The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-31

MARY DECIDES TO GO WITH
JENA
BIZ JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 81.

JENA.
CHAPTER 81
Hurry up, Mary, and gefready for
dinner, have such lot to tell your
I exclaimed as 1 heard her step on
the stairs and went out to meet her.
I'm all ready, come on"
"Oh. you're not going out without
washing up and fixing your hair. are
you ~ asked without thinking.
A slow flush crept over her face
II never botherl' she replied with
an air of bravado, althe l easily saw
her embarrassment. But if you think
need to beautify. here goes for the
beauty parlor!"
II always feel so much better if 1
battle my face and brush my hair"
1 said as a sort of an apology.
Il guess I do, too" she>replied good
naturedly, "only I'm too lazy or too
dog -goned tired to pretty up when
get home. Land sakess 1 thought I'd
go mad today That manager found
fault with me and told him where he
got off right quick. He needs girls so
L can afford to be sassy if 1 feel like
it."
'I wish I had some of your grit
laughed. Il am afraid to say my soul
is my own"
you won't be after you have lived
in Chicago a while. If there's one
thing this pork-packing town learns
one. You get to be like the hogs"
You are toos funny for anything,
Mary, but do hurry! I want to talk
to you, and I can't while you are run
ming around, She had changed her
dress-afterwards she told me it had
been because she thought 1 was
ashamed of her looks.
I'm all ready but my waist"
"Oh, wait a minutel 1 found one in
my trunk today 1 had almost forgot
ten 1 had. If you'll not be insulted
I'll give it to you"
'Insulted at havin' a new waist!
Didn't 1 tell you Twin here made you
get hoggish?"
The waist was rather gay one
which. after trying on, I had decided
l could not wear.
'Inever even had nightmare that
I'd have n waist like this" she said
with tears in her eyes.
The waist was very extreme in style
and a really lovely shade of blue-very
becoming really to Mary. 1t suited her
knew Mary could wear it with i'm
punity.
1t may seem strange that a waist
which would have caused adverse COM
ment had l worn it. could be worn by
a girl like Mary. But with her it
would simply mean a shop girls love
of finery. If should wear it, I had
learned to fear it would presuppose
something else, something l wanted
desperately to avoid. Dad used to
say: 1
People could do much to stop gos-
sip If they would more carefully avoid
the appearance of evil. People do not
know our motives; they judge us by
Iour acts"
Amt ] the goods. tho,' Mary ex-
claimed as she preened herself before
the Aglass- This must have cost
heap she said soberly after mo-
ment. 'Yolr oughtn'e to give it to
me-"
"'Yes,sI ought top' I returned light
ly. 1T looks lovely SOn YOU just
Mary. could talk of nothing but the
waist until we reached the restaurant
only a couple of blocks away. AS
feared, it was none too clean. but we
went in and found a table. After our
dinner had been put on the table
said:
Now I'm going to talk, Don't you
dare mention that waist again or I'll
take it backi"
lover my dead body, if you do" she
chuckled.
:. -New listen; Mary larry are ar you especial
Fond of it?1-lLord. how I hate IT.
You ought to SEE
Never mind then Would you like
to work in the same place I'm going
to? OF course don't know now mucn
you earn where you are"
%Nine dollars. I send three home to
ma-pa's dead. and she amt none too
strong
This place only pays IS, but they
give You your meals
"Oh, it's singing hash, Is it p We'll,
I guess if I git all my meals it would
he better than what I git now I'd do
/ it anyway just to be with YOU She
looked affectionately. not at me. but
at the waist.