The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-11
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
JACK PRYOR PROPOSES.
CHAPTER IL.

CHAPTER IL.
We girls used to discuss marriage
a good deal. I guess all girls do. 1t
would have been amusing if anyone
could have heard us, I am sure. We
were all agreed upon one thing-we
expected our husbands to be always
in love with US, just as our respective
fathers and mothers were The girls
in our set were fortunate in their
parents. 1 have known some girls
who weren't. One or two at board
ing school had to leave because their
parents were divorced. 1t seemed
dreadful Now father and mother
didn't always agree, but they were too
we'll bred to quarrel, even If they did
not think too much of each other.
Your mother and 1 have been very
happy, Zena I want my girl to be
she marries. That is why l tell you
not to be in ashurry. 1t is terrible
thing to decide ones future hastily"
How long did you and mother
know each other?"
Practically all our lives. You see
we lived in a small upstate town.
There everyone know everyone else
| knew all about them at least. Your
mother and 1 lost sight of each other
for a number of years. | went to col
| Iege, Sne went 10 d BlIlS SSlAOpl- Ddb
we felt when we met again that We
really knew all about each other
and so our courtship wasn't long
one. But in big cities. where one
meets Tom. Dick and Harry. but does
not meet tHsir families. one can't be
But one doesn't marry the fam
lily, Dad"
You marry the family influence. to a
certain extent. 1t is well to know be-
/ fore one is bound, just what 1t may
mean. To be acquainted with the
family into which you are going, is
often quite necessary. For no matter
how we may pooh-hoo 1t, they often
make life miserable for the new
| conner"
to learn to keep my thought to myself
som etimes even when talking 70
Dad-but I thought of what Ken
meth had told me.
| II haven't a near relative in the
world"
had felt rather sorry for him
then. Now thought perhaps 1T was
an added attraction. One wouldn,t
have to have long engagement II
they married him SO they might Ilna
out about his family-whether they
would make her welcome or not
Then rather wondered whom he
would marry. He had been very nice
| to Edith Wren. Also to one or TWO
other girls, and-to me I blushed as
I added myself to the list.
| Jack Pryor called one afternoon al
tea time. Mother was out and l had
not thought to say not to admit any
one. so Annie, the maid, let him in
I was writing a letter to Kenneth, and
was terribly annoyed that l had Tor
gotten to tell her I wasn't to be dis
| turbed. That was what mother said
tfscSt En
many Of mothers expressions-they
sounded better than those the girls, in
| Guiding myself, often used.
! Well, Jack Noticed 1 was distract at
once.
| "Aren't you we'll. zena?" he asked.
with just the right amount of solicit
| tude in his voice-iust as he had
shaken hands with his arm raised to
| just the right angle.
Perfectly, thank you; why"
| ooh, I thought you seemed bit
quiet and-different'
| Zone has to be serious occasionally"
But you-you have nothing to
make you serious"
"Oh, haven't I? A lot you know
about it," I was thinking of my I'M
/ finished letter To write Kenneth
Lawrence was to me very serious
matter one requiring all my thought.
II would know, if you would tell
me-"
Have some tea Jack?"
He slipped his tea in rather an alb
sent-ninded way, every little while
looking at me over the rim of his cup
| in a perfectly ridiculous way
couldn't imagine Kenneth Lawrence
looking at a girl In that way. He all
ways looked straight at one.
"Zena, when are you going to marry
me?" 1 jumped IKE d Jack-in-the-
box. the question was SO unexpected.
You know you will some day. so why
not be a good girl and say when?"
Il haven't decided to marry any
one" 1 used my most freezing tones.
But in my mind ran the thought:
Imagine Kenneth asking a girl to
marry him in that cold blooded fash
ion"
(Tomorrow-Mrs. Stuart pleads for
Jack.)