The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-15
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
SCNDAY-ALONE.
CHAPTER 40.

Sunday was cold and clustering,
great change from the previous day.
My room was even more dispiriting.
and 1 hurried to dress and get out. I
would have a simple breakfast at the
cafeteria, then go to a church Mrs.
Lynch said was only a few blocks
away. an Episcopal church. As we
had always attended one of that faith,
1 was pleased to find IT so near.
1 ate my breakfast of coffee and
rolls, cheered by a bright good morn
ing" from the checker. Then L walked
until time for the services at the
church. 1 couldn't bear to go back to
that cherries room.
The church was so restful, the SER
mon so quietly helpful. that I forgot
all my troubles in listening to the
white haired old pastor. His text
was:
Let not your heart be troubled"
AS he talked. it seemed almost as IL
he had written the sermon for me-
He even spoke of the young girl in
work, of the one who had been be-
reaved. 1 forgot the bare, uncomfort-
able room, my lack of money and
friends. in the peace that stole over
me. How Dad would have talked that
sermon over with me had We been
sitting side by side as we used to; how
pleased he would have been that 1t had
interested me, I thought.
Neither mother nor I ever had
thought of blame for dad because of
our plight. Whatever he had done,
had been for us. We did not need the
old lawyers. assurances to make US
know that. What we never knew I'M
til Mr.. Hardness told US, was that he
had tried several times to be insured
and. because of a heart weakness. had
failed to pass the examinations. He
never had spoken of it to us. He had
known 1t would distress US to learn he
had heart trouble.
So only loving thoughts of him
filled nv heart as sat listening TO
that sermon on my first Sunday IN
Chicago.
After the service I fingered little.
! I hated to leave. But whenN the
church was nearly empty, too went
| out. 1t seemed almost as II 1 mad leIt
little bit of my heart behind me-
followed out my program L
bought the Sunday papers. then mad a
bite of lunch at tiny little place near
the church. When / reached home
what I now must call by that name
I at once began my search among the
advertisements, eliminating OF course
those had seen in the evening papers
When L finished I had a formidable
| list and was positive shoulo Aiiu
Cheered by the thought, I wrote
mother a letter;
..Dear Mother: Well. here I am in
the Windy City. 1t is well named L
was nearly blown into the lake today
when took long walk before cnurch
time I heard the dearest old man
preach the loveliest sermon. The
church is quite near the house where I
am rooning. There is a nice restau-
rant near also, so I am very fortunate
in my choice of a place to live
| I made a little grimace as l wrote
that last line-but part of my life must
III y ar@ n m
II shall have no trouble finding
work, so don't worry. And now that
! 1 am where 1 am not known. 81 shall
i feel much more independent about it.
am afraid have a good deal of false
pride, mother dear, but 1 could not
endure to meet the boys and girls 1
used to know. 1t was too hard to
answer their questions, to listen to
their condolences.
The last time saw Claudia-the
day after you left-she said her
mother had intended to call upon you
soon She seemed quite sorry when I
I told her you had gone upstate with an
aunt who owned a nice place. I an
sure it is a nice place. 1t sounded SO
when Aunt Susan talked about it.
Il am so glad you are happy with
her. Neither of US can be quite SO
happy without father, but it is lovely
to think that you are SO comfortable.
and that you and Aunt Susan are SO
congenial. I think it fine to have dear
| little fluffy chickens to feed; and as
long as you have no heavy work to do,
it is probably good for you to help Aunt
Susan. especially with the outdoor
work You say you have bought some
| cheap cotton dresses for the work. Be
sure and save all your finery for me
to make over. The material is so
lovely, and costs so much now, that we
must save all our old clothes for our
selves. I have plenty for year. but
working every day is hard on clothes.
with all my love, Zena"
| (Tomorrow-Bad luck.)