The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-27
A Stenographer's
Romance
RY JANE PHEI
BACK IN THE OLD WAYS
Chapter SO


Nellie had not seen George Fallon
since the day their engagement was
broken. But one day she ran into Miss
Dorothy. She stopped and talked a
bit, asked what she was doing, then
chatted of other things in her Usual
horribly embarrassed, but Dorothy
soon put her at her ease, and she
found herself talking naturally with
the girl whom in her thoughts she
thought to occupy When they sepa-
rated she said to herself:
81 never felt so at ease with her be-
fore. I wonder Why" Then: II
couldn't have done that in her place
stopped and talked. She knew Just
Portable. She's the kind of girl he
should marry. Shed not be worried
over being hostess to his friends.
She did not say it when she told Mrs.
Roberts of the chance meeting, but to
her it was another proof that she had
done right.
Since her return Donald Horne had
been unobtrusively kind, but had not
, forced himself upon her in any way.
Now again he occasionally came into
Mrs. Roberts room in the evening for
a few moments chat, or brought his
violin and played for them. But he
had not asked Nellie to go out with
him; had done nothing to let her feel
| he was trying to take Fallon's place.
Nellie, deceived by his simple friend
illness, was her old gay self with him
She had no thought of love; that the
young editor was in love with her
But Mrs. Roberts, looking on, smiled
complacently.
Had Nellie not been with Mrs Rob-
| erts, under her kind and sensible in
fluence it is to be doubted she would
| have so quickly recovered her balance
after her experience as the affianced
of George Fallon. But her constant
association with the clever and loving
old lady; her long rest in the country
| away from anything that could remind
her of things she now must forget
had worked wonders. Even Cora
who had not been able to understand
Nellie's reasons for eliminating the
engagement, had to own that Nellie
never looked better, never seemed
happier.
IT wonder if she ever really loved
him?" Cora said to Mrs. Roberts,
thinking of her own love, one that
time had never dimmed.
yes, I think she did. She admired
him immensely, thought of him a great
deal But she didn't love him quite
| enough to dispel her fears. Her love
such as it was, mixture of admira-
ton and respect, was really love-of
kind But she did right-of that !
am sure-in breaking off the engage
ment. Happiness will come to her
some day; a love that does not ques-
ton ITSELF
3'Perhaps-but I was so glad for
her, so happy that she was safe"
Nellie will always be safe, Cora.
She may never have great riches but
her goodness is inherent. Don't worry
about her"
'She says you are just like a mother
to her, Mrs. Roberts. She never had
any mothering only what I could give
her. 1 am SO glad she has made you
her friend. We used to feel very anxi-
GUS about her, I guess mostly because
she was so pretty
"She is pretty. but she is also good.
Beauty and goodness aren't incompat-
ible, thank God"
mo, but sometimes too much
beauty is dangerous for a poor girl"
Il know and it is very sad that it is
so. I am sure God meant all beauty
to be for good. If we debase it, that
is our fault, our misfortune. Forgive
me for seeming to preach. Cora.
don't often indulge"
81 love to hear you talk. and as long
as you are so good to Nellie shouldn't
care how you preached at me-" Cora
said as she babe her goodbye. Nellie
had insisted Cora know Mrs. Roberts.
They had become fond of each other
and Cora often spent an hour with the
older woman, always feeling better
and stronger for it, she declared.
How Nellie always inspires love"
Cora thought as she walked away. "I
hope Mrs. Roberts is right and that
some day she may find the one man
the man who will make her happy"
Her eyes nlisted as she thought of the
sad ending of her one romance, of
William whom she loved so dearly; to
whose memory she was still true.
(TOI11 orrow-Don rescueS Nellie