The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-19
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
DOROTHY FALLON VISITS THE
OFFICE.
Chapter S.

| Dorothy Fallon now frequented the
office more often than before her un-
Gle went away. She, with her young
friends, often called near the close of
| the day, their plans all laid to take
| Mr.. George with them. Nellie won
dered where they were going-what
they did when they left the rooms
chatting Eayly, the two or three girls
pictures of youthful loneliness in their
modish clothes.
Occasionally Dorothy would happen
in alone and go to luncheon with her
cousin. Then Nellie would be very
quiet even if she lunched with either
Cora or Gladys. or both. She was sure
Dorothy was in love with her cousin,
he with her. She did not put into
words. nor did she consciously realize
that she was when she thought of
them as being together. Surely she
never had dreamed of being anything
to George Fallon save an employe; he
to her anything but a kind employer.
Keen-eyed Miss Jones had noticed
nothing in Nellies hearing that limited
more than the ordinary interest; but
she had thought at times Mr.. George
admired Nellie more than even her
beauty would warrant in an employer.
But as long as Nellie was unconscious
Of 1t, it could do no harm, and per-
haps she imagined him intrigued a
bit more than he really was. Anyway
she could do nothing.
So the little moth that was Nellie
Riley flew close to the danger line, her
wings sure to be singed unless some
strong wind blew her away
Miss Jones was a very good influ-
ence for Nellie in many ways. Her
devotion to her employers interests.
her modest manners, her quiet dignity
could not help having an effect on the
young girl.
IT am going to be just as near like
Miss Jones as I cam Nellie told Cora.
You couldn't have a better example
to copy if 1 am any judge" Cora re-
piled. THE few times have seen her
she impressed me as being a very cap
able, refined woman. She is sweet
looking, tool wonder why she never
has married"
Cora's own little romance made her
rather curious concerning others. She
family conditions could not hope~to
marry. She often wondered if many
working girls. girls of mature years,
yet attractive, were not single for the
same reason. She knew many girls,
perhaps more than men, had toshelp
support some member, or all of their
immediate family; that single young
men were more apt to leave home,
and in leaving, also forget their re-
sponsibilities than were young women.
OF course William Dalton, the man
she loved, was different He had kept
a home for his mother, remained with
her, instead of marrying and making
a home of his own, and leaving her
to shift for herself with perhaps a lit
tie aid from him.
She sighed as she thought of the
years ahead of her, lonely years. Yet
she never allowed the thought to sad
den her, to make her bitter. She
knew he loved her, that he 1onged to
make her his wife. She chung closely
to this love yet would consent to no
engagement, even had William asked
it-he had told her he would not bind
her because of his helplessness. And
Cora, while perfectly willing to be
bound. felt it would make the situa-
ton more harder for him.
DO you know, Cora" Nellie an
swered after a bit, 81 sometimes think
she miss Jones) is going to leave
pretty soon. She has spoken of 1t
once or twice, said things about my
doing her work. Perhaps she has a
beau, and is going to get married. But
she's awful old, 40 If she's a day."
do you think Mr.. George oId?"
mo, why?"
HE must be almost 40."
"Oh, but he's a mani"
"Men grow old as well as women"
Cora laughed. 81 think Miss Jones
most attractive. Any man would be
PROUD or her-l should think.
'Well, I hope she doesn't leave. I'd
never get her place, not for years and
years! And there'd never be another
like her get her job. Probably some
cross-eyed disagreeable thing that
would get me fired"
'Nonsensei They won't fire you as
long as you do your work we'll"
'"Then they'll keep me until I am so
old I can't walk or talk"
(Tomorrow-Gladys is happily
married.)