The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-23
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
THE REASON WHY.
CHAPTER "a.

It WAS my clothes-plus my album
dant hair. which 1 wore plainly knot
ted and low in my neck. plus the I'M
desired but now patent admiration of
/ the objectionable floorwalker-that
had brought about my discharge.
When 1 look back at those days
which seemed so tragic to me, I feel
/ like smiling in self-pity. Yet I was
more fortunate than many others.
had a companion in Mary, one whom
7 could both love and trust, and I
knew Mother was being well cared for
that she would not suffer for any
thing really necessary.
J think had it not been for this-the
thought that Mother was all right
could not have gone on. Often the
covert taunts and sneers of the girls
were hard to bear, and when they fg-
nored me, it was not much better. 1
was just a Girl. too. and it was hard
| to feel out OF everything.
now realize that mine was the same
story of discouragement, hope, and
despair that comes to many girls.
was without friends or associates save
I only Mary Murphy. Many nights
went to bed my appetite unsatisfied,
! because of some extra expense L had
/ been Obliged to use my money for
Fhad learned to do my own laundry,
| but often was obliged to wear my I'M
derclothes unironed because of lack
| of time and strength. A pair of shoes,
hat. even gloves, meant days of self
denial.
There isNa better way and some day
| I shall find it." 1 often said TO Mary
when, discouraged, we would talk
things over.
'"Tain't no use trying to do any
/ thing when We -air1'f got no
| I'VE shall not try to do anything
! different until you stop saying, amt,
and tain't.'
II know it! But forget all the
time"
L 'T didn't mean that!" I replied. re-
ipentant at once when saw Mary's
humility. TT really doesn't matter as
much as you think. I only correct
you for your own sake"
/ ct wish you would beat me when I
say them words"
! 'All right. 1 viii" smiled at her
use of them But what difference
did it make after all? 1t was the good
3 ness of the girl, her tender heart that
/ counted, not the ability to speak cor
rectly.
Mrs. Fagin was a dear. She was so
/ kind to US, and often helped us with
good sensible advice:
{ Never mind, dearie," she would
/ tell me when 1 came in almost too
tired to stand. You'll git used to it
by and by. It's the bein' on your feet
all day what tires you So"
I often thought of pawning the rest
J of my jewelry. But I didn't dare. 1
might get sick. Mother might fall i'll.
and I would then have nothing upon
which I could raise money. I would
/ have to go to her should she be really
i'll, and she would have to have doc
tors and medicine. There was also
another reason why I hated to part
with my necklace and ring-dad had
given them to me with such loving
words, such a warmth of affection so
shortly before he left us, that I felt I
couldn't let them go unless it were
positively ecessary-matter of life
land death.
You see, 1 had learned a good deal
since 1 had become a working girl.
had learned that Onescan live on very
little, that a bottle of milk and bread,
or crackers for a change, makes a
very good supper; that a cup of cof-
fee made in my room and couple of
rolls bought at the bakery the night
! before, was all that 1 needed in the
morning; that for very little girl
can get a substantial lunch at many
places in the shopping district. On
what I once had spent for a theater
ticket, I lived now for week. And
strange as it may seem kept well.
had not missed a day from my work
because of illness.
He'll git her some day or she'll
lose her iob.' one of the girls said SO
loudly I couldn't help but hear. The
floor walker had stopped in front OF
the counter, and had kept me talking
to him for some minutes, his errand
patiently just to make me talk.
l9fhought at first she meant he would
discharge me did not act as if 1 en-
joyed his conversation. When it came
over me, as heard one of the girls
reply to her, that she had limited al
something very differen, q nausea
came over me.
\ Then one day I learned she was
right.
(Tomorrow-An unpleasant episode