The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-28
A Stenogrdpher,s
Romance
Az HILARIoUs EVENING.
BY JANE PHELPS

/ rGnapLcE. H.
It was early when the girls left the
house. They would see the first show
then 20 to a restaurant near by ana
lhave ice cream.
| Might as well do the thing up
brown Cora said when Gladys OBJ
NelIie's eyes at her suggestion. 1t
twas a cheap little place, the ice cream
!; only Is cents q. dish
'I could just die eating ice cream
Some day when am earning $50 a
week I'm going to have all want. All
at one time. too
'-Then YOU win die" Gladys said.
Never mind. can you think of a
happier death? Nice. cool ice cream
running down your throat till you fill
"oh. Nellie, was. there ever an
other girl Hike you?"
| TN ask ma sometime! amt never
| heard 1 was twins.
1t was a Charlie Chaplin film, and
being in the mood. his fun seemed
more ridiculous than ever. The girls
, laughed continuously. and when they
/ left were in a very jolly frame of mind,
ready for their ice cream party.
/ Let's eat slow, girls. so itu last
longer!" Nellie said. an ecstatic express
sion CT her face. But the dishes were
small and soon finished
I'm not a bit sleepy" Gladys said
as they left the restaurant. II guess I've
laughed too much. and been too ex-
cited over NeIlie's luck. to say nothing
of the wild west dance had"
Lets take a walk" Nellie proposed.
"A nice long walk down Broadway and
see all the electric signs It's most as
good as going TO q show"
It was a lovely night and the others
agreed. So arm in arm chatting hap
PLY, the three paraded~ down Broad
| way as far as 14th Street, then back
tup to their rooming house.
You get one kind OF signs going
down, and another coming back They
look different anyway Nellie de-
The theaters were emptying forth
their crowds as the girls passed, and
they stopped often to admire and
comment on the beautiful women in
evening dress with lovely cloaks thrown
over their bare shoulders, to speak OF
the men in their walters suits as
Nellie called the dress clothes they
wore.
Some day I'm going to the theater
dressed like that girl we saw, and I'm
going with a man IN walters fixin's.
You see If I don'ti" Nellie declared.
You don't have any pipe dreams
do you, dear?" Gladys asked with a
little sigh. These women and girls
they had seen lived in another world.
a world of ease and comfort. They
| didn't work day after day just to keep
body and soul together The sight Of
passed over Cora. and had made
Gladys bitter, almost spoiled her even
ing for her. She was glad when they
! left the theater district behind.
! Now to bed. both of you'll" Cora
said when at last they reached home.
We've had a dandy evening, Cora.
thank you ever so much" Nellie said
as she kissed her good night. when
grandpa sees how competent am 1
expect he'll give me tickets to take
you and Gladys to the opera. I'll ask
him anyway"
''Oh, Neiiie!' Cora gasped.
Operas and such things aren't for
poor girls like U.s. Nellie" Gladys still
felt depressed. and it showed in her
voice.
''They are Sc we can get them! And
watch little Nellie when she gets to
earning money. We're going places
said at Miss Carriers, makes Jack a
! dull boy Well, it amt going to make
Cora, and Gladys and little Nellie dull
girls if I can help 1t. We have as
body"
flowing the right and having the
fun are two different things" Gladys
returned
viii you two stop taIking." Cora
| called out. I'm dying to go to sleep
and ! can't with all that chattering"
Forgive US, Cora" Nellie was sorry
at once, and as usual did not hesitate
to say so. She almost worshiped
Cora, and that she should annoy her,
even thoughtlessly, hurt
"Of eoure. dear, good night"
CTomorrow-Nellle takes her new
position.)