The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-09
JUST A GIRL
BIZ JANE PHELPS
zENA's ANSWER.
CHAPTER 9.

Mother nearly had a fit when 1
showed her Kenneth's letter. She told
me to tear it up and forget all about
it. Just as If L could! l didn't make
any reply, and / guess she took it for
granted l would do as she told me,
because she said nothing more. If
she had known l had put it with my
most cherished possessions in the bot
tom of my jewel box, She would have
had two fits.
Claudia said once that what people
didn't know didn't hurt them. SO,
while l wouldn't have hurt mothers
feelings for the world, thinking of
what Claudia said made me feel 1 was
doing mother a favor in not telling
her l kept the letter.
Fortunately she never asked me"not
to answer it. Seemed to take it for
granted l wouldn't. 1 didn't say any
thing about that, either. That might
hurt her, too. So l answered it in a
few days without saying anything.
1t was an awfully hard letter to
write. 1 never wasted so much paper,
and was so long in saying a few words
in my life. l used to scratch a note
off to Jack Pryor or Gregory Stuart
in no time. But this was different
more serious, altho I don't know why.
Perhaps l felt that way because Ken
meth didn't dance and talk foolishness
like the other boys did.
But finally I finished letter, and
hurried out to the post box with II
myself. l wasn't going to trust James,
the butler with it. James was per
fectly devoted to mother, and she
might ask him not to mail my letters
to Califofnia-mother was capable of
doing that, you know, if she thought
1t for my good
why do people always say disagree
able things are for ones good?
Not that I meant to deceive mother
about my letter If she asked,
would tell her of course that 1 had
answered Kenneths letter. 1 would
even tell her what was in it, l took
particular pains to write it when she
was out That gave me a chance to
say L couldn't show it to her because
she wasn't at home. 1 did show it to
dad, as 1 had promised. He said it
was very nice and proper letter He
also sent his membranes to Ken
meth, which I thought very nice in
him 1 knew Kenneth would think
so, too. Dad is rather a big man, and
usually so dignified.
I suppose, since l have told you
what was in Kenneth's letter. 1
should also tell what was in my re-
ply. I wrote:
Dear Kenneth:
Il read your letter to father over
our coffee. He was rather pleased
at the compliment you paid him-the
silly dear! You have no need to tell
me it is nice to be like dad. l think
him perfect. He's going to see this
my first to You. don't mean he
asked to see it; 1 offered. You see, dad
and 1 are pals,
teYes, i like Enthusiastically
horses. have a dear little Pomer-
anian that father says is nothing at
all but bark and a tail-but small
dog is the only sort mother will let
me have in the house. I'd love a
great big wolf hound. or a police dog.
II saw Claudia the other day, and
she spoke of you; said they had had
such a nice letter thanking them for
should have thanked you for coming
that 1t wasn't every girl who had a
nice big cousin to visit her. 1 haven
any relatives hardly.
| II don't know why you thought
would forget won in a month or
time to write you. I haven't kept you
either hoping or waiting very long
have L?
"Give my regards to the horse and
/ the dog. You didn't tell me what
kind of a dog, or it's name. Also re-
man who cooks for you. 1 think she
must be a quaint old woman. You
recall you told me some stories about
| her.
II must stop now if this is to be
posted tonight. 1t is a very uninter-
esting letter, but perhaps next time
| if there is a next time-Iu write a
better one. Now I'll let dad read this
"P. S. 1t has passed the censor.
Very sincerely. your friend,
"ZENA STEWART" =
| CTomorrow-Zena's mother objects-)