The Topeka state journal., 1922-10-24
A Stenographer's
Romance
BYJANE PHELPS
NELLIEs GOES TO THE COUNTRY

Chapter IS.
Mrs. Roberts waited some time az
ter Mr.. Fallon left, and then went up
to Nellie's room. She was worried
about the child; felt a certain respon-
sibility. She bent over the bed and
raised the tear-stained face, talking
gently. Then she sat in the little rock
er, Nellie on her lap. and comforted
her as only women of her kind know
how. Gradually the sohs ceased and
Nellie, with a very little smile said:
Its nice to be babied.''
NOW. tell me-that is il you feel
you care to-
There ,sn't much to tell He was
awfully nice about it, very gentle and
kind. He seemed sorry, too. But L
guess 1 made him see how L felt
about it: and Le knew I was In ear
nest He made me keep the ring just
to remember a friend by he said. I'm
Nellie the working girl again now; not
Nellie going to be married. It's queer
how feel-when I loved him So" her
lip quivered. 81 feel as if a weight
had been lifted off nv heart-I'ye
worried so Iately.''
II told you, dear, it would all come
out right. I believe it has. Now I
have some good news FOR you. I hope
it is good news. L had planned-as
soon as you were married-to spend
month in the country with an old
y L
after me. Will you go?"
will II" Nellie threw her arms
around the old ladys neck. "I'I1 take
| the best care of you-the best ever.
But can you afford it? My money is
almost gone.'' ~
IF I couldn't afford it I shouldn't
have asked you, dear. You will earn
all you get. A fussy old woman I'm
getting to be. Looking after me will
be no sinecure."
Nellie laughed gayly.
you, fussy! I'd like anyone else to
say that" Then soberly: You are
so good to me-and 1 need someone
to be just now r.
Tactfully Mrs. Roberts let the
| boarders know Nellie had broken off
her engagement and that she and her
former fiance were still friends. Nat
urally it caused bit of gossip but
| Nellie heard little of it.
Miss Pitt declared:
Il expect she thought over what
! said and that influenced her. knew
from the beginning they never would
be happy. She isn't in his class. /
expect it will be hard for her to GO
| to work again after expecting to be
| the wife of a rich man"
| Donald Horne came in in time to
| hear what Miss Pitt said. He replied:
! Miss Riley probably knows her
own business best; and perhaps she
| won't have to go to work.
| You mean he has given her-ali-
mony? Same as if she was married
to him? That would be disgraceful
in my opinion
'T mean whatever you want to
think" Donald replied, running up
stairs, two at time, a light on his
face that hadn't been there for weeks
Nellie wasn't going to marry Fallon
after ALL He could think no further
| Nellie was free!
Miss Pitts egotistical remark had
| been the first intimation he had ot
what had happened. Then he heard
she was going away. But it would be
| only for a month. And she was goine
with Mrs. Roberts.
DO you think she may let me have
a. chance-sometime? he asked the
old lady, the day before they left. ''l
can wait if have to, wait a long time
if I have anything like bit of hope
to go on"
"She likes you, Donald. That's al
I know. Give her time to recover, my
boy. Be I tient. Show you are hel
friend, but nothing more. When we
come back perhaps she will let yor
slip back into the old pleasant ways
| Sensibly, Donald took her advice.
He saw them off on their trip, saw
they were supplied with fruit ant
reading matter for the journey. II hi
held Nellie's hand bit longer thar
that of Mrs. Roberts, she seemed no
to notice.
But Donald left the station whist
ling, a happy look on his face. AND
more than once before they reached
their destination Nellie spoke of Don
AIDS thoughtfulness; of what a goo(
sort he was.
(Tomorrow-Nature helps heal
NeIIie's sorrow.)