The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-16
JUST A GIRL
A MESSAGE FROM KENNETH.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER Is.


A day or two after Edith's party
Claudia Sheppard came over. We
talked about the party, about Mr.. San
ders. and also about the boys. OF
course. Jack and Gregory came in for
their share of praise or criticism.
Then suddenly Claudia said:
IT had a letter from Cousin Kenneth
the other day. He asked lot of
questions about you. guess you
| nailed him to the mast also''-she had
been joking me about Mr.. Sanders.
Nonsense! But what did he say ?"
"Oh, he wanted to know If you
were well, and to be remembered. and
he spoke of how much he had enjoyed
meeting you and the rest of the girls
It was a nice long letter. 1 wish 1
had thought to bring it over for you
to read"
Il wish you had" tried to speak
carelessly, as mother did when she
didn't want people to know she was
particularly interested. when he
writes again do let me see his letter.
! And when you answer this one re-
| member me to him." was angry
with myself for blushing, but 1 could
not help it.
II shan't forget. Isn't it a shame
Kenneth is poor? He's such a dear"
Dad says being poor doesn't count.
That it is what man is, not what he
has. that counts in this world"
FOUR father is dreaming How can
a girl get along with a poor man? I
mean girl brought up as we girls are.
Why, Kenenth couldn't buy my stock
ings and slippers without going into
bankruptcy"
Il didn't know he was as poor as
that" 1 almost gasped. Mother per-
| haps had been right. 1t would be
dreadful for girl to get interested in
a fellow who couldn't buy her shoes
| and stockings. Even on a ranch l
didn't believe women went barefoot.
Well. I didn't exactly mean he
couldn't buy some kind of foot wear,
but not the kind we wear"
oh, 1 thought you meant his wife
would have to go barefoot"
Not quite that" we both laughed
at the idea. But really. isn't it a
shame that he should be so poor when
mother says he is intelligent-and
some of the other boys who haven't
an ounce of sense are millionaires."
| 4 know. But they can't help be-
ing millionaires any more than X
your cousin, can help being poor. They
| didn't earn the money. 1t was left
them"
You say such funny things. Who
wants them to help being million
aires? 1 think it is perfectly jolly to
know boys like Jack Pryor who spend
money so generously. Jacks got good
| taste, too. / guess you know that
I'll bet a pair of gloves he sent you
those Orchids" She pointed to a great
bunch of the delicate flowers on my
dressing table.
You lose. Gregory Stuart sem
them"
Same thing! He's a millionaire
kid. too
! You lost the gloves. Come on
we'll go buy them. I'm afraid you'll
| forget your bet if we don't" Claudia
knew I was teasing her. but as she
also was keen for a walk, we told
mother we were going out.
never went out without telling
mother-if she were at home.
We had lots of fun buying the
gloves. Claudia said I selected the
most expensive kind purposely so she
would run short on her allowance be-
| fore the month was up.
Whats the difference? You are
sure to borrow Of me If you do"
told her. 1t was great joke with u:
four girls-Edith, Rose, Claudia and
me-that if our allowance ran thru
our fingers-as it often did-it made
no real difference as long as any ont
of the four had any money left. II
had been so all thru boarding school
and was so now that we were ''out
| and our allowances were much larger
No girls allowance is quite large
| enough-so she thinks, and sometime:
almost proves.
After we finished our shopping we
strolled up the avenue. / had just
spoken of going home when we met
| Horace Sanders
''Will you young ladies do me the
honor to have lunch with me?" he
! asked.
| I'VE shall be charmed" answered
| Claudia before I had time to think
what to say. He turned questioning
| look upon me-.
Indeed it will be delightful"
| echoed.
| (Tomorrow-A luncheon father dis
| approved.)