The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-21
JUST A GIRL
ZENA QUESTIONS HERSELF.
CHAPTER 124.
By JANE PHELPS

In the days and weeks Whlcn iol-
lowed my talk with Jennie Wilcox I
avoided Mr.. Belts in every way pos
sibie. And 1 also never failed to say
something nice about Jennie when he
was within hearing, even If l said 1t
to the office boy. 1 had learned to
like her. saltho we never could be in
climates. She was better educated
girl than Mary, of a fairly well to do
family in small town near Chicago;
but she had none of Marys delightful
personality. her wonderful intuition,
and sense of hunor that had kept me
from giving up in those dark days
when 1 first came to Chicago.
TO my delight I thought saw signs
of renewed interest in her on Mr..
Betts's part. One day 1 said some
thing to Mr.. Claxton about Jennie. He
replied:
There was a time 1 feared l should
lose her as well as Miss Baker. Belts
she would make him very good wife.
She is a thoroly good girl, and is fond
of him, 1 am sure"
longed to tell him what 1 knew of
Jennie, but of course did not. only
said:
'She is in love with him I think
"He hasn't annoyed you with his at
tentions lately, has hep
The question came as surprise.
flushed, then replied:
j
not add-"because 1 would not allow
him to- But 1 was sure Mr.. Claxton
sensed there had been something be-
cause he turned away, and spoke
sharply:
please take this letter.
These sudden changes. which occur
| red seldom. always rather fused me.
1 didn't understand them. But I had
learned that an office girl has no right
| to question the moods of even the
most thoughtful of employers. So l
picked up my pad and waited.
| The letter finished, he reverted
a again to the subject.
| Mr. Belts hasn't tried to make love
| to you-Miss Stewart, has he? Please
! be honest with me. If he has and it
and-his. But if he tries to force his
attentions upon you, please let me
know"
st surely will!'' looked him square
/ ly in the eyes. I did not call Mr.
Bettss peculiar proposal '1ove-mak-
ing in any sense of the term. 1t had
been a cold -blooded affair, and was
ended for all time. There was no
need to eonfide to him what I felt
might hurt Jennie in some way; what
might either cause Mr.. Belts to lose
his position, or be angry, and perhaps
take it out on her" as Mary always
said
.'Thank you!" In his usual tone.
| After he left the room I wondered
! Just why he took such an interest in
me. 1 knew, I did my work well, but
so did his other employees. A hot
| flush spread over my face as Mary's
| insistent declaration that he cared for
me other than as an office girl came
! into my mind. Could it be possible
/ that the wealthy, cultured broker real
| ly cared for me, his private secretary?
| 1t was absurd. Yet the thought would
not leave me. I had a slight embar-
| Easement several times because of a
| certain something in Mr.. Claxton s
manner; but today when speaking of
Belts there had been a difference. 1t
was almost as if he were jealous of
me, instead of simply trying to save
me annoyance.
| / tried to reason with myself that
| such thing was impossible, and be-
cause I knew that were it so 1 would
have to find another position / sue
ceeded. 1t WAS absurd: I would
| think of it no more. But also I de-
| termined to be more distant when with
| him, not to talk of anything but bust
ness.
did not realize how the occasional
| little friendly chats had made my
position not only bearable, but at
! traetive. He had talked with me once
| in a while as the men 1 had known in
what now seemed almost like a former
| existence had talked. 1 often felt that
I had lived in one world. had died, and
| then come to life in another world.
J These chats with Mr.. Claxton, and my
mothers letters were all that had to
| remind me of that world in which
| had lived when dad was with us, and
I was the petted only child of sup
| posedly millionaire. 1t would be hard
| to give up these talks. But I mustn't
l1et him hold me- cheap; neither must
I let him be so foolish as TO fall in
| love with me.
! blushed at tho thought. Then Wis
| ualized Kenneth Lawrence as being in
| his place. Would I be SO careful that
! he did not care for me2
| (Tomorrow-Zena. rents a fiat for her.
self and mother.)