The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-15
four DANCING FEET
a LETTER AT LAST.
BY JANE Phelps
CHAPTER rs.

En-
As one in a daze Gertie took the
letter her mother held out to her. At
last-could it be? And suddenly she
felt glad that she had not let Len
O'Connor kiss her.
well, you don't seem so glad to
get it, Mrs. Cummings said. Her
curiosity had been excited. 1t had
been hard not to open the letter but
something told her Gertie would like
to be the first to see it. Amt you
Goin' to open it"
''Why. yes. of counsel" Gertie re-
sponded as with trembling fingers she
tore the end of the envelope and with
drew the sheet of paper
What does he say2"
Gertie's eyes had stared at the writ
ten words without taking in their
meaning. Now she pulled herself -to-
gether-it had not occurred to her to
keep anything Tom might say from
her mother-and read alouds
The Y. q. Ranch.
My Deax Gertie:
1 received no reply to my last
and first note, so am trying again.
I wonder if you have forgotten me?
1 should be sorry to think you had.
I ordered some books Cor you,
books I thought would help you. I
trust they arrived and that you are
using them; or have you given up
trying to study? I realize it is hard
to study alone, to try to improve
oneself when busy with necessary
things. But it will repay you.
1 hope some time to see you
again. but it is uncertain when I
can get to New York. Work on my
ranch keeps me hustling.
Remember me to your mother. I
retain pleasant memories of her
and the children.
Your sincere friend,
Thomas Norris.
That's a nice letter" Mrs. Cum
mings said when Gertie had finished
reading. pleased that she had been
mentioned.
Gertie made no reply, Just stared
at the epistle, without seeing it. But
this her mother did not know, and
added:
"He says he wrote before. won
dere where it went ,"
'Tt don't make any difference"
Gertie said sharply. Goodnight"
Good night" Mrs. Cummings an
swered, a puzzled look on her face.
she had thought Gertie would be so
pleased, had waited for her because
she knew the girl had watched so Ions
and vainly for a word from Tom Nor
ris. What could be the matter? It
was a nice letter. real nice letter
In her room Gertie shaded the light
from the sleeping Jennie and read the
letter over again, slowly weighing each
word. Then slow tears fell down her
cheeks. as she extinguished the light
and still holding the letter in her hand,
sat by the open window staring down
into the dimIy lighted street.
Forgotten him, He had said he
wondered if she had forgotten him.
AS if she ever could! A cold disap
pointment had gripped her when she
read the letter and it held her in its
grasp. Had she been asked she could
not have explained her disappoint-
ment, but it was there, deeply there.
Il hope sometime to see you again.
but it is uncertain when 1 can get to
New York
That sentence repeated itself over
and over again in her mind. II only
he had said he wanted to see her
again. e, Her dream--the dream she
had cherished for so long was hers
no longer In the face of the cool.
even If friendly, little note It was i'm
possible to keep hold of even the
fringe of her dream
Lilly was right-always has been
right. I was a little fool to think he
meant anything"
She wished with all her heart she
had received the other letter he spoke
of, that might have prepared her-or
| it might have been different
He don't care! He never did! It
was just because I am pretty and he
wasn't used to me-my kind Her
reading had Weakened her ideas, had
given her a sort of insight into things
ana now fla0 come lHe THOUGHT NlAal IL
was her prettinoss, her difference, per-
haps her commences so opposed 20
the girls he might have been with that
had attra cted him for those few short
days; had made him in the end feel
kindly toward her; had made him
want to teach her-help her to i'm
prove herself
I never will think of him anymore"
she said with a sob. "NeNeri"
"When you coming TO bed. Gertie-
and what you crying aboutf Jennie
asked.
When I get ready-and it's none ot
your affair."" Gertie replied, nerves
raw. her heart aching.
TON nrroVY-kee disapnointme nt.)