The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-16
A GIRL
Blu JANE PHELPS
JENA Is BEwILDERED.
CHAPTER 14e.s

/ felt the class difference between
Frank elaxton and myself keenly-not
the difference of birth. but of environ
ment. He was my employer, rich, sue
cessful, a society man; was poor
girl with a mother to support. That I
once had been socially in the same
position he now was, seemed not to
help at all; rather, it made matters
worse.
Yet I was intensely aware of him,
OF my happiness when with him. But
occasion-the difference in our sta
lions. was now like Jennie Wilcox,
OF any other office girl. He was the
bossye as all expressed it. I wished
that class animosity were unknown,
vanquished IN the great melting pot
of the nation-that there might come
a day when true companionshfp be-
tween men and women would mean
more than anything ELSE.
But these thoughts and ideas I kept
to myself. 1 had attended lecture
not long before in, which the lecturer
said:
Always remember that YOU
you personally. have as much right
TO ENJOY .llIS as 1laS LilS IlCf1 ti1dn
the successful man. Your rights and
your interests are the divine rights
and interests of the Individual"
1t may seem to the reader of my
story thnt-I was representative con-
corning these things. But put yourself
in my place. Take yourself from the
luxury in which 1 was brought up.
Imagine yourself not yet 10 years old,
thrown on the world without a penny,
without the equipment that makes
for any kind OF business success Do
as l did-work for anyone, anywhere.
to keep the breath of life in your body.
Then criticise-if you can.
"zena, l saw you had a letter from
Kenneth" 1t was mothers way of
asking me what intended to do.
Yes
well. dear, is there anything. you
want to tell me?"
"No-not yet. haven't decided"
do you think it quite fair, dear
he, expects you to marry him.
Il know--but oh, mother please
don't let's talk about it'll; When = 1
really decide I will let you know
Very well, Zena, but-be sure,
dear. Married life is either the great
est happiness in the world, or it brings
the most misery. I want you to marry
l hate to see you shaving as you do to
take care of us-but don't marry a
man unless you love him. I remem-
Der once when your father and I were
talking of YOU, he said: Il would rather
bury my little girl than have her tied
to man she did not love, and who
did not love her. I laughed at'him at
| the time. Now 1 know he was right"
Mother waited moment. then
went on:
You see, you are different now,
zena: Then you were just a happy,
carefree girl. Now you have grown
independent and so different So
ciety would not satisfy you now-at
least, I am afraid it wouldn't Ev-
erything 1 read now has to do with
the independence of women. can't
think much of it is right. I believe
the home is the place for all women
unless it is economically impossible
are of this generation, not of mine.
Marry a man you love. Zena, man
who can make you happy"
was SO astonished at mother talk
ing this way that I could only stare
at her.
IT will try to be sure, mother, but
1 am not-yet." 1 felt that the world,
my world, was literally going round
I and round-that I must do something
or it might topple over and leave me
| stranded. There's no disgrace in be-
ing poor. you know, or in working
mo. dear-I realize that now. But
long to see you a happy wife and
| mother. Zena-happy as 1 have been"
81 don't think there are many men
like dad"
NO. not many. But surely a girl
| like you is worthy of all the happi-
ness she can get. How 1 wish could
help you, instead of being a drag upon
| your
Don't mother! If it had not been
for you. the thought of you. could
/ not have lived thru those first bitter
m. nths. No matter what happens, we
have each other"
| ~(Tomorrow-Tom's and Mary's
Problem.)