The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-02
JUST Az GIRL
THRILLS.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 8.

D.
Kenneth Lawrence had asked if he
might call with Claudia. I gave him
permission of course When 1 told
mother. she said his including Claudia
showed breeding. Mother was such a
stickler for propriety.
I had told her all about the tea, Just
| mentioning Kenneth Lawrence at the
end Of my description of who was
there, ct cetera. Mother was very
careful to know who was at any sort
of function 1 attended. One might
| have thought if they didn't know her
| that she was afraid I'd become infect
ed with some disease, she was SO care
] full.
I heard her say once to dad:
"A girl doesn' fall in love with a
man unless she meets him. If we do
not allow Zenay to meet any but the
right sort, she will naturally marry
| we'll"
1 never let her know 1 heard, yet
sometimes rather wondered what the
wrong sort" did so different from the
boys 1 knew, and whom she called the
There's no hurry, Mary. The child
has plenty of time to think of mar
riage."
Mother was at home the afternoon
came down to meet them. Kenneth
talked rather seriously, but his voice
was deep and musical, and L could
| scarcely pay attention to what Claudia
was saying, 1 so wanted to listen to his
conversation with mother.
| Someway 1 wanted her to like him.
He told her-so she said after they
left-that he couldn't breathe in cities,
| especially in the east, where there
seemed no room. He loved the coun-
try, the big, open places and the free
life that people out in Gods country -
as he called California. lived. 1 imag-
4 inc he bored mother. altho she was
awfu1ly nice to him. That is one thing
about being born right gives one
poise.
When they left, Claudia invited me
to dinner she was giving for Ken
| meth. 1 accepted, of course, yet ]
| could not help wondering how he liked
the idea. But his manner told me
nothing. altho 1 had a feeling that he
was listening when Claudia asked me,
and sort Of flattered myself that he
looked pleased when I accepted. But
| 1t may have been imagination.
When Dad asked what had been
doing all day, as he often did, I told
him of Claudia's call, and that she
had brought her cousin with her, and
that he was from California.
He certainly is an odd young man.
| Mother remarked. "Ese' talks as if
People in society were al wasting their
| time"
efHapS Lney are-tO q certain eX-
tent" Dad rejoined. "Since the war,
society has someway loNher less allur-
ing to many. PEI was over
there' and has - CIRCUS from his
experience" x
Yes. he france-aviatfon.'
| I broke in. OIaudia had told me.
He has been decorated, the Croix de
Guerre, and lot of other things, but
he never speaks of it, and never wears
any of his decorations"
NO wonder he is a bit serious,
then" Father spoke again. "Our
and knew they were taking a long
chance"
Claudia said he brought down two
knew there was pride in my voice even
before Mother said:
Don't allow yourself to get excited
over this young man. Zena. He is
going back west in a few days. And,
dear, 1t isn't good form"
Mothers fetch was what she
called good form
met one of the girls who was at
Claudia's tea the day after the call,
and she Immediately commenced to
talk of Kenneth Lawrence.
isn't he just the loveliest thing
you ever saw? His big. serious eyes
give one a delicious thrill when he
looks at you"
What a silly you are!" I returned,
yet couldn't help a sort of hurt feel
ing. Edith Wren had had a thrill
| as we'll as L
| Tomorrow walk)