The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-19
JUST A GIRL
Ru TANE PHET
HORACE SANDERS PROPOSES.
CHAPTER Is.

"Zena, love you! Do you, can you.
care enough for me to be my wife
Watt am older than you are. but
not too old to make you happy if you
will trust me-" Horace Sanders said
to me.
This was more as the men proposed
in books than Jack Pryor's taking it
for granted. I suddenly felt very SOL
emn-very grown up.
"Oh, / don't think I shall ever
marry! Not for years and years." 1
almost laughed as it flashed over me
that 1 had used the very same words
had when Jack asked when 1 was
going to marry him.
Il know that perhaps you feel that
way now, but won't you let me try to
make you love me? 1 feel sure 1 can,"
he pleaded.
Love goes where it is sent" sem
tentiously 1 replied.
But you don't dislike me?"
"Oh, no, 1 couldn't dislike any one
who danced as divinely as you do,
and who is so kind and thoughtful
But liking isn't love-" added with all
the wisdom of my nineteen years.
"Win you try to love me?"
There's no use in trying-when you
don't want to do a thing. And 1 don't
want to get married"
"I shall not give up hope that may
make you change your mind.
II shan't! So don't hope"
He said a lot more to me about low
ing me, not being willing to give me
up ct cetera. 1t was really thrilling.
so like L had always supposed men
talked-just as they did in fiction.
Finally he left me and 1 rushed in to
dad:
well, that overt" I exclaimed.
''What?"
THAT proposal-Mr Sanders's."
"Um-what did you tell him. II
may ask?"
"Of course you may ask" l climbed
onto his knee He said he would
teach me to love him, and a lot of
things But I told him love went
where IL was sent; that I liked him
i nice to ME. but didn't love him, and
didn't want to get married"
| What did he say to all that?"
Dads eyes were twinkling.
He said he wouldn't give up hope.
1t was just like it is in the novels-the
proposal, i mean. They always end
up by saying they won't give UP hope.
you know"
what did you say, them"
| ~ told him / wouldn't change my
mind, so not to hope"
Dad asked no more questions. put |
| knew by the way his arm frightened
around me that he was pleased.
$50 YOU refused Horace Sanders last
night?" mother said to me.
Yes" 1 felt quite important, yet
! little bit embarra ssed, too.
HE is a very rich man, and not very
| old. Sometimes a man who is few
years older than a girl makes very
good husband"
| But I don't want a husband"
"You will some day"
Mother said nothing more to me, but
| l heard her talking to dad about Mr..
| Sanders.
He is desirable in every way except
his age" she said.
II am very glad Zena cares nothing
for him." dad returned. 81 don't be-
lieve in such marriages. Men and wo-
men have to grow old together If they
are to be happy"
We left Palm Beach in a few days.
Mr.. Sanders was very nice and assured
me once more that he would not give
up hope.
1 had a great surprise when 1
reached home Edith Wren called up
she had something to tell me and
couldn't wait.
1 felt suddenly frightened. Had
Kenneth Lawrence written her? Per-
| haps he had asked her to marry him.
! almost ran the two blocks to her
house, and was all out of breath when
1 got there.
what is it? am dying with cur
iosityi' 1 declared.
He says he is tired waiting for you.
so he asked me to marry him
'He-who?" Thoughts of Kenneth
made me feel faint.
why Gregory Stuart, of course.
See!" She held up her finger. on
which sparkled a big solitaire.
(To be continued.)