The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-03
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS


felt terribly annoyed with Edith
Wren for telling me she felt a thrill
when Kenneth Lawrence looked at
her. Even If she had, it wasn't very
nice to talk about it. I, too. had been
thrilled, but could not speak of it; Il
seemed too-well, Ike some holy feel
ing.
"a years. old. 1 wasn't quite 10, but l
know felt just as old as he did. They
say-whoever they is-that girls are
older than boys. wonder why?
had told Edith that Kenneth did
not like cities. and had added rather
maliciously:
There's no use setting your cap for
him unless you want to I've on a farm
with pigs and chickens" n
They don't have farms in Cali
fornia! They have ranches"
What's the 'differepce' as long as
they have the pigs and chickens on
both ?"
II don't care, zena Stewart; would
rather have pigs and chickens with
him than everything else with some
of the fellows of our set"
Il suppose we can look for invita-
tons soon" Jeered, that little hurt
feeling again in my heart.
Don't be such an idiot" Edith in
elegantly responded. Sometimes we
girls were terribly slangy-whens our
parents weren't around. Cant a girl
say she likes a man without your
jumping at conclusions? l don't sun
pose any of us will ever see him again.
Claudia says he is going back to what
you says he calls Gods Country in
two weeks"
Someway / wanted to say, II will
IL Z
bit my lip and kept\stl. There was
nothing to be gained by being conf
Dental with Edith, and she might
laugh at me.
1t was the day of Claudia's dinner.
wanted some little thing to wear, so
had gone over to a shop in the
avenue And who should 1 see swing
ing along but Kenneth Lawrence! He
seemed very glad TO see me, and asked
me II L were out for an airing
oh, no! I always take the car
when / go out for pleasure. l had a
little shopping to do"
But this is a perfect day for a
long walk. Do your shopping, let me
wait for you, then take a nice long
tramp with me-"
All right, 1 will! But won't you
come into the store?"
mot II you will excuse me. I feel
lke bull in china shop in one OF
your stores. I'll wait right ousidc the
door"
found what I wanted quickly. and
| then Joined him. knew down in
my heart that mother would not an
prove; that had 1 asked her permits
sion it would have been refused. But
said nothing of this as 1 tried to ac-
commodate myself, and my narrow
preath to talk. 1t took all 1 had to
keep up with him
'Oh, please don't go so fast" I
begged, half laughing yet almost gasp
ing for breath. You know 1 am not
accustomed to walking so fast"
f. "Oh, / am so sorry! And with
those ridiculous high heels, too. 1
don't see how you New York girls
walk at all. You dress your feet just
as 'ridiculously as the Chinese women
DO. Here. we will sit here on this
bench and rest awhile. Next time we
go Tor walk, put on sensible shoes
II you have any" he added after hesi-
tating.
I wanted to tell him he was i'm
pudent to talk to me as he did, but
my heart was beating so fast because
he had implied we would go for an
other walk that ] couldn't bring my
self to say thing. l only agreed to
wear low-heeled shoes.
II have a pair I used to wear in
boarding school," told him.
! We rested a little and then resumed
our walk. This time he went slowly,
every little while asking me if 1 were
tired
I'VE Californians are treat walkers,
Tnere Is something braeinS about the
climate. We don't seem to tire as you
eastern people do That is. I have al
ways thought IL was the climate. But
perhaps the kind of shoes we wear
has something to 90 with it." he said
with a quizzical look.
Cromorrow-The pain of pride.)i