The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-04
A Stenograbher's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
A SAD STORY TOLD TO CORA
CHAPTER AZ

1 u 1
A SAD STORY TOLD TO CORA.
CHAPTER AZ.
Can you stand little good news,
Cora ?" Nellie asked, after she had
Kissed the white face of the girl on
the couch-the girl whom she loved
so dearly.
of course can, you teaze! What
IS IT.? spraihing my ankle hasn't af-
Iected my brain, you know"
wen, I told MI. George about you
oh, he asked me what made me
look worried, and 1 told him You were
hurt- Then he asked me who you
We're. and 1 told him you were the
best, the dearest girl that ever lived,
and then somehow I got talking and
couldn't stop, and SO 1 told him about
your plan to have a little office to do
extra work for folks. But that YOU
was afraid of the rent. Then he said
they had a little room they weren't
using and you are to go down and see
1t when you get well. And he said the
rent wouldn't be much. 1t has a door
into the hall. so can be just Ike
private office"
But, Nellie, why should Mr.. Fallon
do all this for me?''
Il told you gave you great send
off. didn't I? Then they don't use
suite. and the rent will be clear gain. :"
What girl you are, Nellie-and
what darling. You seem to think
bles u.s.
well, someone has to be on ~ e
job, and haven't you done everything
for me? Wasn't I just a little fool
nobody when I met you? Now hurry
UP and get well, Cora. and get your
office started. I'll bet you get lot
of work from my firm-they're awful
busy"
to attempt it If it wasn't for mother
I wouldn't feel as I do. But I must
do for her, and If should fail to get
customers, it would be terrible"
You won't fail! So>don't worry.
And it doesn't cost any of us quite SO
much to live as it did at Mrs. Thomp-
sons. Doing our own washing and
washing in that nice white tub, and
cooking on that lovely stove. You just
get well and everything will be all
righ- -
Della Black came into the little flat,
| a new acquaintance who worked i'm an
office near Gladys.
What's the matter, Della?'' Cora
who was alone, asked.
ooh, Cora! I am ashamed to tell
you but I must tell someone"
Perhaps I can help you'll you
| want to confide in me-
| well, before I met you girls-oh, &
| long time before, almost a year,
worked~i in an office with a man who
made love to me. He made me love
| him, Cora, then he took little flat
where he could lave me come and see
| him-he promised to marry me, and
then he married another girl, one of
his kind. 1 haven't seen him for a
| long time-I loved him so, Cora! |
almost died when I knew-about that
| other girl And never saw him any
more"
| She was silent a moment then burst
out: 'I hope 1 never see him again
Never SO long as I live! I can't bear
| it,"
| "Have you seen him. lately?" Cora
asked.
Yes. today! And I can't bear it.
Cora. He wants me to come back"
ITO his Officer"
mo, to-him. He watches for me,
| urges me to come back-and it's hard.
| Cora-because you-see-I love him. "
rs his wife dead?"
mo, but he says it was all a mis-
| take, that they aren't happy, and that
/ he doesn't love her as he does me-"
| He ought to be ashamed of him.
self" Cora replied Indignantly, talk,
| ing that way to you. I suppose he's
| the kind of a man who is never satis-
| fled with one woman. The kind we
read about who wants one woman for
a wife, the mother of his children,
and another to play around with.
Don't see him again, Della, I'm afraid
for you"
you see, Cora, there's a fellow that
wants me to marry him-and I've got
| to give him an answer. He's a good
man, and could take care of me, but
I don't love him, don't even care for
him at ALL You can't care. I guess.
when your heart is full of love for
some other-even if it is one you al
most despise-I dol hate him at
times. Coral Don't you see besides
making me unhappy. he keeps me
| from ever liking anyone else. There
| isn't room in my heart for anyone but
| him. and he knows it,
| "Oh, Della, I'm SO sorry! But you
| must put this man out OF your life.
your thoughts. Promise me you'll
] try
| Yes. I'll try. Cora, and 1 feel
| stronger for telling you" Della re-
| turned. hurrying away before Nellie
and Gladys should come in.
| (Tomorrow-Cora inspects the prof.
| fered room-)