The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-29
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
NEW ARRANGEMENTS.

I was stunned, yet at the same time
realized the need of action. Mother
must be told. So one morning I went
to her and told her all Mr.. Hardness
told me.
ours no longer-that we are home
less %
Yes. mother. dear. Dad left some
debts that we must pay at once. The
only way we can pay them is to sell
the house, and perhaps the furniture.
Mr.. Hardness thinks he has client
who will buy it just the way it is. He
says if we can sell it that way it will
give us a few hundred dollars to use
until can find something to do"
MY poor child, what can you dog
Then without waiting for an answer:
You told him TO sell it at once, didn't
you? No one must say that William
| Stewart was not perfectly honest. 1t
makes no difference what happens to
me. He is gone, and life means Moth
ing any more. But no one must say
a derogatofy word of him-the best
man that ever lived
Il am so glad you agree, mother. I
told Mr.. Hardness to go ahead and sell
the house. And mother, surely after
all you and dad spent on my educa ton
I can earn our living" In spite OF
my brave words, my heart sank at the
prospect. more because of lack OF
knowledge how to go about finding
work, than disbelief in my ability.
perhaps" doubtfully. Il have
some jewels we can SELL"
mot unless we have to- Now don't
worry about it any more"
Mother threw off her lassitude from
that time, altho her grief was pitiful.
But she seemed to realize there was
much to do and to want to do her
; share.
Mr. Hardness sold the house all fur
nished. We took out only a few
things, keepsakes, or something which
because of sentiment we wished TO
keep. When all was over, house. cars,
! everything disposed of, every debt was
paid, and mother and l had exactly
| s1,406
About one months allowance .
mother said when told her.
Never mind mumsie! Long before
| it is gone I shall have a fine position
somewhere. 1t will be a cottage or a
! flat, but we will have each other"
1 never dreamed that the time
would come when the tiniest cottage,
| the cheapest flat, would look attrac-
Everyone had been most kind.
| Flowers, notes of~condolence from all
| fathers business acquaintance as well
as from our society friends. poured in
upon us. Our most intimate friends
| came and offered their sympathy in
person. Jack Pryor came, and when
/ he heard how things were wanted to
/ take care of us The foolish boy
wanted to give US a part of his inherit
ance.
Il love you, Zena. and it would
make me happy to do this even tho
you won't marry me-
mo Jack. 1 shall take care of
mother"
You never can, Zena, Take it for
her sake if not for your own
mo Jacki We are poor now, and
we must learn to live as poor people
do"
He talked a long time. but when he
saw l really meant what l said he
I left; but not before he had done many
helpful things for us. He replied to
all the notes, and surprised me by the
gracious language he used. He ran
errands. Then when we had found a
room in a boarding house far up on
the west side, he took our few treas
ures up in his car, then carried mother
and me to our new home-which
wasn't home at all: just miserable
travesty on the name.
Never mind mumsie, we have each
otheri" 1 said with my arms around
her, and wiping her tears away with
| my handkerchief. And for days II
| seemed the only way to comfort her
to remind her we had each other. :.
Mother was broken. Her sorrow
had been greater than her nature
strong as it was. could Withstand
! Henceforth she was to be my care.
| Father would have me tender and
helpful to her. knew. felt that he
would know and approve.
Tomorrow way out-by
marriage