The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-11
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
MARY QUOTES HER MOTHER,
CHAPTER 90.

CHAPTER 80.
During the evening Mary required
to my meeting with Jack Pryor. She
was so sympathetic, SO sweet that I
just laid my head on her shoulder and
had good cry. The disappointment
because of not securing a position,
coupled with the unexpected meeting,
and the memories it had evoked, had
made me foolish told her She
petted and comforted me as if I were
child instead of as old as she. I
soon felt better.
"A little cry don't hurt no one," she
said as I wiped my eyes. Now go to
bed. He'll most likely go back to New
York tomorrow, and you'll never see
him again-unlesS you send for him."
I'll never do that, you may be
sure" I replied as 1 followed Mary's
advice and went to bed. But did not
share her optimism
The next day when I went out 1
wore veil. and carefully kept. away
from any place where it was at all
likely would run across the elegant
Jack Pryor. I walked as little as pos
sible, as I applied at place after place,
only to be told they were filled or
that 1 was not expert enough. The
street cars were sure to be safe for
me; men like Jack Pryor did not ride
On them as a rule.
AS the days passed and I saw moth
ing more of Jack, I again breathed
freely.
Mary was not with me as much as
before I had been taken i'll. For one
thing, I only spent a couple of hours
each morning with her at the shop,
and for another, her evenings were
mostly given up to Thomas Clancy.
She had become engaged to Thomas
and they were to be married as soon
as they had saved enough to furnish a
home.
Il shall keep right on working when
we are married" Mary said when she
told me of her engagement, and
showed me her ring. "A girl never
knows how man is going to turn out,
and I amt takin'- any chances. Tom
But ma used to say. No woman don't
know a man till she's lived with him.
and I sort of have a notion ma was
right
I had met Mary's ~Thomas, and he
had impressed me as nice. straight
Mary would fancy. He was rather
serious, but Mary needed a balance
wheel often. She loved pleasure, and
at times lacked Judgment, altho per-
fectly capable of taking care of her
self.
Ny life now seemed to run along in
a ceaseless grind of work, worry. and
disappointment. I became depressed,
and unhappy. I still continued to
draw just enough from the business to
pay Mrs. Fagin, and my car fares.
But it now belonged to Mary. I had
Mr.. Pope attend to it so there would
be no trouble about bills, and so forth,
and I felt that could not go on TAX
ing money from her much longer
Also never had been able to redeem
my jewelry, and the interest would
soon fall due.
could send mother nothing at this
time, and could see no chance to keep
my promise to make a home for her.
I often wondered what i should do
when my clothes wore out and I had
to replace them. So far had spent
very little for clothing. Some low
heeled shoes, one cheap suit, aprons,
and few little things had been the
extent Of my purchases.
had become desperate I offered
to work for little or nothing until
had proved my worth, only to be told
there was no place for me- Then one
day when everything looked darkest,
I determined to try one more place
before 1 gave up. 1 applied at the Of
flee of a firm of brokers' They had
advertised that they wanted a girl
imm edfately.
To my surprise the man to whom I
spoke-the manager-said he would
give me a trial. 1 was to report for
duty the next morning I had named
SO as the salary wished at first. I
never had been paid over So at any
place I had worked, and .trembled,
fearing I had asked too much.
hurried home with my good news.
Mary and Mrs. Fagin both rejoiced
with me, but Mrs. Fagin remarked
when Mary left us together:
Don't set your heart on 1t. Miss
Zena. You amt never done that kind
of work, and perhaps you won't suit.
I'd hate to see you feel too bad If you
can't get along there"
But even dear practical Mrs. Fagin
could not quell my Joyous. happy feel
ing. I was at last engaged as an office
girl. I would make goodl I must.
But had I known what was before
me, I wonder If I would have taken
the place, delighted as I was to get it.