The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-03
JUST A GIRL
Bu JANE PHELPS
JENA TELLS KENNETH HE MUST
WATT
CHAPTER 1875.

zENA TELLS KENNETH HE MUST
WATT.
CHAPTER 135.
Tom came in and Mary asked per-
mission to tell him.
IT am glad, Miss zena. I have wor-
ried about you marrying a man you
had not seen in SO -long.' Mary had
simply told him had decided to wait
six months before engaging myself to
Kenneth Lawrence, instead of marry
ing him out of hand as had intended.
How can you expect me to want to
remain single when 1 see you and
Mary so happy?" l asked. in an at
tempt to cover my embarrassment.
I'VE are happy, Miss zena. But
perhaps some of our happiness is be-
cause we knew each other well enough
TO make allowances at first. ana De-
cause we were interested in the same
things. Mary and l belong together.
But do you and that western rancher,
who would take you into life you
know nothing about, belong together!
That's the thing that makes man
and woman happy or unhappy. Ana
you seemed very happy to have your
mother with you, and that your work
was SO successful. viii this man you
scarcely know be able to make you
happier? We hate to have you leave
us, Miss Zena, but we want you to do
what will be for your own happiness.
81 know, Tom. I think you are
right about belonging. Perhaps in six
months 1 shall know If we, Mr.. Law
renee and I, belong. Now 1 must go
on home and tell mother. It is going
to be hard to explain to her and-to
him"
Want me to go along, Zena?" Mary
asked.
"No, thanks. This is my job. and
i've got to do it,
"Ai1 right, but be firm. Don't let
him wheedle you into going with him. .
IT shan't!" I replied, as recalled l
had given my word to Frank Claxton'
What are you saying. Zena! You
aren't ready to marry me? You aren
going back with me?"
mo, Kenneth. I have decided we
do not know each other well enough.
We will be good friends for six months
vif you wish-will write, and perhaps
/ you will come to see US occasionally.
But we will be Just friends, no en-
gagement or anything. Then II we
both feel the same at the end of six
months, I'll go with you"
What has made you do this. Zena?
You didn't talk this way yesterday.
Has the fear of leaving your boss maze
jyou throw me over?"
ct have no fear of my boss as you
call him, and I haven't thrown you
over. If you remember, never reaily
promised to marry you. You just
took it for granted" 1 said the last
lightly, anxious that he should not
dwell upon any share Mr.. Claxton
might have had in influencing me.
"Fou let me- he moodily answer
ed. Then, "I can't believe you are in
earnest. Zena, that you are going to
send me back alone. Tell me you are
only teasing me"
IT III n that T{annath
consider marriage too serious a mat
ter to joke about That is why l am
Sending you away; why I want TO
have time to decide. The years that
have passed since we met have made
US strangers. People who marry
should not be strangers, but should
know each other" I was almost I'M
consciously quoting Tom.
"You fell you do not love me
enough, Zena-but we aren't children.
to expect that wild exuberance OF
love and 1ove-making that comes
when we are little more than infants
You respect me, I am very fond or
you. 1 can give you and your mother
good home, an easy time VIII
try and make you care for me- Ism
that enough, Zena."
at is more than deserve, perhaps,
but I still must ask you not to hurry
me--to watt
Have you told your mother"
mo. l thought you should De told
first
Il shall get her to plead for me. I
think she would be happy on the
ranch And having her with you
would help make you happy, too"
"Please-I shall not change my
| mind"
/ called mother in and right before
Kenneth I told her. Surprise held her
quiet for a moment. Then. to my
Amusement, she said:
"I think you are doing right, my
daughter. You must feel, Kenneth,
that you are really only giving her
six months in which to become ae-
quainted with you; you with her 1t
is little enough time. I have been
very worried over this hastily ar
ranged plan of yours, but have hesi,
tated to interfere. Zena has decided
very wisely. it seems to me-"
So finally Kenneth had to agree
that no engagement even should exist
between us for six months-that we
were both perfectly free.
(Tomorrow-Alonea gain.)