The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-20
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
A NEW HOME.


smiled when Mrs. Leary asked II
Mary was like me. No two girls could
be more unlike in every particular.
mo, Mrs. Leary," 1 replied, Mary
is a dear, good girl, but we aren't at
all like" Then something told me
perhaps I had better explain things
little. tell her something of myself; She
thought me different loike," perhaps
she feared to take me in. So 1 added:
my father died, Mrs. Leary, and
was nothing left for mother and me,
when everything was settled up there
we were very poor instead of having
nearly everything we wanted, and
dad. Mother is with a relative, and
am working so that some day we
can have a home together"
GLORY be- I knowed you was some
body the minute clapped me two eyes
on ye! knowed you amt been on
workin's gils fer long. Not that workin
ever hurt no one. I'll put some tides
on the chairs, Miss, and fix things up
for yees before night
thanked her, paid a weeks rent IN
advance, then left to pack up, feeling I
had found another friend. Just that
little speech about fixing up the room,
putting tides on the chairs, had made
me feel that she understood just a bit
how hard things were for me.
Mrs. Lynch seemed awfully sorry to
lose us. But explained that it was
necessary. without mentioning the
cause. AS our rent was paid until the
end of the week, it would give her
time to again fill our rooms. and stand
Shall / send your letters?" she
''No-r'u come around occasionally
and see if there is any mall" My only
correspondent was mother. and l
would write her at once, giving the
changed address. If 1 left it with Mrs.
Lynch, Mike and Joe might attempt
to trace US.
That evening Mary and I spent ar
ranging our rooms I had also packea
land moved Mary's things for her so
that we-rnight be settled before 1 com
menced 10 work.
Mrs. Leary had been as good as her
word. She had fixed up our rooms.
AS I saw the coarse lace tides, the
little attempts atsbeautifying the hope
| lessly ugly rooms, the tears filled my
Amt it nice and ciean?" Mary
asked, delighted.
Eyes and you see you keep it sou
I severely replied. Mary was far neat
er than when we first knew. each other
| but was still inclined to be careless.
you bet I will!'
we spent a busy evening getting set
/ tied About 90 clock Mrs Leary, VINO
was very stout, came putting up the
stairs, with a pot of tea and some thin
bread and butter on tray. 1t was
several minutes before she could get
her breath SO that she could speak.
then:
"I loike a cup of tea when I'm tired,
and I thought you'd loike one before
| YOU went to bed. I've been listenin',
and you has been workin' every min
uate. Amt had no supper neither"
"I had my supper at the restaurant,
and brought Zena something" Mary
told her.
But I AM hungry. and shall love
the bread and butter and tea" broke
in. so will Mary.
Mrs. Leary is hip to that She
knows no Irish girl ever says no to
cup of tea
"Oh, Mary, will you ever learn to
talk without using slang?" laughed.
mo, never shall" she returned so
dolefully that I repented at once ana
coaxed her back to good humor 1
had tried to help Mary in her speech,
tried to correct her use of slang. but
made little Roadway. Had we been
together all day, or had Mary worked
in a different sort of place. l would
have had more success. But the slang
of a sweat shop for years, then of a
cheap restaurant, cannot be overcome
in a few months-especially If the girl
has no education to speak of.
- Mrs. Leary remained but few mo-
ments. After she had gone, Mary and
/ I slipped our tea. and congratulated
and upon having found so kind land
lady.
What Mrs. Leary was to be to US,
however, we never dreamed.
(Tomorrow-zepa becomes elerk.)