The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-26
JUST GIRL.
BIZ JANE PHELPS
A HAPPY DAY TOGETHER.
CHAPTER 12s.


"Who is Mr.. claxton?" mother
asked as she buried her nose in the
flowers.
my employer. have mentioned
him several times"
"Oh, yes, now recall him, but I did
not connect him with flowers for me.
Why should -"
Why indeed? 1t was only one more
proof of his kindness. I was very
proud and happy that he should think
OF mother, should try to make her ar
rival at the home L had made for her
pleasant by his thoughtfulness.
But 1 was so happy, so anxious to
show mother our little home and to
talk to her, that 1 soon forgot Mr..
Claxton. everything but that had my
darling mother with me, and that we
had a home all our own, even If it
were a very simple one.
| We didn't unpack that night I
made a little supper at midnight when
mother declared she was hungry. We
had talked so hard and so fast the
time had slipped by unheeded.
The next day was Saturday, and Mr..
Claxton had told me 1 need not come
down. So as soon as we finished
breakfast we unpacked mother
trunk. She had many little things
with her-father's picture in a silver
given her only little while before he
died, which had insisted she keep,
and which gave the roont an air of ele-
gance when we had disposed of them
to advantage.
my room is so pretty, dear. and
yours so plain" she complained.
Il am a bachelor girl, mother. l
have no time for fol-de-rols. 1 intend
to care for my own room. and if had
q lot of knicknacks around am
afraid they would not get busted"
my dear little grill" Mother took
me in her arms. 'Don't you suppose
I see thru your little subterfyge? That
I know you spent so much for my
room that you had to economic on
your own? Everything is very Won
derful of all I don't yet understand
how you-brought up as you were
have been able to do it,
My bringing up was a hindrance,
mother-at first. 1t made things seem
harder than they were" I answered
have nice position, everyone is kind
to me, and I am earning enough to be
Independent and have you. What
more could a girl ask?''
And you never regret the old times,
the friends you loved?"
mot any more. My time and
thoughts are too filled with work. And
mother, dear, couldn't go back now
mot to the butterfly life led before
| I knew what 1t was to work. think
have changed-perhaps more than ]
realize" 1 thought of Kenneth Law
renee. Would he think me changed
for the worse?
you have changed. dear, but it is
only natural that you should. Care,
responsibility, and hard work would
change any girl. I wish might have
helped you more"
ITS a slave you'il be to this little
flat now, mother dear! Meals to get,
dishes to wash. cleaning to do, and
the marketing. You won't have much
| tinfe to be lonely"
II think I never shall be lonely
again. I feel that you'll father knows
happy tint it is SO. cannot even yet
think of him as dead. He is a very
living presence to me-"
"And to me, mother. In all these
hard years things he said, his advice,
have been in my mind and have helped
me. Yes. I am sure tht dad knows,
and is glad"
After we had unpacked all mothers
things and put them in place, hung
her clothes in the closet, or laid them
in the bureau drawers, we went to
| market. Mother would be strange for
time. and wanted SHOW her the
way to the nearest shops. After we
had made our simple purchases we
went to the pancake shop for lunch.
had not told Mary we were coming,
and her delight was amusing. Tom
too. was so pleased that mother said
"You and your friends will spoil me,
Zena And what a darling shop! And
never ate such griddle cakes"
Pancakes, mother! This is a PAN
cake shop"
After we finished our luncheon we
walked slowly home and spent the aft
ernoon talking as only mother and
daughter who had been so long sepa-
rated could talk.
Mother startled me when she asked:
ibid you communicate with thai
young Mr.. Lawrence after 1 sent you
Mr.. Harknesss letter."
/ (Tromorrow-Mr. CIaxton asks to call. }