The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-20
JUST A GIRL
Blu JANE PHELPS
WORK AT LAST.

WORK AT LAST.
CHAPTER IA
! All day revolved in my mind the
question of writing to Kenneth Law
renee. All day Is tried to reason the
right and wrong of things, the wise or
! the unwise step to take. But altho
worn out, when night came was no
nearer a decision.
Suppose Kenneth. in spite of his be-
! ing a comparatively poor man, had
paid me attention knowing that as an
/ only child l would naturally inherit
my fathers wealth. II that had been
my attraction for him, it, could only
! lead to embarrassment for me to dis
close myself. Not only that, but it
would add to my distress and make
things harder for me.
IF he cared very much he would
find me somehow" I said to myself as
I sat by my window at dusk. Then,
recalling an old habit of Claudia Shep-
hard's, 1 lighted the gas. and found a
coin in my purse
Heads I write, tails I DON'T" l
said. Then Best two out of three"
The coin came tails up all three
times.
THAT'S settled" I declared, then
{ bed.
I had heard that often destiny hung
upon a thread Mine had hung upon
the spinning of a coin.
The next day 1 started a round OF
! the department stores.
| I went to several of the smaller ones
/ first. SOmeway felt that in a smaller
place I might meet with more consid-
Grafton. But I tried until late after
noon and only met with such rebuffs
as:
I'VE have filled the place" or you
don't look strong enough. and as you
know nothing of the stock, wen have
to take some one else" or I'VE never
take a girl who isn't living with her
parents without references" and many
| other reasons why I was not a suitable
person to sell needles and thread, OF
to try on gloves.
Finally 1 tried one of the largest
stores. There I was given place at
the waist counter-the one where bar
| gain waists were displayed daily. The
| hardest place in the shop" one of the
! girls told me later. 1 was to receive
| IS a week at first.
IF we find you quick, and a good
saleswoman. we will give you $40 after
a while" the man to whom 1 applied
had told me. Then. I'VE shall expect
you to wear a plain dark gown with
white collar. and make neat appear
ance. I see you will do that" he
added kindly.
said I must wear a black dress, for ii
he had, 1 couldn't have taken the
place. I had only about 81 to my
name. Before L left that morning,
had paid Mrs. Lynch four weeks rent
of the room would have ROOF
over me for that time. I had a dark
blue serge, a dress mother bought me
to wear when ] went shopping morn
ings. 1t was beautifully cut and made,
and the serge was very fine, but il
was so plain that hoped these things
would escape observation.
1t had come to point where the
feeling that good, and expensive
clothes were a drawback, was an
obSession with me. I envied the
cheap, and cheaply tailored dresses.
saw on working girls. They werenf
insulted because of them.
That night told Mrs. Lynch of my
success in getting work.
IT'S glad I am for ye. Mony's the
poor girl that never gets a job at al
at all"
They gifts tired tryin' was what
was a-meanin'. Their money gives
out. and thin-God bless you, but
they goes straight to the divil by tbs
way of the streets, and some rascafs
coaxin tbngue"
"Oh. how awful" In all my life
half lived. how the other kind existed
that it now always came as a shock
to me when anyone talked of it.
| "Ain't it tho, Niver have nothin
TO say to no mon what you amt mst
proper. me dear. Thin be careful
too. Men has coaxin' ways sometimes
Didn't Tom Lynch pretend to be She
of the drink to git me to say yis. Anc
the priest hadn't hardly tould us we
was mon and wolfe before he wa.
drunk agin'. They amt to be trusted
NOT many of Thin"
II will be very careful, Mrs. Lynch
I am so glad 1 have found work
can't think of anything else"
God bless your swate face, I hope:
I've kapes the job il it makes you
happy"
CTomorrow-A shop GRID