The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-14
four DANCING FEET
BY JANE PHELPS
GERTIE HEARS ABOUT LILLY
CHAPTER z

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Anxiously Gertie opened her moth
er's letter. The thought of Lilly had
persisted, her own happin ess making
her tender toward the girl with whom
she had chummed all her life.
You asked about Lilly" Mrs. Cum
mings wrote, I'm afraid she amt
turned out very well. She and Leu
got SO they fit somethin' dreadful.
She didn't want to stay home none,
and wouldn't keep things nice for
him, nor have his meals on time. All
she wanted was clothes and good
times like she always did. l thought
she would steady down when she got
married, so did her Ma. But she is
worse than when she worked. There
was young fellow what she run
around with a lot, to movies and
places He didn't work-was gam
bier or somethin'. So while Len was
busy plumbin' she would be out with
this man. He give her things I guess.
tho she denied it when her Ma asked
her. But week ago she was missin' {.
Shed run away with him. She left
a letter for Len, saying she was tired
bein' poor, that she wanted good
times. You see Len worked hard and
wasn't always ready to go out with
her. that was what they fit about
mostly. Anyway she's gone, and no.
body don't know where she is. Her
Mas most crazy. She told Len to
come and live with her if he wants
to, but he is stayin' on in the flat he
fixed up for Lilly. If 1 hear where
she is or anythin' I'll let you know.
Poor girl, I'm afraid she'll never be
happy again"
How dreadful Gertie said aloud.
whats SO dreadful?" Tom asked
about Lilly! We've only been
married six months, Tom, and it has
all happened in that short time. She
and Len seemed to get along pretty
well before that
What about herr"
ooh, she wasn't happy with Len!
He didn't take her out, give, her good
times enough, and she's run away
Really! Too bad. yet I'm not SO
terribly surprised"
"Oh, Tom, how can you talk so!
Poor Lilly! She can't ever marry
anyone else and she'll be living IN
sim
DO you know, Gertie. worried a
little for fear you would want more
gayety than I could give you on the
ranch. I know how New York girls
g0>About, see things, and I was q, bit
frightened you might miss the excite
ment of the cabaret, the dancing, the
applause-everythin
why, Tom You never spoke of 1t
to me! Why didn't you % .-.<
py, aren't you, dear?" No one looking
at Gertie could doubt it. She haG
grown a little less slender, her cheeks
were rosy, her eyes bright, a song was
continually trembling on her lips.
Happy as the day is long, Tom. 50
happy 1 am som etimes afraid it can't
last. Do make you happy, Tom 2"
DO you! You're the dearest little
wife a fellow ever had! And it beats
the Dutch how you've fallen into the
ranch ways. Mrs. Black told me the
other day that you could run things
as well as she could if you had to.
She thinks you are perfect-and she's
about right"
After q. bit Tom spoke again:
Its queer what little things some
times influence us, go to make up
our lives
whats on your mind now?'' Ger
tie asked with a. smile.
you'll laugh at me I. expect. But
sometimes I wonder if 1 would have
cared for you, gone on trying to know
you if it hadn't have been for one
thing
I'm terribly curious! What was
"Stockings!"
stockings! What in the world do
you remember that day took you
riding, the first time? Well. I liked
you because you had on sensible
stockings instead of the thin things
the other girls wore, and which a
man who knew anything knew a
working girl could not : afford to
wear" -
"And my heart was broken because
I couldn't have them" she laughed
bit TREMENDOUSLY. But the money was
needed for other things. Things more
important" she added, then: And
perhaps you wouldn't have loved me
il I had bought them"
ST don't say I wouldn't! But that
was what 1 liked-the first thing l
liked about YOU If girls only knew
but I guess they haven't any way
of knowing what a fellow wants in
wife. But as 1 said, it's queer how a
little thing influences u.s."
Tomorrow - Deserved happiness)
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