The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-08
JUST A GIRL
AN EMBARRASsING OCCURRENCE.
CHAPTER 81.
Blu JANE PHELPS

AN EMBARRAssING OCCURRENCE.
] CHAPTER -.
! I had been atsAIrs. Rush's just three
weeks Ailine was to give a small din
ner dance, and she had demanded that
1 assist in serving the midnight supper
THE butler is getting cranky. and
| he'll be leaving if he hasn't more help,
| Mrs Rush had explained.
i Very WE'LL l had said. I was so
tired that a little more work could
make no difference. 1 had become
apathetic in a way l wonder if under
the circumstances it is to~be wondered
at. I now went about my duties me-
chemically. Mrs. Rush had an up
stairs girl at last. but it made very
little difference in my work. or in my
/ hours. of work, because Miss Ailine-
| as 1 had been told to call her-de-
manded every1eisure moment.
| IF you won't give me a maid. she]l
have to do double duty" 1 heard her
\ tell her mother.
Your father is grum bling about ex-
penses as it is. You can do very well
without a maid at your age
''Zena VIII have to do what is neces-
sary then"
Every well! But be careful not Is
put too much upon her, Ailine. 1 have
seen look on hef face once or twice
when you ordered her to wait upon
you that don't like. If she leaves US
And she is really obliging.'
oh she won't leave! Not many
people hire a girl who has no. refer
, enees, who doesn't take her day off.
and who wears such lovely boots and
underwear. There's something mys-
terious about her. She is hiding from
some one, or she has done something
that she is afrsid she'll be arrested
flor if she goes out, or something"
What an imagination you have,
Ailine! Remember what 1 say. Don't
ask too much Of her"
The night OF the party 1 attended
the young ladies when they came l
did for them just-what so many times
had had done for me. 1 took their
wraps. saw that they had any toilet
necessities they wished, helped them
rearrange their hair if it had become
mussed. and all the little things a flock
of girls usually demand when making
themselves lovely as guests.
They were bright, attractive lot o f
girls, and had 1 not been so tired help
ing Ailine to dress, arrange the rooms;
etc, 1 would have enjoyed hearing
their bright chatter. It Kas like aFbit
out of my own life come back
! tried to restnntil 1 should be need
ed later in the evening, but something
! ". Il
monition that something was going to
happen to me, something unpleasant.
L tried to laugh at myself, to dfspAI
I the feeling, but 1t wasn't any use. The
depression grew stronger instead of
/ diminishing.
1t was nearly 1 o'clock when Mrs.
Rush said 1 was needed. The supper
was sort of a buffet affair, and I
was to see the young guests were prop
erly served.
At first L could distinguish no one
in particular, excepting Mrs Rush. and
Ailine. The others were just tumble
| OF light dresses, pretty arms and
shoulders. and the black coated boys
with whom they were chatting so
gaily.
1 heard a gasp-then:
"Zena Stewart Where have you
been?" and Tony Deland stood look
ing down at me.
1 had heard of the wish that the
floor would open and swallow one up,
/ but 1 never had experienced it until
| then. II only I could have disap-
peared! I tried to get away. but not
! only was I hemmed in by the guests,
but Tony in some way had possessed
| himself of my hand and seemed de-
! termined not to let go.
Please let me go, Tony. and please
| don't say any more begged, just as
| Mrs. Rush came toward U.S. her face
| black and threatening. Before she
could say word, Tony said:
! Miss Stewart is an old friend of
] mine. Mrs. Rush.
She is now my servant. Please al
| low her to fulfill her duties.''
l don't think she meant to be I'M
kind. She had no way of knowing
who or what I was, my position had
been. and she probably considered
Tony had been making friends with
| someone beneath him. The look on
his face was almost laughable. even
under the circumstances.
Yes. Tony" I said, SO low none but
he could hear. II am a maid here.
! Please don't tell the rest Then 1
turned, and as well as I could helped
to wait upon the group of boys and
girls who kept casting curious, slight
ing looks at me.
(Tomorrow-zena eludes her friends.)