The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-28
The Woman
He Married
NAN AS a BUSINESS WOMAN.
BY JANE PHELPS

Dick had rented small house, not
very modern, but the best we could
find at the rent we could pay. The
yard, however, made up for all the
house lacked, that, and the vegetable
garden. Mother gave us several pieces
of furniture she had stored in the
attic, as well as some she had in use.
We bought only the simplest things,
yet the house looked very cosy and
comfortable.
"I believe you could take a dry
goods box and make it look honey"
Dick said when We moved in.
1T is on account of my knack. with
needle, Dick" 1 returned Muslin
curtains, and other Inexpensive drap-
cries if made right help wonderfully
to give a place that honey look you
talk about" 54ka
We'll, a fellow would be hard to
please that couldn't be centented
here" he said SO heartily that gave
him hug and g. kiss. had been
afraid he. would be lonely, miss the
excitement of his work in New York,
but when 1 spoke of it he assured me
he was happier. than in a long time.
Happier than I deserve to be- he
had added.
I blamed myself for all that had hap
pened, but insisted he was equally at
fault.
Every week we put aside a little
necessarily it was only little as his
salary was small-toward the. pay
ment of what we owed.
The day We clean up all those deHW
will be the happiest day of my lifer
he said when we talked of how much
We could save by being very econom-
icaL
Just as. soon as we were really
of my plan to help him pay off the
terrible debts for which / was respon-
sible. 1 knew that what we owed Mr..
Burns varied Dick more than any
others. altho 1 never had mentioned
what had happened before he had Of
fered to lend Dick money.
But had not forgotten, and If I
had needed other incentive than my
love for Dick, my desire to prove I
cared only for his happiness, it would
have been in that memory. / too,
longed to pay all we owed. but
think my anxiety was because / saw
that Dick never would be quite happy
until we were, as he called 1t, free :"
You say I am clever in fixing up a
home.-Dick. Well, I have decided to
as my own. Mother and 1 talked it
over with some people in Holden, and
with what 1 may be able to get to
do here, 1 am sure shall have; quite
paying business" J-s -.t.af--.
What do you mean, Nan? "A pay
ing businessi"
yes. Several people have already
engaged me to make draperies, cush-
ions, ct cetera. I can get very good
prices. and by buying the goods by the
piece 1 can make it an object to let
me furnish the material as we'll as do
the work"
@--.But,e Mani you cant. da.ethis -sl1d
attend to the house, too! 1t VIII be
too mich for YOU" e7Ss@> ~ ~
No. Dick! Please don't object. E If
l find it is too hard, I Will have help.
I expect / shall have to hire a girl or
1.-TWO after awhile. But at first I shall
get along alone. I have plenty Of time,
and this little house will not worry IN e.
the work 1 mean. And Dick lpok
here!'
"Phewi' he whistled. You're some
little business girl, Man." 7 had shown
him an estimate for dotted muslin
curtains with overdrapes of cretonne
for a neighber of mothers. I had also
Figured my profit.
Man williams. interior decorator.
Going to hang up a sign, dear?"
mo, not at first. L thought that
after while if / am as successful, as
II. feel sure 1 shall be, 1 might take a
small shop, and call it The Drapery
Shop or something like that. You are
Holden and Lansing are so close to-
gether I really have two places to get
trade from instead of one. And l have
as soon as this is finished. Mother
helped me get them. But after I do
one I imagine my work Will be all the
advertisement 1 shall need. And Dick,
don't you see how quickly we shall be
out of debt? You aren't ashamed to
have me do it. are you?"
/ was thinking of his wealthy, fash
Unable sister.
mo, have lost all that sort of false
pride, Nan. But don't take too much
work and get sick"
IT promise not to. And Dick I love
this kind of work. I shall really en-
10y it, as we'll as making money to help
you. But remember every penny goes
for those debts until they are paid"
What a relief it will be when that
day arrives"
The sigh that followed showed how
the thought of what he owed weighed
upon Dick, and made me the more en-
thusiastic over helping him.
(Temerrow-Nan makes good)
A~e,Sa~c