The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-10
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
VARIED EXPERIENCES.
CHAPTER SO.


had been back only few days
when I realized the doctor was right
The work, the standing and carrying
heavy trays, was too much for me- I
did not give up entirely. but I looked
after the buying, the tables and so on,
At the same time 1 looked for an office
positions I met with many rebuffs.
but 1 also met with kind works and
encoura gsment.
when you have had a little experi-
ence come and see me again. 1 could
not take an inexperienced girl" one
want a position of this kind you must
perfect yourself in shorthand Type
ing alone will not do"
When I told Mary how kind these
men were, she shifted and said:
II know the kind They let you
down easy"
Anyway it makes one feel better
than to be talked to as some of them
talked to me-snapped me up as if /
had done something wrong in asking
for work
worked hours every day on my
typewriter, and was slowly but surely
gaining speed. Two evenings a week
I attended a shorthand school The
little pot hooks made me lots of trou-
Bile, but had heard of the good sal
aries office girls were paid, and I de-
termined to become proficient in time.
Altho I. realized would have to COM
mence at the bottom.
One day I was returning from an
swering an advertisement The man
had been very unlike the ones of
insulted by his tone. more than by
what he had actually put into words.
I took a walk along Michigan avenue.
wanted to be alone.
had worn the plainest, simplest
dress I owned, mother had altered
fraT- 10 1af kI,,&
clothes were too good for a working
girl, too dressy. Yet she understood I
must keep on wearing them. I could
mt afford new, and the materials were
so good they had not begun to show
use.
was walking along deep in thought
WIN I heard a voice exelaim:
why, Zena Stewart" And Jack
Pryor rushed up to me, and held out
his hand.
Where in the world did you come
from?" he asked as he drew my hand
been the last year,"
IT have been here in Chicago" I re-
piled to his last question I had nc
intention of telling him where lived
The exquisite Jack Pryor would be
shocked could he see my home-Mrs
Fagin's boarding house.
Let US go somewhere and talk" he
suggested. IT have q thousand ques-
tons to ask you"
made no answer, but as we started
to cross the street, there was an auto
mobile accident, and as the people
dashed to see what had happened ]
broke away from him and lost myself
in the crowd. I ran thru a side street
and boarded a car. 1t wasn't going
toward home, but little cared for
that! All I wanted was to escape from
Jack and his thousand questions"
All the rest of the day I thought OF
that meeting-t I knew positively that
never could have anything to dc
with the people I had known in New
York when Dad was alive. The con-
trast in my position then and now wae
too great.
Then I was the INDUCED daughter
of a rich man and a society woman
Now I was a poor working girl, and
them, or that part of my life had lef:
so long ago behind me.
I told Mary about meeting JACK
Pryor. knew she would never repeat
anything told her. and I was so dis
turbed that it was a RELIEF to talk to
someone.
what made you run away? I don't
quite understand" she remarked.
Don't you see, Mary. He knew me
when things were so different re
fused to marry him once a week in the
old days. Now he wouldn't want me
I have changed so. Mary, while he is
the same insouciant fellow he always
was"
at don't know what you mean by
that big word, but I'll bet my new
hat that cost me SIS that if he ever
wanted you, he hasn't stopped want
ing. I'll bet nickel you are in love
with someone else you used to know,
or you wouldn't have run away from
him.
Love someone else-did I love Ken
meth Lawrence?
''Yes-I do love Kenneth" ! whis-
pered question and answer as Mary
left me a moment.
Tomorrow: Mary quotes her mother)
ri