The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-30
JUST A GIRL
BIZ JANE PHELPS
KENNETH HEARS THE STORY.
CHAPTER 1872.


We went to church together, moth
er. Kenenth and 1. Then we had din
ner. No word of our changed life
had been spoken Mother excused
herself to lie down, and Kenneth and
were left alone.
I told him the whole story, only
keeping back the struggle I had at
first, and the disagreeable incidents
which I never had told any one but
Mary.
"You\ha been very brave. zena. !"
he said when 1 stopped after sketch-
ing-my life after father died. II am
very proud of you"
But 1 am very different. Kenneth.
am not the same girl you knew.
Sometimes I feel like pinching myself
like the old woman whose skirts were
cut as she slept. to see if 1t is really
me. Zena Stewart. or some other girl
masquerading under her name"
you will marry me at once. won't
you, Zena, and let me take you home
to the ranch away from all this hard
work and anxiety"
"Oh, couldn't-so soon!"
why not, Zena?"- his tone was so
practical that 1 laughed.
"Oh, 1 couldn't-Im not ready"
Nonsense! What is there to get
ready-clothes? What do they mat
ter to two people who have decided
to spend their lives together"
| AS he asked the question there
flashed over me the thought that 1 had
not promised-that he had taken a
great deal for granted That he was
| a masterful man was easily seem
| 81 didn't know that we had de-
cided,'' I said lightly to ease the ten
sion felt
81 did. You never would have al
lowed me to come had you not cared
for me, and intended to marry me-"
But even so / must tell Mr.. Clax-
ton, and give him time to fill my place
He has been more than kind to me
and to mother"
| Give him a week, and I shall not
! let you work all day during that time
either. Tell him in the morning, ano
1 if he isn't decent enough to tell you &c
I quit at once you have very much ex-
/ aggerated his kindness to you
"a lot you know about it! He has
been wonderful"
"HoId on there! 1 shall be Jealous
if you talk of him any more. I'm
surprised he hasn't discovered how
sweet you were and married you ou
of hand
felt myself blushing and turned
away. I some way felt my enthusl
asrn for Kenneth oozing from me as
remembered 1 must tell Frank Clax
I ton the man who had told me h
loved me devoted1y, that he would still
! hope that some day he would win me
I must tell him I was to marry maj
I had not seen for years, of whom
really knew very little. What would
he say? How would he accept .th'
news 1 would take him in the morn
ling?
), zone would think from your ex
preston you were sorry to tell thl
man." Kenneth remarked.
81 wonder if he will have trouol
filling my place" I parted, Il hav
a good deal of responsibility. !! an
assistant to the manager in the bon'
department, as well as doing secre
tarial work for Mr.. Claxton. 1t ha
taken me a long time to fit myself
will be hard for them to take In some
one unfamiliar with the work"
LET them worry. You belong t
me now"
l said no. more, but thoughts o
Prank Claxton, my work at the office
remained with me all day, every mo
ment of which was spent with Ken
, Meth He grew very loverlike. and i'm
pressed upon me the care he woul
give me, the beauty of the ranch. An
as he included mother in all his plans
1 should have been very happy. Tina
, wasn't / laid entirely to my worr
over Mr.. sClaxton having trouble to I'll
1t was with hone of my usua
breeziness that 1 entered the offic
! that Monday morning and waited 70
Frank Claxton to appear. He wa
later than usual. The market ma
Il opened. and I didn't get an oppor
tunity to speak to him until almos
; noon. Then I said:
} May I see you a few minutes, Nj
: l Claxton?"
Certainly" He turned so quiclxl.
looked so sharply at me, it took ava
my self-possession and I blurted out
= Il must leave. Can you find an
other girl this week?"
I AS I looked at him I saw his fac
, was white.
'.Leave-why?"
, ct am going to be married" I ha
r given him the reason at once. 1 sa
: II had hurt him, but there was no othe
e way-not with him.
= Married." he exclaimed. while eve
:. his lips grew white. May as
= who
t please do, and let me tell you a
f about it,r interrupted.
: (To be continued)