The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-12
A Stenographer's
; Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
IT'S LOVE THAT MAKES THE
WORLD GO ROUND
Chapter g..

1t had been some time, since Dor
othy Fallon had called at the office
and altho Nellie wondered at her con-
finued absence, she was too happy to
give it much thought
Then one day she blew in" to use
her own expression. She had been
in California, and was full of gay de-
lightful "reminiscences of her trip. She
teased her cousin, carried him off to
luncheon despite his protests. and
acted generally, so Nellie thought, as
if he belonged to her.
Perhaps he does" she said to her
self when alone in the office. 1T
doesn-t seem she would act so free IL
he didn't1wasn't going to marry her.
Dorothy's presence had, as always, left
tho she had greeted her kindly, in an
almost friendly manner.
1t was late when Mr.. Fallon re-
| turned, and there was little time to
finish up the work of the day, so
, Nellie was surprised when about 4:3o
he leaned back in his chair, and said:
THAT will do for today. Put your
work away, I want to talk to you,
Nellie
He seldom called her Nellie"
either it was Miss Nellie" or Miss
Riley" But Nellie attached no i'm
portance, no meaning to the more
| familiar address. 1t was probably
some little matter of business he
wished her to attend to. Perhaps he
| was going somewhere with Miss Dor
| othy and would not be in the office in
| the morning.
| Nellie closed her desk, then took the
seat near him he indicated, and waited
quietly.
There's no need of beating around
the bush, Nellie. 1 love you, little
me?'' He waited a moment, then
| went on, 'T know I am older, several
years, but not so old that I won't do
all in my power to make you happy"
Nellie was absolutely speeches. be-
cause of the rush of joy that swept
over her Mr.. George loved heri
/ Can you care for me, dear?"
| "But-I-you-'
| what is it, dear? Tell meP"
| "I am ignorant" Nellie stammered.
IT don't belong in your world at ALL
II-migh
| Trust me. little girl. to be the judge
of that. Tell me that you care a lit
| tie. that I may try to win your love."
He leaned toward her. 1 want you to
be my wife. Nellie. L will make you
khappy., dear. if you will give yourself
| to me-" .
Happy! Nellie felt as IL her happi-
| ness were choking her. He loved her,
| Miss Carriers slavey. But if she mar
ried hirn-she might make him happy
/ for a while-a little <while-until
something happened to make him
ashamed of her. If only she were
more like Miss Dorothy. you haven't
answered me-" Now he took her hand
I and raised it to his lips. 81 shall
| be very happy if you will trust me-"
| His voice trembled- He was very
much in earnest.
| AS quietly as she could Nellie asked
him to hear her. story. She told of
her drunken step-father. her shiftless
mother, of her life at Miss Carriers.
She told of the wretch edness she had
undergone as a child; of the struggles
lof her young girlhood. Then, when
/ he tried to argue, she told him of
/ her determination never to marry be-
I cause of the unhappy marriages of
which she had known. He laughed
| at her and said:
THAT is no proof we should be I'M
| Then she spoke of her back of
education, her inability to appear as
| the women of his set appeared. But
he met her every objection by saying
simply:
| st love you. dear"
| Nellie was almost at the end of her
| endurance. She felt an almost ire
! sistible desire to creep into his arms.
4 Don't you care for me at ALP" he
Iasked after time.
i ooh, I dol 1 do" Her bulwarks
/ beaten down at last.
Then that is all there is to it," and
! his arms closed around her. But
! when, a little later he begged to be
married at once. wanted her to stop
4 working until they were, she was de-
| termined.
/ ST must earn my own clothes. 1
cannot accept anything before---we
4 are-married. Please don't send me
away-I couldn't hear that
He argued, but in vain. Finally he
consented.
"Have your own way, dear. for a
short time. We are engaged and L am
/ the happiest of men. Put on your
4 hat and we'll go and buy ring"
\ Tomorrow-An engagement ring and
4 happiness)