The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-20
JUST A GIRL.
By JANE PHELPS
AN AWAKENED INTEREST IN
BUSINESS,
Thanter OF


wrote mother a long cheerful let
ter, telling her of my new position, of
Mr.. Claxton's kindness, and all about
the people in the office.
Tell Aunt Susan that perhaps some
day I may be able to pay that young
writer's board bill for him in return
for his typewriter" l also added that
now I had found this work. I had
greater hope than ever that some day
might make a home for her If only
I could earn enough to have just three
or four rooms. and Mother to keep
house for me, it would be like heaven.
I said nothing of this to Mary. She
was planning a home for me with
them, a home I should enjoy, but still
not like the one 1 had in my mind for
mother and myself.
Miss Baker seemed not to get over
her resentment because 1 refused her
invitation to lunch at the same place
she, and the girls she knew, fire.
quented each day. 1 was sorry simply
because I hated to have anyone feel
unkindly toward me for such a reason.
Yet at the same time 1 did not want
to go with her.
1 often caught her and Mr.. Belts,
the manager. whispering and glancing
in MY direction. They seemed very in
innate, and my first impression, that
they were interested in each other
anyway, that Miss Baker was intrigued
with him-was sustained by what I
saw.
I was often embarrassed and an
noyed by their evident interest in me
and what I did. But when I talked
it over with Mary, she insisted Miss
Baker was Jealous because of some
thing.
There was much that happened
however, to offset any unpleasantncss
caused by her. Mr.. Claxton had as
sured me I was improving so fast
that it would not be long before I
could assume the same position Miss
Lee had held-practically that of pri-
vate secretary.
oh how 1 worked after he told me
that I begrudged the time 1 spent
eating and sleeping. 1 worked con-
stantly, feverishly. always with that
thought before me. After my ex-
perience in working for others-even
for myself in a public place-the
thought of the seclusion of a private
office appealed strongly to me. =
At first I had no slightest interest
in the business as a business. but now
I had commenced to read the financial
news to listen when securities and
their values were discussed. I had be-
gun to realize that if 1 were to hold
position of trust, must familiarize
myself with the usiness of the firm,
the terms used. and many other things
that up to now had seemed of minor
or of no Importance
1 believe there is no truer saying
than ITO be busy is to be happy" l
know I was happier than I had been
since dad died-happier even than
when Mary and 1 first started our lit
tie pancake shop. Even tho we were
our.ow mistresseS there, often felt
uncomfortable, because of the tipping,
served. So far, here 1 had had Moth
ing but kindness-unless I considered
Miss Bakers actions, which really
amounted to nothing by comparison.
One day Mr.. Claxton spoke of a Sc
curityy said he wished he knew some
thing about it. I happened to have
read about that very thing, and told
him so. explaining where 1 had found
my information. He complimented
me highly. then made the somewhat
cryptic remark: 81 knew I was maxi
ing no mistake" But as it seemed to
be addressed to himself, not to me, 1
could only guess at what he implied
Occasionally after this incident he
brought ME something to read. usually
something connected with large cor
porations, or securities of some kind
in which the firm were particularly
interested or which they were under
writing.
Frequently he would question me
about what 1 read, and if 1 seemed
hay on any point, and unable to grasp
the meaning or explain 1t, he would
patiently go over it with me until 1t
w6s perfectly clear.
Often 1 wondered why there was so
much said against employers and the
manner in which they treated their
employees, and SO little said in their
favor. In this office it seemed that
courtesy and Consideration were given
as freely as it was expected-more
freely. in fact
Even Mr.. Belts. who. for some un-
known reason. I felt disliked me. was
uniformly polite. That the time would
come when he would not be, and
would even make things unpleasant
and SO hard for me that 1 could
scarcely endure it, could not imagine.
Suavity often covers an unkind
heart.
(Tomorrow-An invitation to iunchO
observation-disclosures