The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-21
JUST A GIRL
Blu JANE PHELPS
JENA BECOMES A CLERK.
CHAPTER 72,

The next morning was up and
dressed before Mary walked. 1 was
anxious to begin my work, yet almost
afraid. Suppose 1 should not please
| should be too hard? 1 had not felt
at all well for several weeks; carry
ing heavy trays had exhausted my
strength.
had been waiting several minutes
when the employees door opened. Had
it not been for my experience in the
other store, would not have, known
what to do. But I asked a pleasant
faced girl if she would show me where
to put my things
&''This is my first day." I told her.
I had determined not to speak of my
unpleasant experience in selling
waists, but to say that I had worked
in restaurant and \ignore what had
gone before. I knew mfr. Watkins
would give me a good recommended
ton.
Come with me-, she replied. I fol-
! lowed to the cloak room.
When 1 took my place behind the
counter I looked curiously at the girls
who were to be my companions. Most
| of them were pale, and looked I'M
der-nourished. Yet all had made q
| pitiful attempt to be stylish by the aid
| of cheap finery. AS I looked at them
| their tawdry clothing which I knew
would not stand any wear, their elab
if I, too. would grow to be like them;
and also I wondered IL they did not
| have to get up before daylight to ar
| range such coiffures.
! From the first I felt these girls re-
scented me-. Every way I turned saw
only black looks. Why. could not
understand. My cheeks burned; I was
decidedly uncomfortable. I have often
| wondered if there is anything quite so
cruel as youth.
I
I wanted desperately to get away from
those girls. My head ached with the
| effort I had made to learn where the
| different things were kept, the prices,
4 and to wait upon the customers. I had
asked but a few questionable grudg-
/ ing answers, the sour looks, deferred
me.
! I wandered about forlornly the en-
/ tire noon hour I was not hungry; I
felt as if food would choke me. Then
/ just rs I realized it was time for me
I to return to the store, nay common
sense asserted itself and 1 ran into a
/ little cafe, and gulped a cup of coffee
| and ate a sandwich.
/ I worried along as best 1 could the
remainder of the day. asked no
questions. and so made some mistakes.
! One of the floor walkers, youngish
man with a red pompadour and
freckles. and wearing bright tan shoes
constantly passed the counter and as
constantly stared at me. I supposed
| it was because 1 was new, and he Yves
watching to see that 1 did my work
properly. 1 tried not to let it make
me nervous. Suddenly 1 heard one of
the girls say:
j tRed-head has his eyes on that new
girl! Just pipe him."
/ I flushed with embarrassed anger
All the savoir faire, all the sophistica
ton, I had acquired in my life at
home, didn't help very much. I was
flouted by girls whose ignorance of
what I knew. was only a little less
! than my lack of comprehension of
them. But they knew how to sell no.
tion.-, and I didn't.
| Fortunately at 20 we have a resili
ency that enables us-to endure things
which would be impossible in later
! life. And endure I had TO, or give
! I speculated upon the cause of their
dislike, and even consulted Mary as to
her opinion.
They're jealous. that's what"
! Jealous of WHAT" I had learned
one lesson, and wore the very plainest
things I possessed. My dress was well
made. and of good quality, but surely
they would not care about that.
| "Of your looks, I guess 1t don't
make no difference what you wear.
Zena, you look the goods in it.
might put that dress on and it would
MT make anyone turn around and look
at me. but you look as If you had
bought It at one OF them shops on
Michigan avenue where they charge a
i thousand dollars a 1ook-in."
| "Nonsensei"'
AS the days grew shorter. dreaded
the time when the store closed. The
floor walker had followed me once or
twice, and once a big brute of a fell
/ low had spoken to me as I hurried
along to our boarding house.
/ Then daY 7 found out why
was disliked at the counter where ]
surely minded my own business and
did the best I could.
| ITO be continued.)