The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-04
JUST A GIRL
Blu JANE PHELPS
ALONE AGAIN.
CHAPTER 1856.

SI1AE 1Eft LOO.
| Kenneth had gone. But not with
out once more trying to make me
change my mind and marry him.
When, on-the day following his de-
parture. I took up my duties at the
office again. 1 once more experienced
that lightness. that same sort of glad
ness I had felt when I gave Frank
Claxton my promise to wait six
months. 1 in no way connected my
employer with this feeling, but laid it
entirely to my pleasure in my work,
and the thought that I was to go on
with it for a time longer.
Il guess ] ain TOO much of a baiSi-
ness woman now to think of marry
Ing" I said to myself more than once
as I realized the zest my work had
for me.
was very busy. The work had
piled up in the few days I was alb
sent-only three, for Kenneth had not
stayed his week out. And had little
time for thought, none for regrets.
But with the stress of work my spirits
rose and I laughed and ehatted with
Jennie Wilcox, was gay even with the
office boy whenever 1 had reason to
talk to him I made no attempt to
reason with myself as to the cause of
my good feeling. 1t was there was
happy and contented.
you aren't sorry, zena. are you ?''
! mother asked one evening as we sat
together sewing.
I made no pretense of misunder-
standing her.
mo. mother. I think I am very
glad.''
II wish you would tell me, dear,
why you thought you wanted to marry
Kenneth. You knew him SO casually"
For the first time I explained to
mother as well as I was able the way
had held Kenneth Lawrence in my
mind and heart all the years since dad
had left ue-how he had stood to me
for all that was good and noble.
81 sometimes think now that it was
because he was more serious than the
other boys. They would never appre-
ciate a working girl, thought, while
he would" I told her. Then I spoke
of my dreams of him, how I had IDEAL
lied him until the attentions of others
seemed to make me unfair to him, and
had also kept me from taking any one
seriously. I told her of how when a
man had talked of love to me,
thoughts OF Kenneth would fit before
me, keeping me true to him, even tho
l did not know whether he were alive
or dead, married or single.
Il think girls are likely to idealize
some man." mother unused, ''but not
for so long, and knowing SO little
about him. You knew his address. It
lis strange that, thinking SO much
about him, you had not written him"
IT was afraid to, afraid he had mar
ried or forgotten me. I did write" I
confessed, but always tore the letters
up. I am glad now that / did"
."Yes-he would have even more
reason to think you, belonged to him.
feel some way. daughter, that you
will never marry Kenneth Lawrence
that perhaps you may not marry at
all. And it makes me feel that per-
| a. - g. q
have had more time with young peo-
4 Pile more time to become acquainted
with the right sort-young boys and
lgfrls of good families ofyour own age.
But you have had to work so hard to
take care of the two of US that you
have had no time for the social side
of life"
1 tried to explain to mother-with
very little successHthat a girl placed
as 1 was, earning her own living in
strange city, had no chance to meet
socially the sort of people she felt l
should know. She laid my failure
entirely to lack of time and strength
1 laughed at her for saying l would
MT marry.
t"I feel that I shall say yes to Ken
meth when the six months are up,
told her, then felt unaccountabiy de.
pressed. "But If I don't, and should
be an old maid. think we can be rea-
sonably happy together, mother.
Eyes, dear. But when I am gone,
what them"
Mother often referred to the time
when would be alone. Her iran
health, her inability to help, made her
a bit morbid at times.
God isn't going to take you from
me-" I told her. HE knows neee
you"
And only God knew how did neea
her. only He knew how all those
lonely years had longed for her.
Surely He would not take her 1roN
me. ,.t
, arrives.)