The Topeka state journal., 1922-10-09
"A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
MRS. ROBERTS TRIES TO HELP
DONALD.

Chapter 73.
Nellie took her place as Mr.. George
Fallon's private secretary quietly ana
efficiently. All day long she sat close
to him in the same room. She was
happier than she had dreamed it pos
sible to be when she had thought of
her hopeless love for him. Her in
creased salary enabled her to do away
with many little fretting economies;
and she delighted in the fact that she
could make herself more attractive,
wear better clothes. Not that she for
| got Cora's and Miss Jones counsel:
| but she could have better materials.
more changes. And the little details
| of her toilet, like shoes, collars, cuffs
and SO on, she could now buy more
frequently. She also gave up launder-
hing her things herself. which was a
great relief: and also kept her hands
in better condition. She, too.- had
more time for reading and studying.
Donald Horne noticed the return
to her old gay manner with delight.
! Whatever it was that had been worry
ing her so had evidently adjusted it
self. He huyged the thought that it
could not have been any sort of love
affair or she would not have reeov-
| cred her spirits so soon.
/ She now accepted many of his invi-
| tations in the old way-that of good
comrade. Yet nothing in her attitude
| encouraged him to think she would
ever be more than that. He had
sounded Mrs. Roberts with whom he
| was a favorite, by asking, with q half
laugh:
/ DO you think she'll ever look at a
poor struggling fellow like me?"
i II don't know, Donald. I wish she
would, I am so fond of both of you
should like to see you belong to each
other. But those things are on the
+ knees of the gods. my dear boy. She
likes you-of that 1 am certain.
Whether it ever will develop into
warmer feeling, may depend upon
you-and circumstances. Propinquity
is a great asset. and you are situated
SO you see great deah of each other.
Don't lose heart my dear boy. but
don't be too hasty. Have patience.
Go on as you are until you feel you
have gained her affections"
That isn't so easy as it might be
to have patience" Horne returned.
She's so attractive. Someone else
may step in and steal her"
'I don't think there is anyone-no
one you need fear" Mrs. Roberts
had her own ideas about this Mr..
George Nellie talked of so often. But
. she was old-fashioned, did not believe
in marrying out of ones own sphere:
!, did not think a man of Mr. Fallon's
type in that light. Nellie had sort of
hero worship for lin, perhaps. But
! she was very young and that would
, pass. So she said nothing to discour-
age Donald; even promised to help
, him all she could.
Occasionally she asked them to
> spend the evening in her little sitting
room. sometimes with one or two
others, but oftener just the three OF
, them would chat, or read aloud. Dom
, aid was quite a musician in an anna
teur way and would bring his violin
, and play for a while. And Mrs. Rob
/ erts would produce sandwiches and
thew would make lemonade. as a fin
, ish to the evening.
But even with Mrs Roberts's kind
, and tactful help, Donald often felt he
was chasing the unattaina ble-that
Nellie never would be more to him
than a good friend. At times he was
very unhappy. but when with her he
was invariably bright and entertaining.
Several times when Nellie had been a
bit more chummy than usual he had
= almost lost the self-control that Mrs.
e Roberts had advised. Then some lit
tie thing Nellie would say proved his
time had not yet come And to lose
J, her now would mean losing her al
. together-he feared.
4 Mrs. Roberts sounded her eau
/ tiously:
. Donald is a fine young man. she
remarked when she and Nellie were
al you bet he is! The best ever"
!, Nellie returned. And one cen be SO
' comfortable with him. He never gets
: silly and tries to get fresh like so
4 many fellows do. You don't know
what a comfort it is to go out with
). | him-he doesn't expect to kiss you
and be nasty when you refuse. can't
r bear the fresh sort. They don't get
very far with me-"
:, (Tomorrow-ZA tilt with one of the
giris.)
II ct n Wonfan's Luncheon.