doubt If there are many
who would not have felt and acted the
same under the same conditions.
Mr.. Hardness had written/a note to
mother about Kenneth lawrence. 1t
seemed that Kenneth had visited New
York, that he had found out that Mr..
Hardness was fathers lawyer. had
visited him, and had asked for our ad-
dress. Mr.. Hardness had refused to
give it. but he said:
1.-THE Seung man was so persistent
promised to let you know he had in
quired for you. He gave me his adj
dress in case you mad forgotten it, and
begged me to ask Miss Zena to write
him a note telling him where he could
write her"
NV heart almost stopped beating.
so he had not forgotten after all.
laughed and cried. then took myself to
task for being hysterical. That he had
asked for me meant nothing. l was
not the gay butterfly, Zeha Stewart,
he had known. but a very different
girl. 1 was serious working girl.
had not danced in years, / seldom
went 10 any place of amusement.
had learned that q girl must conserve
her strength if she Is to get on in the
business world; especially girl in
clined to ffailness.
He had been intrigued with the
other Zena, the gay, laughing, happy,
INDUCED daughter of a millionaire who
played away. the hours and days, dane
ling, motoring, etc. WAY should L
think he would care for this one, the
rfrl r.y1h mis- I
all any more. and whose mind was
filled with the price of securities in
stead of dancing and theaters.
Yet L could not altogether Danish
the happy feeling his asking for me
mad aroused. I had dreamed or MIN
too long. had too often visualized him
in my thoughts in my lonely hours
Two days after receiving mothers
letter l wrote Kenneth. 1t was hardly
more than note. I simply told him
| 1 had heard from Mr.. Hardness, and
| that he told me he (Kenneth) had
asked for my address. gave him the
flat mother and / would occupy al
most as soon as he received my letter
Then I waited. I had told him Moth
I! ing of myself, my changed condition.
Time enough for that if he wrote me.
Yet / went about my work In a hap
by excited manner that drew q ques-
| ton from Jennie wilcox, and puz-
zled look from Mr.. Claxton.
|
| wonderful news, or something Jen-
ME said. You fairly radiate happi-
ness 20
made some careless answer. and
tried to hide my feeling of delight
that / had not be forgotten. But
once or twice 1 caught Mr.. Claxton
| looking at me queerly, and he too
mentioned my changed manner.
Something has happened to please
YOU" he remarked casually.
Eyes, I heard from an old friend"
| 1 too had tried to speak carelessiy, but
knew that had blushed.
| ut must be a very dear friend to
cause you to look SO happy"
I made no answer. l hated m say
more. But / saw he watchea me
| closely, and I tried to assume my
usual business manner, to forget Ken
meth Lawrence.
NV little flat was ready. 1t really
vas very pretty and comfortabfe. Only
| in mothers room had 1 been extrava-
CANT. There I had spent most of my
money. The living room was dining
room also. I had bought drop leaf
| table in a secondhand shop, and three
| chairs The rest of the room was
| furnished with wicker chairs, a small
table, a reading lamp and a rag rug.
| NY room, a small one, spent scarcely
anything upon. A small iron bed, a
chiffonier. and one rocking chair all
painted white was all the room would
accommodate. Mary had made it gay
with ruffled muslin curtains and COW
ers of the same for chiffonier and bed.
| The tiny kitchenette, really little more
than a closet, had gas stove, a small
| ice box. and shelves for the neces-
sary dishes. But L felt that mother
and I Would be very happy. Once as
1 looked around there flashed across
my vision a picture of our old home
| just off Fifth avenue The great
| rooms, decorated by famous artists,
the wonderful furnishings. the soft
footed servants Poor mother! the
contrast would be painful in spite of
| all had tried to do to make her a
comfortable home. 1t wasn't so hard
| for me. I had not enjoyed the other
home SO many years, and I had be-
come Injured to such poverty that this
| little flat seemed a veritable palace to
me if mother were with me.
The day 1 sent for mother 1 received
L l..tA tar ~ L