The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-01
A Stenographer's
Romance
nU FAHrr- 1ETCTnc
BY JANE PHELPS
NELLIE'S FIRST PARTY.

7
NEILIE'S FIRST PARTY.
| Chapter Al.
The feeling that they had a home
1 made the girls sol happy that Nellie
constantly feared something untoward
would happen to dampen their joy.
Cora held them strictly to her plan OF
buying a hot noon day meal. so SIM
plifying the housekeeping. But many
| little dainties, at least dainties to
them, were cooked by one or the other
on the shining stGve-Nellie's pride.
Sunday they cooked all three meals
and took delight ID having their din
ner as good as possible, a good-na-
tured rivalry existing between them
! Heaven can't be better than thisi''
Nellie declared. Just think. girls,
it's home"
1t really was pathetic the emphasis
the poor girl put upon the word, how
often she spoke it 49,
"a home at last!' or Think what
I've missed all my life and no home"
1t was fortunate that both Cora and
Gladys appreciated this feeling. this
! love of the poor little rooms, the only
home she ever had known, and upon
which she poured all the enthusiasm
| of her nature.
| Gradually the three girls added all
| they could to make it comfortable and
attractive. Cora mentioned to her
mother that the..- hoped to have some
| muslin curtains and Mrs. Baker wrote
to send on the material and measure
ments and she would make them.
i Nellie insisted upon buying the mus
| lin, Gladys would buy ribbon to tie
them back. Cora's share was her
mothers sewing. -
| What difference curtains make, 81
Gladys said, as they hung the crisp
| muslin at tho windows. Nellie was
| almost speeches. with delight
ct wish everyone I know, even Miss
Carter, could see us, see these lovely
rooms" she finally said. IT guess they
would think I was somebody! They
used to treat me as If I was nothing
| but a machine to wait on them. I
wish Miss Dorothy and Mr.. George
could know too"
"They probably would think it very
small and mean" Gladys said, not see
ing the warning look on Cora's face
ants~better than this. I expect"
| Nellie's face dropped.
"I wish they could see US so nicely
J fixed, too" Cora said, 81 am sure they
1 would know it was better for uss and
also that it helped us do our work bet
ter because We are happy" es.
Cora had persuaded Nellie To put
off their party until the curtains were
up, but now she told her she might
have it any time she chose. So Nellie
| invited Hilda, Lott, and two other
tyoung men, beside William and the
to see Gladys, or take her out.
We lack one man to make us an
even number" Gladys remarked.
That's because I haven't any
beau. and it's all right! One must be
the waitress, and who knows better
than little Nellie how to walt on
folks? 1 had experience enough at
1.-The Corners"
Everyone invited came. The little
living room was gay with a few bright
flowers, the refreshments in the
kitchen, Nellie's lace cookies as she
liciously brown and crisp, the coffee
ready to set on the fire when the
time came, and some candy Gladys
had added at the last moment.
Say, girls, isn't it scrumptious9
don't believe Miss Dorothy could have
no remark. Cora had warned her.
Nellie never had been in really nice
home. She had not the slightest idea
of the way wealthy people lived. Mrs.
Carter's' boarding house; an errand
to the back door of someone in the
Corners had been her life. Since
coming to New York she had been
nowhere, save in the rooming house.
No wonder the dainty little room
filled her starved soul with satisfac-
ton.
| The guests arrived almost sinful
[taneously. William was anxious to
| help but Nellie insisted 1t was her
job, that no one was to do anything
but have q good time. Which they
proceeded to do after the fashion of
happy young people. They played
games, they talked and chatted,. until
Dugan came up to see if he was
wanted; his curiosity, his devotion to
Nellie, who invariably used her
brogue when talking with him, MAX
| ing him long to help.
The refreshments were voted deli
cious. they ate and drank all that had
been provided. Then at IL o'clock
they went home, voting it one of the
pleasantest evenings they ever spent.
Gee. but wasn't it grand?' Nellie
said as they started to clear away.
1T was my debut, girls. I never was
| to a party before"
I (Tomorrow-An accident that de-
! cided Cofa.)