The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-30
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
NELLIE STRUGGLES WITH HER
NEW PROBLEM.
CHAPTER.


The maid brought Nellie tea and
toast, also a message from Donald
Horne hoping her headache would
soon pass away. Later he sent her
box of roses, which she carelessly
thrust aside, altho he had been will
fully extravagant in their purchase.
All night she lay wide-eyed, facing
her problem-the age-old problem of
love; of a girl giving her heart to one
out of her station in life. She did
not for a moment think it might be
returned. 1t was a hopeless love, one
that must be hidden from its object,
from the world.
At times she felt a rush of joy that
she loved; then anguish as she con-
jured up pictures of him married to
someone, his cousin perhaps or one
of her friends. A girl of his own
kind. beautiful, clever, in society. The
thought was torture. If he wouldn't
marry she could bear it, she thought.
He wouldn't belong to her, but neither
would another woman possess him.
When she looked in the mirror as
she brushed her hair she was shocked
at the ravages of the night. She
eyes and pale cheeks made her very
unlike the blooming Nellie she usually
saw reflected there.
She seldom used rouge, but now she
dabbed bit on her cheeks, then dust
| ed her face with powder. She felt
| she could not hear any comments
upon her looks, and Miss Jones, as
well as Cora-whom she saw every
day-wou1d surely notice and ask if
| she were i'll.
Miss Jones did notice. but wisely
said nothing. simply remarking that
| Mr.. Fallon had sent word he would
remain at home that day, but would
| be down the day following.
1.-THE elevator man said he had
veryclose call" she told Nellie. Some
one who saw the accident told him.
But a miss is as good as a mile and
he was fortunate to get off with only
the shock. I can't understand him
being careless; probably was thinking
LOT something, so didn't see the other
car"
After this explanation she gave
Nellie work that kept her not only
| busy, but hustling.
| She'll get over it If she doesn't
have time to think about him." she
| reasoned. "I hope Donald Horne will
help. He's more than half in love
with her now-perhaps-" and mid
dle-aged Miss Jones amused herself
| by visioning q romance that ended
when Nellie and Donald were happily
married.
Nellie lunched with Cora, and in
reply to her questions told of Mr.. Fall
Ions accident.
at must have frightened you when
they brought him in Cora said.
'Tt did-terribly-and Miss Jones
too" Nellie admitted, then changed
the subject, fearing more questions.
She was keeping a close hold upon
herself She would need to get her
feelings under control before Mr.. Fal-
lon came back.
When Mr. Fallon appeared the next
day. a little paler than usual, but
otherwise appearing none the worse
for his accident, he said:
"They frightened you, Miss Riley
bringing me in as they did. I am
sorry"
At thought you-were dead" she
stammered.
I'm not so easy killed." he smiled
at her. You tainted"
Eyes, uist for moment" Nellie
had not thought he would recall her
silly faint. II never tainted before"
she naively added, then blushed be-
cause of the implication.
You look bit done up yet. Are
you sure you are able to work."
"Oh. yesl" she returned eagerly,
then in her old saucy manner: "You
haven't any red cheeks either"
Mr.. Fallon, Jr., laughed gayly, yet
as he turned away soft, tender look
crossed his face, and more than once
that morning he stopped to gaze al
rthe profile of the girl as she bent over
|, her work-the girl who had tainted
because of nin-her fear for him
perhaps.
But Nellie never once looked al
him. She was afraid he might read
her secret, it was so new-so new. Her
face, her eyes might tell him.
(To be continued)