The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-01
JUST A GIRL
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A FRIEND IN NEED.
CHAPTER 20.
By JANE PHELPS

I seldom thought of Kenneth Law
renee. He was. like all the rest of my
young friends, part of my happy.
carefree life before dad left U.s. 1t
was just six months after he had gone
away that 1t all happened. I felt at
times that it was six or sixteen years
since the night of my birthday party
when he told me all about himself and
asked if he might write to me.
Dad had been gone three months.
In three more, the year mother had
said must elapse before we communi-
Gated with each other would be gone.
Once 1 spoke of it to her. 1t was after
Jacks visit, and what he had said
had brought Kenneth into my mind
more clearly than he had been for
months. But mother made no reply.
She seemed almost as If she had for
gotten there was Kenneth Lawrence.
or that she had forbidden our corre-
spondence.
rather wondered he had not writ
ten me just a line when our great sor-
| row came. OF course Claudia would
tell him. But when the weeks went by
with no word ceased to wonder. Only
little hurt remained.
Mother was growing weaker, more
dependent. The doctor shook his
head, prescribed strengthening foods,
5ellies and wines. and sent in his bills
regularly. Now 1 seldom left her even
! for an hour, but one day I went out to
| post letter, and upon my return 1
was told lady was waiting in the
parlor to see me. l shudder yet when
think of that boarding house parlor.
I wondered who it could be. By this
| time we seldom saw any of our old
acquaintance. One is forgotten more
| quickly in New York than any other
place in the world. A rather good
smile when vent in and said:
rs this William Stewards daugh-
ter?''
Yes. I am Zena Stewart
Did you ever hear him speak of
his Aunt Susan, his step-aunt really?
| 1 was his uncle's second wife. and my
husband was his uncle only by mar
riage. Rather complicated, isn't it,"
Yes. I have heard him speak of
you. 1 am very glad to see you"
| 81 made up my mind when heard
he had passed away that the very next
| time 1 came to New York 1 would
hunt up his family. I live up the
state. 1 have a little farm with chick
ems. geese. and turkeys for company.
and profit, beside a dog and a cat. ]
visit me some time. Even if I am
not very close. guess am the only
relative your father had-n you can
call it being related"
| Again that pleasant smile. 1 felt
like throwing my arms around her
l
and anxieties to her. Instead I said:
Il am so glad. You don't know how
glad! Will you come up to mother
with me? She has been an invalid
ever since father died. 1t was so sud-
den and so awful"
"I thought william was very rich.
That's one reason I never intruded
my relationship. I'm not much for
/ society,""
| He was. But we have nothing
now His investments. made just a
short time before he died. turned out
i badly. We are poor now"
And your mother is sick? How do
you Iive?"
1--WE have a few hundred collars
left. I thought I could go right to
work. have had every advantage of
education, music, ETC., but ! haven't
| been able to leave mother. She can't
| bear me to be away even to do an
errand. 1t is pitiful-she was so self
| sufficient before
"You poor child! I guess the Lord
sent me. I had feeling I was need
ed. He makes us His instruments in
His own good time. my dear. Some
times when things look blacklist. He
| takes a hand"
1 led the way upstairs.
Mother. have brought you COM
pany," 1 said as I entered the room,
| followed by Aunt Susan Bracket
"Yes?" She scarcely looked up,
81 am Williams aunt" She took
mothers hand in hers. 81 used to
know and love him when he was a
boy
"You-loved-willia With the
hating exclamation. mother burst into
tears, the first she had shed in weeks.
At a sign from Aunt Susan. I left
them alone For the first time in
months I had some one to think for
me-
(Tomorrow-In search of work,