Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-16
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
TEMPEST AND TEARS.

Il don T. UNDERSTAND Ypul Soi'i' |
with my hands clasped tight behind me. |
II ,et, me repeat: / sec no explanation |
whatever for your mheard-of behavior OF |
last EVENING" Mrs Newton, with brown |
scrowling, stared at me with angry eyes. /
'You mean that ! should not have |
asked Peggy to stay with me; thought .
you said
'Don't hedger' Mrs Newton flung out |
her hands in a quick gesture. "If you will
have it-I mean--why should you en-
tertain a man in my apartment until
two o o'clock in the morning.?
But you must be mistaken :,
Mistaken When my own maid tells
me of itf
Tears of pure anger filled my eyes.
I bit nv lips to keep them from trembling.
| would not show her how cruelty she
could hirt me- ;.
you can stand there the picture OF
offended innocenc - Mrs Newton flung
the words at me-" while / know, know, that
YOU had this man in my apartment aiohe
with no one here, except your younger
sister who was in her own room. II 1t were
another man, there might be some ex-
cuse-but this man of all!
What do you mean askeu.
Mean? | mean that he Is noted
| roue-a man 18th whom no woman Is
failed but i saw her breast rise ana
| fall under her tense emotion
II don't think YOU understand
! said. was so angry that trembied from
| head to foot: though | held myself
| straight and stiff; IF You are speaking oil
| MIR Tremaine he came here TO help me
! He was able to get part io1 my sister
in play, here in New York We did get IN
rather late perhaps IT was later than l
| thought
And how, may | ask did YOU meet
| this kind heIper?" Mrs, Newton IS tone
| was cutting in its sarcasm
"You have no right to ask, SAID very
| low, "but shall tell you: met hIm, quite
(, by chance, in the subway
could scarcely believe the swift
/ change that swept across Mrs, Newton S
face her lips that had been held together
until they only showed a stalght hard
line. parted Her ewes sen ched mine with
! certain desperate scrutiny beiicNe
! YOU. she said and turned her face away
from me
The porticres swung behind me, as
| | stepped into the hall | could no longer
keep back the mad tears that blinded me
On tiptoe crept to my room Peggy was
not there Something IN me was hnrt'
far more than my pride. | could no
| longer STAY with Mrs Newton. | fFit |
would sufFocatc if did not get out at once.
Where could | turn?
Soft arms were pressed about my
shoulders and Peggy voice was Soo'hitlt'
! There, there darling. don you care.
she's lust a horrid old cat; | heard her
and know She : angry about something
and she lust wants to take il out on ynn.
Don't YOU care. though
There was a tap on the door ana
before Peggy could spring TO It, MIS-.
Newtons voice said IN ITS usual sweet
tTne "lou may have the rest oI the e
dav to Yourself Miss Richards, | shall
be out for dinner
| looked Al nv face stained with tears,
and at the two spots Of red that stlil
glowed in my checks. | should not want
to show that face 10 . curious crowd;
but PcCgy's clothes must be gotten and
nj once. | would not dare trust her to go
alone 10 Newark and perhaps tail again
under the spell of hcr musician lover.
] should 20 with her
Never had | scan Peggy so sweet,
or SO thoughtful for me, = on that tnP
TO Newark My head throbbed badly snd'
as the train swung and ierked TO sudden
stoD. felt almost dizzy Out in the bracing
air again. | regained control OF myself
Net felt that had reached another turn
ing point-How could | return TO Mrs
Newton Was ii true that Mr. Trcmanic
was a roue. as she had sand
PeCCvs clothes were packed and
we were on our way back TO the CITY before
| had come To any decision shouid
leave; at least that much was decided
reviewed all the possibilities before me
might get clerical work; / could neither
write shorthand or typewrIte. Perhaps !
could tutor.
But what Of Peggy? ! knew that while
| the charm of her new part still held her
she would remain contented; but what OF
| the weeks in between when she might
have no engagement 1t was that might
| save 50 that she would have some place
TO 20. in that deadly time that l mad
so gladly gone 10 Mrs Newton 5.
| knew Peggy too well 70 expect that
she would look out for any future farther
than the next day Ii Mother were alive
NV haIf-rnade plans and decisions were
shattered as thew so often are by Ou5sdC
force. when | reached Mrs Newton 5
She glided down the hall TO me and held
out a soft hand
Eve were both rather nervous and
worn out she said, Let us forget what
We said TO each other?
Nv ewes were on the dark, rich rug al
nv feet but her voice grew only more
pleading than before, iou Will stay witt
me? | should not know how TO get aone
without you-now.
Weakly | said, Yes
| As | went into my own, / heRrd a
voice that | could not mistake ln the
drawing room-a mans voice-apd a
woman's answered it, with that ye.Nety
rise and fall that was almost in echo
Was Mr. Tremaine's presence the
cause of my forgiveness. ! asked myself
Tomorrow Moods.