The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-01
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
JENA TELLS MIR. CLAYTON.

This telling of my intention to marry
was harder than had thought it
would be. Frank Claxton hadn't
moved or spoken after / had said
wished to explain. But his white face,
his dazed. incredulous eyes made
speech difficult.
at commenced long ago." I finally
said. looking down so that might not
| see the hurt look in his face, when
dad was alive. He-the man / am CO.
ing to marry-visited a girl, one of
my chums. He was related to her.
Were you engaged to him when
you came here?"
"Oh, mol 1 hadn't even heard from
him for years. Weileft no address in
New York. Foolish pride perhaps, but
we didn't want our old friends to know
how poor we were-I didn't, / mean"
Then how"
He finally few months ago wrote
| to dads old lawyer, who sent the letter
| to mother. 1 answered it, and-Mr.
1 Lawrence is here and wants me to go
| back with him-he lives on a ranch
in the west
And you are going? You want to
go? This man must be little more
| than a stranger to you" he hesitated.
How could 1 explain that had held
him in my thoughts all these years?
fore me realize that Kenneth had been
my ideal, had kept me from doing
things that perhaps 1 might have re-
GREETED? I realized how difficult it
would be to put my feelings into un-
derstandable words yet l must say
do you think you can fill my
placer"
1--WE won't talk of that! I want to
understand. Have you really prom
Used to go with this man ?"
"Yes@I think so-he expects me
to-" 1 stammered. suddenly aware that
didn't want to go, that I wanted to
stay What allied me? 1 tried des-
perately to- throw off the feeling, so
like Despair. that had seized me.
He expects-you to-" Frank Claxton
reason for marrying him. zena? Is
he wealthy" he asked, suspicion in
his tone.
"Oh. MOI just a ranchman-not
wealthy at ALL
Then why-I don't, can't under
stand, Zenai You tell me you are go
ing to marry this man whom you have
not seen for years. man who certain
ly couldn't spend much time wooing
you. You say you are going away with
him in a week There must be some
reasons it that you are SO tired of
work, dear" his voice softened. that
you are willing to try life with an al
most unknown man rather than go
on? If that is 1t, why"
1 stopped him with gesture. fear
full he was going to mention my re-
fusal to marry him Then in hot
words that fell over each other told
him of my gir1ish dreams; of how L
had idealized this strong western man,
thought him bigger and better than
any one ever had known; how had
always known that some time he
would come for me- even tho / would
often fear I might be wrong.
Then told of Kenneth's masterful
way of taking hold of the situation, of
his plans for mother and me. He must
get back and that explained my haste
to let him, Mr.. Claxton, know so he
could find some one IN my place:
What does Mary say to all this?''
was so astonished at the unexpect-
ed question that I could scarcely an
swer. His tone had changed, his eyes
frightened.
''why-she-oh. she and Tom are
wild with me. Mr.. Lawrence likes
them both, but I am afraid they don't
care much for him.
II don't wonder. Coming here and
attempting to carry you off like this.
I always thought airy very clever"
Then very seriously he said:
''Zena, l want you to~give me
promise. VIII ou?"
IF I can-of course"
Send this man away. Promise me
not to marry him, not TO engage your
self to him, for six months. VIII
your
"But-how can 1-explain to him ?"
Don't! Tell him the truth-that
You are heSitating now in your own
(Tomorrow-.A promise asked-and
made)