The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-11
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
MIR. FALLoN treasures NELLIE.

CHAPTER rs.
After breakfast Mrs. Roberts drew
Nellie into her room. Said she:
is anything wrong. my dear? Can
II help?''
NJ, something happened at the Of
flee to annoy me yesterday. 1 don't
know why 1 cried. and made myself
such sight" Nellie answered with a
wry little laugh. s4'm not in the
habit of sniveling over things. When
was at Miss Carriers I used to swear.
L don't know but it is better than cry
ing-doesn't bloat your face all up
and make your eyes red"
would rather see you cry, Nellie.
don't like to hear pretty young girls
swear" Mrs Roberts replied.
Il guess that's what makes SO many
girls cry babies. They won't cuss. and
they have to let out their feelings
someway'
well, don't feel so badly. I'm sure
you have no reason. And don't cussi"
They both laughed merrily-the
word sounded so oddly coming from
Mrs. Roberts, whose speech was usual
ly ultra refined.
An unusual shyness possessed Nellie
when she encountered Mr.. Fallon. She
felt almost positive he had heard what
Lena said-if he had, what must he
think?
Would he believe she would dare
think of him in the way Lena had
suggested? Furtiyely Nellie watched
for any sign, any change in his man
ner that would let her know; but he
gave no hint. Evide ntly, for him, the
incident was closed. Nellie breathed
more freely as the day went on. He
was exactly the same as if nothing
disagreeabie had happened-until just
as she was leaving he said:
81 hope yesterdays incident hasn't
distressed you, Miss Riley. There is
Ia little jealousy perhaps among the
girls because you have been given Miss
Jones's place with us. And there are
times when one is justified in losing
their temper-in using strong lam
guage. Perhaps yesterday was one of
the times" And he smiled at her SO
good naturally, that Nellie smiled
happily back as she replied:
yes, I think it was"
That night Nellie did not refuse to
walk with Donald Horne. All traces
of tears gone, she chatted and laughed
gayly. Her heart was again light.
Donald put himself out to amuse her,
retailed several clever stories he had
heard, told of being on the track of
news story that meant a front page
article, and was encouraged by her
manner to hope it wouldn't be long
before he might dare to put to test
his fate.
That it was the reaction from her
grief, her fear, that Mr.. Fa1lon would
misjudge her, he had no way of know
ing so Rugged to himself the respon-
sivenesS in her manner as a sign she
was beginning to like him better; take
more interest in what concerned him.
He would not have been SO pleased
had he known that Nellie's thoughts
after she left him were all of another;
that she laid wideeyed wondering how
it would have seemed to walk with
George Fa1lon, to talk and laugh with
him she had with Donald? That
- L -I-4 y L., l.
cheeks as in the darkness she blushed
at her temerity in even thinking
such things.
The next day was Sunday and Nell
lies happy thoughts remained with
her the entire day. Mr.. Fallon had
not heard-or if he had he was not
displeased with her because of her
lack of control. In the morning she
attended a nearby church with Mrs.
Roberts. She never had been in the
habit of attending church until she
went to live at Mrs. Doty's and Mrs.
Roberts persuaded her.
81 dislike going alone, dear" she
had said. "And it will be a lesson in
correct speaking for you-if nothing
else. altho I am sure it will benefit
you in other ways"
AS she stood before the glass pin
ming on her hat. Nellie thought how
much more becoming soft, frilly
things were than the palmer clothes
necessary for the office.
81 wish he might see me in some
thing besides office clothes" she said
to herself wistfully. I'D 1o&x more
like the girls he knows-like Miss
Dorothy. Some day I'll pretend I'm
going out without coming home and
dress up she added. as; she took
final look before joining Mrs. Roberts.
(Tomorrow-It,s love that makes the
world 81 round9