The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-06
four DANCING FEET
GER1IE SACRIFICES HER NEW
CLOTHES.
BY JANE PHELPS
Cha pier A..

SadP+CA
| Virtue may be its own reward
] doubtless often is, but it is sometimes
hard for those who practice it. Gertie
was shabby, undenia bly, shabby as far
as street clothes went. She had longed
for a new dress and coat before Tom
Norris came-if he came. which she
doubted at times. But neither to her
mother or Tim did she say one word
about Disappointment; and it was with
a smile she gave her hard earned
money to the doctor, the druggist, and
others so that Tim might only get we'll
and that he should have such good
treatment he would not be lame.
Almost the first thing Tim had said
after his leg was set, questioned fu-
ture lameness:
''Will I be like Pete Dooley, Ma %,
Little Pete had broken his leg about
a year before, and because of lack of
proper attention would always be
lame.
mo. dearie, you won't be lame at
| all, the doctor says. He says you have
been taken good care of and youRon't
even limp"
That's bully! I was afraid I'd be
I like Pete"
Mrs. Cummings repeated this con-
versat ton to Gertie.
It's all you, dearie, all your money
that's keepin' him from being lame
should be lame" was all Gertie said.
but she thought: how much more i'm
portant he is than dress and a coat
dear, little. gay Tim, the life of the
household, the only boy.
Naturally boy of his age fretted at
| the confinement. So many a dime and
quarterN went for little things with
which he could amuse' himself while
| lying in bed. This, added to the other
bills, kept the entire family unable to
/ do anything but live. Mrs. Cummings
| laundry work had fallen off with the
hard times, but had it not she would
! have been obliged to give some of it
up because of the time it took to care
for the little invalid. Gertie curtailed
her morning rest. and Jennie helped
all she could out of school; she was
teaching Tim, so he would be able. to
pass his examinations for the next
grade which would be taken about the
time the doctor told them he would
get out. Take it all in all it was a
busy household, a self-denying one.
Lilly was sympathetic with Tim, but
found fault with Gertie because she
denied herself clothes.
you'll never get a beau if you don't
1 fix yourself up" she told her. you
| look all right dancing, but just think
how you look in the street,! It amt
fair for you to go without everything
for the rest of them. 1 see JeAnie's
| got a new dress"
1T don't make any difference about
me, as long as I look all right at
Fagin's," Gertie replied. Not even to
Lilly would she confess her longing to
| look nice for Tom Norris. But
Jennie's in school, and some of the
girls aren't nice to her If she looks
| too shabby. Her dress was cheap.
| When she's a teacher she will help
out a lott
We'll. all I can say is you're a
goose, Gertie. Jennie's got education
enough. She ought to be helping now.
feel like telling her so every time I
see her playing the lady while you
work.
Don't you ever dare Gertie bIazed
forth. ''I'n never speak to you again
! If you do! She's always feeling bad
| because she can't help, and it might
make her give up the idea of wanting
to be a teacher If anyone said any
don't you dareH'
"Oh, well, I won't But it don't
change my mind any. Ma and me
was talking about it the other night.
Ma said that now Tim wes hurt Jennie
! ought to go to work.
You're mother don't know any
thing about it! I earn enough to keep
her in school and she is going to stay
there. She's only got about three
years more before she can take the
Regenta. Then she can teach.
Three yearsi And you'll be an old
maid by that time
mot a very old one. Lilly. And I
expect to be one always. The kind of
wouldn't want meS'
You're too high and mighty! One
would think you expected a Prince or
| something, millionaire perhaps. Re
| member I told you I'd EsteaI George
Murphy if you didn't want him He's
1 awful NICE
"All right, Lflly-but you remember
too what I told you. Don't try to
work George, or you'll lose him.
Tomorrow:-Gertie studies the GALE
dar.