The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-13
four DANCING FEET
GERrIE EvApEs o'coNNoR.
81 ZANE Phelps


J Spflng nau come once more II was
six months since Tom Noxris had babe
| Gertie goedbye-months of longing,
| of hope, then of encouragement.
1.-The country is pretty now" she
said to herself, memory stirring, as
the soft spring air crept into her win
dow, ia like to see it again."
Yet country to her meant more than
green grass, birds singing and flow
ers. 1t meant Tom Norris, the man
who had made her see the beauties of
| the country; the man who had talked
| of his ranch under the wide reaches of
the western sky, who had told her of
| his home that he loved.
One morning she crept away early
! and taking a trolley car she went
down on Long Island. She left the
car at an open space and walked
about for an hour. But she returned
longing more keenly for him than
ever.
Gust to hear from him" she said
to herself, ''to know he had not for
gotten. The country isn't the same
without him with me-"
Then one night when she danced
Gertie saw Edgar Walton. the young
society man who had brought Tom
Norris to Rosenburg's. Her heart al
most ceased beating as she scanned
the faces of the two young men with
him. goed-looking, Well-groomed fell
one of them she felt faint, almost ill.
Walton recognized her and mo-
toned her to come to his table but
she shook her head. Even the thought
that she might hear something of
Tom would not allow her to break her
rule; to sit with those gay fellows
whom anyone could see cared nothing
for the law, and already were pTo-
ducing pocket TASKS. and rather
pointedly trying to attract the atten-
ton of the girls who were dancing. :
AS soon as she could Gertie hurried
out. She would not wait for Lilly
and when Len O'Connor asked if he
might take her home, she rebuffed
him so shortly he stared after her in
Arrangement
Not consciously had Geptie really
expected her acquaintance with Tom
Norris to lead to anything save friend
ship. But he had made other young
men, the type she met, seem common
and cheap. In this way he had per-
haps worked her harm. for in her
ignorance she had thought too much
of the little amenities that come so
naturally to Tom, and men of his
class, but had been so unusual to her.
'fYou'H let some nice fellow slip
thru your hands because he amt po-
lite as that Tom was" Lilly shrewdly
had told her.
Gertie said as she tossed sleeplessly
in her bed that night. "only just to
know he hasn't forgotten me. know
I am not .his kind, that he'd never
love me, but
whats the matter, Gertie? Are
you siek?" Jennie who slept with her
had been wakened by her tossing.
NO. Jennie! I just can't sleep
that's ALL"
., Talk to. me and sE,7a maybe you'n get
no. Go to sleep. There isn't any,
thing to talk about"
"All right, Lent" Gertie said the
next time O'Cennor asked to take her
home 'Im sorry I was cross to
you the other night-bqt-well, I
couldn't help it,
Meyer mind, dearie. I like girl
with some pep"
Seeing Edgar Walton and his
friends had awakened a spirit of reck-
lessness in Gertie. She'd forget and
have a good time like other girls. Not
like LillY.she never did the way Lilly
did even before she met Tom-but
she's let Len O'Conner and other fell
lows take her home. and go on ex-
cursions Sundays with thin.
Coin to give me a kiss tonight to
make up for bein' cross to meg" Len
asked when they reached home.
stop your nonsense, Len!" He had
tried to embrace her.
"Ain't you my girl, Gertie?"
mol I'm not any fellows girl, not
ike you mean. Anu L dOIl want any
fooling. Len. If you can behave why
Wen have some good times I get
lonesome sometimes working all the
time, and never having any fun"
Len stared in engagement. This was
a new Gertie, this girl talking of being
lonesome when she could have oon-
pany all the time, If she would.
Come, give me a kiss and we'll take
a ride Sunday The boss let's me take
his flivver sometimes"
Let me go, LEM I told you /
wouldn't stand any of that stuff and
as he persisted, she gave him q re-
sounding smack with her hand; then.
before he could recover from his as
constituent, she had disappeared
What you sitting up for, MAJ" she
asked. 1t was not usual to find her
mother up when she got in.
This came fer you this Afternoon.
Gertfe. l guess it's from that Tom who
you like SO. thought I'd wait up
and give it to you"
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