The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-06
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
NELLIE TAKES STOCK OF HER
BEAUTY.
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
Nellie had taken a book Donald
Horne recommended to the office. She
was now studying evenings, or read
ing aloud with Mrs. Roberts. The old
lady encouraged her to extend her
reading, to seriously study to improve
herself. When Mr.. Fallon saw her
reading during lunch hour he said:
"Your story must be very interest
ing, Miss Nellie
mended by a young man who lives at
Mrs. Doty's. I am busy evenings
SO I brought it down to read luncheon
time
TOO busy evenings to read! You
must be very popular" The tone was
a shadow on his face, a disappearing
look in his eyes.
I'm not so popular as all that
altho I do have some invitations to
go out. But Mrs. Roberts, a dear old
lady living at the house, and I read
together almost every evening. She
is very smart and educated, and ex-
plains things to me as we go along.
You see. I'm pretty shy on education,
and 1 do so want to learn things. she
stopped, embarrassed. She had not
meant to say so much.
ST never have noticed any particu-
lar lack in you." Fallon said kindly.
But after Nellie had put down the
book he said:
rs the young man who loaned you
the book an educated MANI"
"Oh, yes! He's on a newspaper.
Mr.. Fallon smiled. His knowledge
of reporters was a bit wider than Mel
lies. Again he queried:
rs it this young man who takes you
Eyes, occasionally. He has taken
me TO the theater few times. and to
motion picture shows" Nellie did
] net think 1t necessary to add that she
/ might have gone far more often had
she not refused his Invitations.
IT expect he is in love with you"
Nellie was SO surprised by the re-
mark, it was so unexpected. that she
blushed furiously.
at think not, why should he be?"
''Then you don't care for him 2"
Mercy. moi" Nellie spoke so en-
phatically they both laughed. Then
she added. Hes awfully nice and
kind but that's ALL.
There flashed a look into Fallon's
! eyes, gone in a second, but 1t was a
look that made Nellie's breath come
| faster. She dropped her eyes upon
her work and did not again look up.
Was it possible that George Fallon
cared anything about her? Or who
she loved? If he didn't, what did that
| look mean? His questions?
But Nellie did not long allow herself
probably ask any employe the same
questions. Perhaps he felt that if she
were in love with someone she might
marry and leave the concern. He
might think it not worth while for
her to take Miss Jones place If that
were so, hence his questions.
Yet she could not wholly rid herself
of the feeling that there had been
something very like jealousy in his
tone, relief when she denied caring fol-
Donald Horne.
That night Nellie studied herself be-
fore her mirror more closely than ever
she had done before. She longed to be
attractive to the man she loved, even
tho she realized she never could be
anything to him. She saw big, intel
cheeks, a broad, low forehead, a face
of a delicate oval, and white ever
teeth, lips that needed no lip stick, q
skin white, with a. delicate flush in hel
cheeks. But in spite of all these at
fractions, Nellie turned away from the
mirror with a gesture of dissatisfac-
ton: Dorothy Fallon was tall and will
Lowry and Nellie was short. She stood
on tip-toe, and thought, if only she
could be even that much taller she
would be more attractive, more like
Dorothy.
It was a lovely night, and about
o'clock Donald asked her to go tc
a movie"
Lets take a walk instead?" she
suggested, as they reached the street
Donald agreed, asking where she
. would like to walk:
"On Fifth Avenue! It's so brigh
and some of the shops leave the cur.
tains up. I feel like being foolish and
looking at pretty things"
ct don't think that is foolish,
Donald said meaningly, looking dowr
into her face. ST like to look a
; pretty things too"
: (Tomorrow-An awkward meeting.)