The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-05
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
HE TRLhs OF JoB-HUNTTNG.
CHAPTER 81.

CHAPTER 81.
told my landlady 1 was going to
leave, but pretended not to hear when
she asked questions I would leave no
address. Every time I thought of my
self in a servants position, my cheeks
burned like fire; and yet I was i'm
mensely grateful TO have obtained
even that.
1 don't believe there is anything in
the world that takes the conceit out
OF a person SO quickly as hunting em-
pIoynent, especially if they are not
experienced.
All the time I was packing my
trunk I was thinking of mother, and
the way she managed her home She
never had the brusque, almost insult
ing manner toward her help that 1 had
met with. I went over the different
places / had tried in my mind.
You are altogether too good look
ing for a servant in a house where
there are men, one woman said to
me-a fretful looking faded sort of a
woman. You'd better try to find a
place with a widow. or single wo-
man.
another said:
Il have a young man son. I want
an older woman" / didn't see what
my age had to do with il if I did my
= work well, and in desperation 1 told
her so. She replied: MY boy is just
OF an age Nhen a assigning woman
might spoil his life
But 1 am not a designing woman.
am only a poor girl searching en-
ploym emit" 1 pleaded.
You will not do
Another said to me:
"You are too well dressed to be an
honest girl. might try you even with
out references were it mot for that"
She spoke kindly. and 1 explained
without giving my own name. 1 had
decided to use mothers maiden name
because it would hurt no one and
might save discovery of what I was
doing-that they were all I had, that
tmy father had died and left me with
nothing but my clothes. Then she
said: IF your story is true, why not
get me some references from your old
friends-those who knew you during
better days
mo. 1 can't do that, I WON'T" I
exclaimed passionately. "Oh. couldn't
/ she see I couldn't let them know"
| Then am afraid can't take you"
/ she said. and 1 pleaded no longer I
would not explain again. 1t did no
good-only made it harder for me.
| There were others. Some wanted
only thoroly experienced help; others
refused to take me: some even would
not see me when they found thru the
! other servants that I had no refer
ences. So it was with thankfulness
that I finally took the position with
Mrs. Rush, tho she had seemed harsh
and unkind.
was to receive $50. a month Even
before I reached-the house the follow
ing morning I had decided that I
would save every penny of it. 1 would
have about SIS left by the time I had
paid for my room, and the expressman
who had agreed to take my trunk to
my employer's-chargin me exorb-
itantly because of the distance.
Back in my mind was the thought
that If I saved that months salary.
with my SIS added, I might. if condi-
tions required, go to some other city
Chicago, perhaps. I had been there
once with dad and mother, and felt
that could easily lose myself hide my
| identity, in the pushing crowds.
had not been comfortable when in
the street since the day l had seen
! Claudia and Jack. I had worn thick
veil every time 1 went out.
Does it seem strange that I avoided
all with whom had been so intimate
Put yourself in my place. From af-
! fluence 20 poverty-from being able to
do all the things they did, go where
| they went, be one of them, I was now
| simply hunting a place where 1 could
earn enough to live upon, and later,
when her little remnant was gone. to
support my mother.
| That I couldn't marry Jack Pryor.
| big-hearted fellow that he had proved
himself to be, may also seem strange.
But whenever had been tempted
right after dad left us-the thought of
Ke8neth Lawrence came to me. Not
that 1 ever expected to see him again
but knew 1 cared more for him
than for Jack. and I could not Bring
myself to cheat myself and Jack by
marrying him for his money:
Tomorrow-Zena's first place.