The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-12
JUST A GIRL
By JANE>PHELPS
a PROPOSAL.
CHAPTER 81.


"Zena-I may call you that?" Then,
without waiting for an answer: II
may be presumptuous, but zena love
you! am poor but 1 have just had
my salary raised. L could not have
had the courage to tell you otherwise,
and-Zena, will you marry me?"
Harold Moore waited for my answer.
had consented once again to spend
Sunday afternoon with him. We were
sitting on the same bench where we
had rested on that first Sunday 1 had
gone out with him. In spite of Mary's
warnings. 1 was surprised and a bit
shocked. I knew 1 had no love for
Harold Moore, but perhaps he had
considered my friendly manner, my
consenting to go out with him occa-
sionally, encouragement.
NO, MIR. Moore, 1 cannot marry
you," 1 said in a stilted manner, I'M
like my usual style. Il would not
marry a man 1 did not love. 1t
wouldn't be fair to him-nor to me-,
my thoughts leaping to Kenneth Law
renee.
But zena, love you so dearly
think 1 could make you love me if you
would trust me"
NO, 1 cannot marry you. I'm sor-
ry," 1 added. sorry If L have done any
thing to make you think cared. l
have not meant to. L have enjoyed
you"
You have done nothing with which
you should reproach yourself. 1 have
cared so much that l have perhaps
magnified your kindness to me. You
are sure you cannot care-ever
quite sure"
If l was a bit piqued that he took
my refusal SO calmly. never let him
suspect it. 1 was very young, a bit
romantic and sentimental in spite of
all had gone thru. He made no pro-
test, simply changed the subject. and
did not refer to it again, even when
he said goodnight at the door of the
boarding hourse.
Something's happened. What is
it," Mary asked when 1 went in.
How do you know anything has
happened ?"
You have guilty look. Harold
ask you to mary him ?''
you'll believe me now when I tell
you things, won't you? 1 knew he
would do it. Did he tell you how he
was going to keep your"
He has been given an advance"
''Then-you are going to marry
him ?" Her eyes wide.
NO. am not going to marry him."
mimicked her tone.
Poor fellow, I wonder if he will
start tipping you again.
Don't be ridiculous, Mary. I al
most feel as if I should give up my
job"
Its you who is ridiculous. Why
should you starve just because a fell
low asks you to marry him -
1 had no need to be anxious about
my position, about being embarrassed.
Harold came very seldom, always
spoke pleasantly, and occasionally left
"a flower beside my plate. He never
tipped me again, and gradually ceased
coming altogether. He had been very
generous, very +actful, and had felt
little or no embarrassment over the
affair. My thoughts of him were al
ways kindly ones because of this.
Sometimes l wondered if anyone
would ever again ask me to marry
them, If I had refused the only chance
I would have. Harold had been the
only true gentleman l had talked with
since I left home after dad died. 1
sometimes wondered that poor work.
ing girls kept as good as most of them
do.
Often, as in my case, it is impossi-
bic for them to meet either young
men or young women who are capable
OF being of help to them. And al
work and no play is a hard life for
young girl or boy. IN my case, my
early life. my family, kept coarse, COM
mon pleasures from appealing to me.
But there are many poor girls who
have had no early advantag es, many
who have little or no education save
that of the shop and streets. Yet they
keep themselves wholesomely good.
and often resist temptation that would
give them comfort and east from hard
work
Such a girl was Mary Murphy, and
I considered myself fortunate to have
her for a friend. Aside from the COM
partnership which 1 enjoyed, she stood
between me and many unpleasant
nesses, n buffer for me in many ways.
Had it not been for her I could not
have endured my life at times.
(Tom orrow-Dissatisfa