The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-23
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.
PIER SIS.


at can't do it, Mrs. Roberts, just
can't." Nellie burst out, burying her
face in her hands.
Cant what, xNellie?"
1T can't go on. I can't marry Mr..
George'!" unconsciously calling him
by the old office name. He'd only
be ashamed of me! OIL just must
tell him I can't marry him"
But, Nellie, have you thought of
his disappointment? He loves you and
it is only ten days until he expects to
make you his wife,
1T know-and I want to be fair.
That's why 1 can't marry him"
"You still love him?"
why, of course! But when it was
new-my love. I mean, didn't think
of anything else. l only thought how
wonderful it was that he loved me
and I-loved-him. But I see now it
was all wrong. It isn't my world.
Never could be. Oh, help me. Tell
me what to doo" And brave, little
Nellie sobbed bitterly.
There's only one thing to do. dear
tell him. Talk to him frankly. See
could help you, my child, but I am
afraid this is matter you two must
work out for yourselves. Don't cry
so, dear. 1t will all come out right.
There is One who always helps, who
never fails us when we try to do right.
Field. He knows about it ALLIE
knows-HE knows!'' she quoted
softly
Nellie wrote many letters that night
but none were satisfactory and she
tore them up. Finally she wrote
short note, telling him just as she
had Mrs. Roberts that she couldn't
marry him; that she was sure she
wouldn't make him happy. She took
off her lovely ring, put it in the little
velvet lined box, and laid them on her
bureau. She would send them to the
office by messenger the first thing in
the morning.
That night, for the first time in
several, she slept soundly. She had
wept over her note, indeed it was
blotted in one or two places with her
tears, but her worry was over.
At the time she though he would
be in the office she dispatched the
note and parcel. Then she sat quite
still in her room and waited. sure she
would receive an answer. The same
messenger brought it.
81 will see you at o'clock. Please
wait in for me-" was his reply.
How the long day passed Nellie new
er knew. It seemed the time would
never go. Then. as the hour APP
preached she would have given much
to hold it back.
But when finally she stood before
him she was calm and quiet.
''It is best, George. I feel It here"
She laid her hand upon her heart. 81
have tried SO hard to make it right
but couldn't. I'm sorry to hurt you.
1t hurts me. But it's better now than
to have us both unhappy for always"
He talked long and seriously with
her, argued his love, called her fears
foolish and so on. But Nellie never
wavered and, at last, he sadly accept
ed her decision.
George Fallon was by no means a
dramatic sort of a person. On the
contrary his emotions were well dis
ciplined; so he accepted his defeat
gracefully, declaring he would always
be her friend. always care for her.
ST want you to!' she said impul-
sively. ct want you always to like
me, and not feel hurt or hard toward
me. You will always be my Mr..
George to me- He had told her new
err to call him that again. But know
ing what she meant; that 1t put him
back in his old niche in her heart, he
said nothing, save to wish her all the
happiness in the world:
"AlI you deserve, little Nel1ie,' he
said as he bent and kissed her cheek.
He made her take back the ring. "Just
TO remember your friend" he urged
when she objected. Then she took it,
promising to keep it always.
When he had gone she gave way to
long, bitter hour of weeping. Her
romance was over. She must pick up
her life where she had left it when
she promised to become George Fall
Ions wife. She was once more Nellie
Diley. promised wife of rich man.