The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-17
JUST A GIRL.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 6s.

| CHAPTER 6S.
! When I recovered from my faint I
was sitting on Mrs. Lynch's steps. I
cit dazed for a moment. then recalled
/ had been right in front of the house
when 1 tainted.
My bundles were lying on the step
beside me, but my pocketbook, con-
, tanning every cent I had in the world,
was gone. Faint and dizzy as l still
was, I searched franticalIy for it, even
going back some distance along the
! way l had come, but finding no trace
of it.
Sick at heart. faint and weak in
body, 1 climbed the three long flights
of stairs tony mean little room, and
throwing myself upon the bed gave
way to my encouragement in tears and
racking sobs.
Mary came in about half past six
and found me there.
'ZenaI what is it? What has hap
pened? Your-mother-?"
mo, Mary-nothing quite so awful
as that, but bad enough" 1 controlled
myself with an effort and told my
story. She was all sympathy and in
dignation.
las if it amt bad enough to steal
anyway, but a man and a woman who
will steal a poor girls pocketbook is
a skunk" she vehemently declared.
I'D give a good deal to know who it
was. I'd make them sorry 1 bet"
Never mind, Mary. 1t is gone, and
| getting angry and crying won't bring
she at once pushed me back upon the
bed.
You stay right there where you are
till l get this supper. 1t won't be a
| jiffy. You amt eat a bite I'll bet or
you wouldn't have tainted. Shut your
eyes; Perhaps you will get a little
nap"
1 did as I was bid. and closed my
eyes. But not to sleep. Life wasn't
| all sadness, I thought, when one had
so wonderful a friend as Mary. I
must be brave and not allow discour-
agement to take hold of me.
Then. as 1 lay quietly resting,
thoughts of Kenneth Lawrence came
to me, as they invariably did when
under stress of any kind What would
he say, what would he think, if he
knew of my plight? Would he care
for me now that I was a poor working
girl, as he had when 1 was the idle.
well groomed daughter of a sup
pOsedly rich man?
He was not richie had told me
of his work, his struggles, but-poor
men often married rich girls-and-
perha ps-he was that kind, looking
for a girl with money. But I knew
while I allowed these thoughts to run
| thru my mind that it was not so; that
Kenneth had not cared for me because
/
I knew he was. honest in his love, and
that he had cared for me for myself.
| But I was changed, sadly changed.
was no longer the gay, hght-hearted
girl he had known. 1 was tired, old
before my time, eften sad and uncom-
! panionabIe. This change might make
difference in his feeling for me. =
''Supper's ready" Mary voice fll-
terrupted my musings. Now you'll
have to borrow" she. reu1arked. as we
sat down to eat. ~
mo, Mary. I shall pawn my ring"
Then, Don't look so disappointed l
shall perhaps not find work for days.
I shall need money to pay carfare,
| for food and, unless 1 get work by
next Saturday. for my room rent. 1t
you, Mary. I Know how pleased-You
are to be~able to send more to your
mother, and I may as well pawn this
first as last"
| The ring was one had had since
/ my seventeenth Birthday cluster
tring of pearls and diamonds, none of
| them large, but 1 knew it was a good
ring as mother never bought anything
save the best. And my string of
pearls [ would not part with unless It
were positively necessary. Dad had
given me the ring on my graduation
! the pearls at my coming out.
| Have you ever been to pawn
| shop" Mary asked after a minute. p
| mo, but there is a first time Nor
everything I answered. more bravely
than felt. In fact, was frightened
at the thought of visiting pawn shop.
| I think everyone is who goes for the
4 first time. But necessity knows no
law, neither does it allow US to be
too particular. SO I made up my mind
that I would go to the one near the
house the first thing in the morning.
N"Good luck. Zena." Mary said when
she left. TIL hurry home to find out
how you got along. Be sure and eat
something or you may be robbed
again."
/ I willingly promised. I couldn't af-
ford a second calamity.
| (Tomorrow-Zeao tries pawning.)