The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-18
A Stenographer's
Romance
CORA is UNsYMPArHETIc
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter 81.

Chapter 81.
Cora also was recipient of Nellie's
anxieties regarding her lack of ease,
of knowing tie nicetfes. the little
amenities of society. But to Cora.
alwaysNa working girl, they seemed
trifling-too trifling to worry about
Its what we are that counts, Nell
1ie," she said.
what one does counts with those
people-his kind, Cora. And it isn't
the big things either! Just measly, lit
tie things that make ore SO uncom-
Portable. 1 never thought much about
being born, OILY to wish hadn't been
when 1 was at Miss Carter's-but
I'm beginning to think it makes q lot
of difference who your folks are. You
get something born in you, something
from them. Miss Dorothy WIS in the
office, wanting George to help her
their family tree-she's a Daughter of
the Revolution, and a lot of other
DANES. 1 guess my family tree was
a weed, not a tree at all. On, do
wish I was somebody
sYou never used to talk. like that,
Nellie. You used to say you'd show
people you were somebody in spite of
handbags. What's come over you ~
well, you see. Cora, 1 never knew
| people like Miss Dorothy and the
other women George knows. thought
/ society people were real proud and
| naughty had lots of money, and that's
| all I thought about them But it isn't
all. Some of them are real kind, and
si1nple; and they all have way of
doing things that shows what they
| are. A way that makes one. who
| doesn't know how, uncomfortable,
even when the.- are kind"
you'll soon get into those little
ways after you are married. If it was
some big thing, something to worry
about, you'd have my sympathy. But
I'm astonished at you, worrying about
such trifles.'
They're not trifles-not if one is
with them, going to be with them al
ways. It's just like our work. Cora.
It's the difference in doing it almost
right, and doing it perfectly. Being
almost right doesn't get a girl what
she wants in business; and being al
most right won't make her a success
with those people"
Don't think about it any more. You
are too sensible to talk like this How
| is your sewing coming on?"
"Oh, pretty we'll! I've got some real
pretty things But there was no en-
thusiasm in the girls voice, and Cora
wondered. What had come over Nell
/ lie, to fuss SO about non essentials?
Gwen Cora doesn't understand"
Nellie said to herself as she turned
away, "only Mrs. Roberts seems 20
know how I feel. and that's because
she's one of them herself, even if she
| is poor now
| It was only six weeks until the day
she had promised to marry George
Fallon, and as the days passed Nellie's
uneasiness increased. Summoning up
| all her courage she spoke to him of
| her fears; her lack Of inbred under
| standing. He laughed her fears away
for the time being, telling her she
| dow g,1l. 417n G
away from the old life, the new one
would look differently to her. But
away from. HIM her fears returned
and, as she worked over her simple
trousseau, or was being fitted by the
cheap dressm" ker, they dampened her
| joy in her future.
eff he were ever ashamed of me it
| would kill me- she said often. And
won't he be? I'll make plumbers. lots
of them
During this time she had seen very
| little of Donald Horne. He purposely
kept out of the way. But occasionally
they would meet in the dining room,
or on the stairs. He was invariably
pleasant, but he had strained look
on his face Nellie never had noticed
before, a sad look in his eyes. He
never spoke of his own affairs now,
and she feared something had gone
wrong with him. One day meeting
| him unexpectedly in the hall, she
! spoke of it.
You don't look well, Donald. is
| everything going all rfght?''
fright a trivet." he replied, snil-
ing at her. IT have been promoted.
I'm assistant editor. if you please
| "Oh, how nice! But why didn't you
/ tell me? You knew I would be glad
"You, have been busy-and L
thougft-wouldn't- time to
! think of me-" he stammered.
| THAT wasn't kind, Donald. We are
Just as good friends as ever L hope.
have been busy. I am to be mar
J ried soon but that doesn't hinder my
| being interested in your good luck"