The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-06
FOUR DANCING FEET
NO LETTERS.
CHAPTER Is.
BY yANE PHELPS

CHAPTER Is.
Ten days. and no letter!
Gertie never had withheld her con-
fidence from her mother nor in fact
did much transpire that was not dis
cussed by the entire family. Nor the
first few days Gertie made no secret
that she expected letter, and Jen-
nie's first question would be:
Tom written yet?"
Lilly, too, had been curious. Gertie
had told her Tom had promised to
write her; asked her to answer.
''Ain't heard from him, knew you
wouldn't, Promises is easy, especially
when you're going away" This
worldly-wise girl remarked. then:
Don't you fret none. Cert. There is
as good fish in the sea as he Isl You'll
catch one, too. with your looks. If
you'd have a little moro style"
Style-as she considered it, was
Liliys first thought.
Might as well be dead If you can't
be stylish, put up a front" she often
said. and spent her money for cheap
imitation things without regard to
their wearing properties; or their ap
propriateness.
Mrs. Cummings had not allowed
Gertie to waste her money, even tho
she earned it, and was so generous
with them all. And since Tom had
told her he liked her. better for not
wearing thin silk stockings on the
street, she had not questioned her
had done before when she wanted to
buy some pretty perishable thing.
Il don't believe Tom is that kind.
Perhaps he is sick or something"
Gertie answered Lilly's remarks about
good fish being left in the pond
Il guess I wouldn't be thinkin'
about him so much" Lilly answered.
not without sympathy you look kinda
peaked the last few days"
Mrs. Cummings had also noticed
and spoken of Gertie's worrying.
You mustn't, dear He was nice
when he was here. and If he comes
again maybe he'll be nice again. But
men are careless about things like
writing" She, like Lilly, thought that
with men of Toms position in life
"out of sight was out of mind" yet
Gertie looked so wistful.
Did he ever make love to you,
Gertie? ?" her mother asked.
mo, not what you'd call-love. He
seemed to like me lot or he wouldn't
have cared whether I knew anything
or not; bought me all them books if
he hadn't-liked me-
Wen, don't fret, dearie. Just try
and forget him.
Forget him! Why, mother!" No
one understood She loved to remem-
ber everything he said. all he did,
1t was Just the one thing in her life
she wanted to emember-always
"AlI right, mar
After this talk Gertie watched COW
ertly for the postman, instead of open
ly. She never mentioned Toms name,
and for a day or two did not open the
books he had given her. Then she
went at her studies again in a more
freuzied manner than at first. She
grew n little thin, had less color than
before. but aside from that she went.
on as usual.
'Fl learn what he told me too any
wayi" she said to herself, brushing
away the tears. "I'Il be educated,
Then II he ever does come back he
won't be ashamed~of me-"
The episode of the contrac. had i'm
mensely added to Gertie's belief in an
education. To be smart like that teach
er. Tom would think that the right
way to be.
Such uphill work
Her mother insisted she should sleep
mornings. There were many things to
take up the afternoon, mending. err
rands. practice-Gertiev never negIec-
ted her hours practice, always with
the idea that sometime perhaps, in the
dim future, she might dance in a bet
ter place. An hour before the early
dinner, an hour afterward, was about
all she could take for her studies. 1t
was slow work, because so much was
hard to understand. She learned
easily in a parrot-like way. but that
know what things. words, expressions
meant. Her dictionary soon showed
signs of wear. she consulted il so con-
stantly. But while she studied with
determination, she felt no Joy in her
work The happy part had belonged to
thoughts of Tom. And he hadn't
written.
The dancing was hard now, and she
hurried home as fast as Lilly and the
manager would let her. Twice Jones
had spoken to her. told her to show
more attention to the patrons of the
place, to stop and have ginger ale or
with them when they asked
her. II was bad enough that they
could only sell soft drinks. without her
them lose the sale even of
them. So Gertie tried to act pleased
when some fellow asked her to have
a drink" or urged her to sit at the
table But she escaped as quickly as
she could. several times almost quar-
reliFg with Lilly. who wanted her to
go to some other. later place after |
their work there was finished
Then came a surprise, so unexpected |
that it almost took her breath away.
(To be contiuued-)