The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-09
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
A SATURDAY NIGHT BEAU.
CHAPTER Il.

A SATURDAY NIGHT BEAU.
CHAPTER 81.
William had set Saturday night as
| the time he would call for Cora. They
both worked hard, and had to get up
very early. Sunday morning they
kcouid sleep later.
| Nellie insisted upon lending some
thing to Cora-for luck, she explained.
So she laundered her best set of col
lar and cuffs and sewed them in
| Cora's best dress. a dark silk that in
! the daytime showed wear, but which
at night was quite elegant-so Nellie
declared.
Cora insisted the girls go down in
the dingy parlor to meet William Dali
ton. and he was so well behaved. so
genuinely pleased at the courtesy, that
| Doth girls were delighted with him.
He's one little bit of all right"
Nellie said as she and Gladys watched
him walking beside Cora. They
| make a nice looking couple, don I
they? I wonder if she viii marry
him %
It's pretty early to talk of that!''
Gladys laughed. This is the first
time they have gone out together.
Then 1 imagine he is poor. doesn't
he told her his mother was an in
valid
Wasn't it nice of her to introduce
him to us?" Nellie went on.
1tSs guess cora knows more
about those things than the rest of US.
She had different bringing up. Most
girls would have Sneaked out without
saying word. But 1 guess a fellow
respects girl for~being introduced to
her friends. 1t sort of takes the place
OF the chaperon society girls have. 1
can't explain it very we'll, Nellie, not
as well as Cora could, but a fellow
who is treated like Cora treats them
doesn't ever get fresh"
"
think she's proud of them, wants her
friends to know them, SO they are on
their good behavior. Men are queer
animalst 1 don't understand them at
al! But know enough to make
them mind their own business and let
me alone. 1 do hope Cora enjoys
herself" she added
Nellie insisted upon getting the
home meals, and most of the time she
also cleared away. Gladys begged to
replied almost Indignantly:
"A nice little sponge I'd be if 1
didn't do such a little bit after all YOU
two girls have done for me; and me
having the soft job 1 have, easy hours
ana an While you two work like dogst
II makes me sick because l can't do
more and-eat less. 1 eat as much
every meal as you two together. and
only pay for a third of the grub.
But this funny stomach of mine
always seems to be hoIlering for food.
II always has ever since 1 can remem-
Der! Maybe if I live long enough IN
get filled up, and it will stop poster
ing met don't make mo fat either"
thank your stars for that! You're
TOO snort to be fat. You'd look like a
regular roly-poly if you were" Then;
Never complain of What you eat, Nell
lie, L only wish Cora had as good an
Appetite
These poor office girls were far
more fhntIChtfiI1 nf
kinder, than many girls who would
have considered them beneath their
notice Yet $hey talked little of what
they did. 1t was a matter of course
with them.
Cora came in about 1880, having
spent a delightful evening. She looked
bright and animated. really pretty.
She had seen Way Down East and
had to tell them the entire story.
After the show we had ice cream
and cake at the restaurant next the
theater. William wanted me to have
something more, but 1 know ne is
poor, he sopports his mother and a
woman who takes care of her, so re-
fused But 1 had such a nice time,"
You see I didn't have to feel that
way when my boss took me Quit
wasn't afraid of hurting his pocket
book" Nellie broke in. but 1 guess
lots of fellows who work in offices are
just as hard up as we girls. 1 used to
think a man didn't have no troubles,
that God kept them all for us. But
since I have been in the office with
that white-faced bookkeeper. I have
sort of changed my mind. That man
has trouble-and I know iti'
The girls spent a long quiet Sunday.
1t rained hard all day, and none of
them went out They looked over
their clothes, washed and ironed a few
things, Nellie declaring:
ut can't be wrong for US because we
don't have no other time and God
knows it"
Her references to the Deity always
amused Cora and Gladys. She was in
no way sacrilegious. 1t was as if God
were one of them. knew their needs.
(Tomorrow-Lunche and flowers for
Nellie)