The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-24
JUST A.GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
AN UNUSUAL HAPPENING.
CHAPTER 10z.

AN UNUSUAL HAPPENING.
CHAPTER 1o2.
Are you very fond of the theater,
Miss Stewart" Mr.. C1axton asked.
| very, altho I go but seldom
81 have some tickets for a play to-
might, and find / cannot use them. 1
Thought perhaps you and Miss Murphy
might take them"
Thank you so much. I shall be
delighted to go, and I am sure Mary
will also. It is very kind of you"
/ hurried home with my precious
bits of pasteboard. 1 would get all
ready before Mary came in. She hard
seven. Then I could help her dress.
The seats were in the seventh row in
the orchestra, and I wanted to look
| as well as possible.
was all dressed when Mary came
! in. 1 had put on one of my afternoon
ldresses-one 1 had worn but once or
twice since dad died, but 1t was still
| in style and looked very nice. We
would go hatIess. which as Mary said,
"helped some" as neither of us had
bought a new hat in some time.
She was as excited as could be, and
so nervous that it was fortunate 1 had
dressed early and could help her. We
got off in time, however-were, in
deed. little early.
I'm glad, We can see the pretty
Clothes" Mary whispered.
I was also pleased tie see the stylish
costumes 1 found myself suddenly
longing once more to see women in
beautiful gowns and men in evening
clothes. By the time the curtain went
up it seemed almost as If I were back
in New York at some play where I
knew many of the audience-where
was one of them, Our seats were al
most exactly in the center of the
house, SO we could see not enly the
stage but the people in the boxes.
Mary was delighted.
II amt never been downstairs be-
fore, zena. 1t is lovely here" she
whispered.
Isn't it? And I am sure you will
like the play. 1 read the criticisms
the other day"
During the intermissions Mary chat
tered constantly. She was really funny
in her remarks about the women
whom she considered took the public
too much into their confidence as re-
garded their backs. Evening dresses
were cut very low, almost to thsfEaist-
line.
ut wouldn't be SO bad If they had
anything but bones to showip she said
Of one woman whose shoulder blades
were conspicuous. Then spying one
whose blades were entirely eliminated
by layers of fat, she remarked: u
guess there amt many women with
backs that would take prize at a
beauty show, Zena. Too thin, or too
fat why do they want to show them
anyway They amt pretty"
/ agreed with her that not many
women had backs that proved inter-
esting. And that it was indelicate' to
expose themselves as some of them
did But I am afraid I was not as
shocked as she was 1 had been &C
customed to seeing women in evening
dress all my life, and to wearing them
myself.
Tom came for US He had called at
the house, and Mrs Fagin had told
him where we were.
How did you like the show.
Mary?" he asked as we walked to the
car.
Zine and dandy! But oh, Tom,
you should have seen them ladies
without hardly any clothes on-just
straps over their shoulders to keep
them from slipping off altogether
And the men looked just like walters.
You should have seen them open
faced coats they were wearing"
Did you enjoy it too, Miss Zena ?"
Tom turned to me.
VERY much indeeal It was a fine
play and well acted. I think it has
done us both good
1T was mighty fine OF your en-
ployer to give you the tickets. Lots of
men wouldn't have been so thought
full. You both lock brighter instead
of tired as you should for staying out
SO late"
''All work and no play is as bad for
the Jills of the world as it is fer the
Jacks, I guess, Tom, I do feel bright
err I said.
me tool Tell your boss not to forget
US the next time he gets tickets he
can't use" Mary said. Then in a diff
ferent tone: You tell him how much
liked it, won't you, Zena? 1 mean
you thank him for me. You can do
them kind of things so much better"
IN say all the nice things I can
think of, but if he comes into the shop
soon again don't forget to speak of it
yourself"
you bet won't!'
"There ARE good people in the
world" I said aloud just before I
dropped off to sleep. land Mr.. Claxton
is one of them Dad would like him
I know
Ito be continued.)