The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-08
A Stenographer's
Romance
LENA GoODRICH's STORY.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter 20.

LENA GOODRICH'S STORY.
Chapter 20.
What do you think OF it, Cora-his
asking her to dinner?" Gladys asked.
The two girls talked in low voices.
Nellie was asleep. shes so pretty"
That's the trouble. She's too pref
ty for a working girl-a girl without
any home but this. Yet I don't believe
God ever meant beauty to be a hin
drance in any way. If He had thought
it would be, He would not have given
| it to anyone" Cora returned. Then:
| Nellie has very good principles.
| them-a drunken step-father. coarse
common mother, and Miss Carter.
Poor child! Not many girls would
show as much character"
perhaps her own father was differ
ent-or someone back in his family,
Gladys replied.
perhaps, but I hope Mr.. Robinson
won't ask her to go out with him again,
1t seems innocent enough-he must
have had a good laugh al Nellie's nom
when she does such things. How she
did enjoy her dinner" Cora smiled
reminiscently.
mo wonder! I guess we would
sighed. Both girls would have en-
joyed that dinner.
There was a young clerk in the Of
flee where Cora worked, a rather seri-
Gus, good-looking chap, faithful to his
work, but who, while pleasant enough,
never had much to say to anyone.
But after Cora came there was a
change in William Dalton. He often
chatted a few moments with her, oc-
casionally went out of his way to walk
to the subway with her. He lived with
his mother over in Jersey, he told her.
His mother was an invalid.
When Cora objected to his going
out of his way, he said:
THE exercise is good for me-" so,
as she enjoyed his company, the girl
said no more. Then one day he rather
shyly asked her if he might take her
to the movies some night. ST stay in
town occasionally and If you would
go I should be very pleased"
His invitation was rather stilted, but
Cora felt it was from a sort of BASH
fulness, a fear she might refuse. So
replied:
get SO many invitations that I dare
refuse to go with you, William"
They settled upon the night, and
parted, both wearing a happy express
Cora told the girls of her promised
treat.
IT knew it! I knew we couldn't
hold that wild Cora back If she ever
started" Nellie exclaimed with one of
her comical expressions. Orange
blossoms are my favorite flower. and
seeing as how I never expect to wear
them myself I'll spend half a weeks
salary buying them for you! And
how I love a wedding! I sneaked into
looking all over for me, but she never
thought of looking in the church.
Will you be married in church, Cora ?"
What nonsense you talk, Neihe!"
but Cora blushed, and Nellie kept on
teasing. Then seeing she was really
annoying Cora, she threw her arms
around her neck and begged her par
don. But she couldn't resist saying:
Better lock him up, Cora. Gladys or
might steal him. Beaux aren't so
"She's in no danger from me, but
she better look out for you. you little
mink" Gladys answered.
When they had qufeted Gladys told
them of girl in the office where she
worked, a girl who foolishly had be-
come acquainted with a man by flirt-
ing with him on the subway. He had
taken her out of the office, installed
her in a little flat, and promised to
marry her. A few days before he had
married society girl. church we'd
ding, reception and all. The papers
had all carried notices of the we'd
ding, and Lena Goodrich had seen
them. That day she had come back
to ask for her old job.
shes just shadow. looks as II she
wouldn't live long. I guess she was
awful fond of the fellow. She told
the girl she used to chum with, that
the very night before he was married.
he had renewed his promise to marry
her. But the strange part is that while
she despises him for his deceit, for
what he has done to her, she says she
can't help loving him-can't help
longing for him He sent her big
check but she sent it back with the
key to the flat. Then she went back
to the cheap boarding house where
she had lived before. She told Lottie
she never would see or speak to him
again, but it hurt her dreadful1y."
Nellie had listened wide-eyed, her
breath coming quickly.
Il may be little fool. but I'd never
have lived in that flat until the min
lister had made it right 1 heard too
much about those kind of men from
those travelling fellows at Miss Car
ter's."
(Tomorrow-A Saturday night beau. }
Protected by George Matthew Adams