The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-07
A Stenogrdpher's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
DELLA BLACK WRITES TO CORA
CHAPTER 4k

The girls talked long and enthusiasts
t:cally that night. Cora would take
her old typewriter down in the morn
ing, and so be ready for work.
''rii bet you make the first months
rent in the nine days you have the
office free" Nellie said.
II probably won't do that, but I may
make enough to0heip," Cora replied.
William had come up to spend the
evening and after he had been told
he considered only Cora's due-they
talked of ways and means of getting
her work. to do.
i The entrance of Della Black. look
ing pale and wan, interrupted them
for a time. But she didn't stay long
They decided upon getting out some
cards to be left in the different Of
fices in the building. and in one or
two large office buildings near. And
William offered TO help in the dis
tributioR. 4a=s
The girls received few letters. So
when one addressed In a strange hand
was found in their box, they were, a
bit curious 1t was for Cora, and as
she opened 1t, Nellie said:
face halted her. What is it q.
ITS from Della Black Cora said
slowly. I'm afraid she is desperate.
poor thing" She then told Nellie what
she and Gladys knew of Della's pitifui
love affair. Then she read:
Dear Cora: Try not to think too
badly of me, but I can't live without
him. You know who I mean. 1 wish
was good and strong like you, and
the girls with you, but I'm not. 1
can't work. I can't do anything but
think of him-and want him. shant
see you again, so goodbye, and, thank
you for being so good to nle-for try
ing to help me.-Della."
Poor thing, she's gone back to
him!" Gladys said, breaking the ST.
lence. How she must care. knowing
he has a wife and ALL"
Its very sad" Cora said. ''She is
running her life-perhahs his wife's.
and one never knows. his also. He Is
very selfish to take advantage of her
love. She told me she refused always
to touch his money; that flowers, tick
cts, for the theater, and things like
that were all she ever accepted from
him---that she loved him for himself,
not for what he was"
"Or wasn't" Nellie. interrupted. ."It
| seems to me he wasn't much. or he'd
have married her instead of the other
woman -
"She want in his class" GLADYS
| said. And when it comes to marry
| ing guess men like the kfnd1of girls
| they have been used to. not girls their
friends won't know. I can't help be-
They are probably doing their best
to be good wives. but If one believes
what the papers say, men with money
are hard to hold. Poor Dellalr
II shall hunt her up in a day or
| two Cora said, she had been reading
the note again. II wish we might
! help herS-hslp her 10 see what she
| is doing. She isn't bad, but fear her
| love will ruin her just the same
But girls who have their living to
| earn, girls whose time is so. fully oc-
| cppied, have little timesstos think of
| others unless they happen to be near
| them. So in their work Della was
| quite forgotten for a day or two, altho
Cora determined to spend part of SUN
| day in an attempt to locate her. She
would ask William to 41elp her.
Saturday afternoon Nellie came in
| with a paper in her hand. She looked
excited, and before she removed her
hat said:
| Read this, sCorav' and handed her
| the paper, pointing to big black head
| lines; $z{
"GIRL SUICIDE IN MADISON :
| SQUARE PARK - ~