Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-13
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
By Mary Douglass.
ANOPENING.


A taxi stood chugging at the door Mr;
Tremaine helped Peggy into 1T; climbed
in and he gave the address to the chauffeur
We three sat perfectly silent on our
wav In the managers / was praying
feryently. that it would all come out right
that Peggy would get the engage
ment-that she would be willing TO give
up the pianist for new ambition. j.
As the lights flashed into the faces OF
the two Others, | wondered what tney
were thinking. | could read peggy eS-
preston. Her eyes were Woe anu iii e
tenselv bright. She stared ahead as IL
she were looking into some glorious future.
She was strung to the highest pitch OF her
nervous. quicksilver temperament. What
was Mr. Tremaine thinking? | could not
read his face. His mouth was closed IN a
hard line and he. too, looked straight
,bead hut | almost fancied 1t was INTO
his mast that he stared with such Gym
ical gaze.
The next half hour seemed to pass like
n dream. / waited as the two others inter
viewed the manager. was lett IN a room
that must have been his library; | had
confused impression OF rich hanglngs ana
strange lars and ornaments that lent the
room an exotic charm. | was fascinated
bv a Jade elephant that stood over the
firepIare. In the dim light it seemed to
wink at me maliciously. Even the voices
that crept to me from the otherr room, made
nothing seem very real.
| only know | sat there with my hands
clasped tight in my lap, palm pressed to
palm. and stared at that malign thing OF
iade. | put my hand 10 my heart IN
voluntarily as MIR. Tremalne stepped INTO
the room.
''She has itl' he said
j did not know until that moment,
how highly strung ! had been. Peggy
fate hung on that thread OF chance on
Broadway. | knew that II this had not
come her way. should have been power
less to keep her from running of. And l
would never have been able 10 nd my
self of the awful thought that, in some
way. | might have stopped her. She WAS
saved-and by Mr.. Tremalne's lnterven-
ton.
could not stop the tears of gratitude
that filled my eyes and slid down my
checks. | searched In VAIN Tor my hand
kerchief-
There. there" Mr.. Tremaine was pat
ting me awkwardly on the shoulder
''I-I-can't thank vou,' | began, try
ing to swallow the teL-tale tears.
Il don't want thanks, he sad eng
maticallv: almost fancied that | heard
him add, darling" but it was whisper
a breath that might have been something
else
Peggy danced into the room--a bright
eyed, radiant Peggy, who flung herseh
into nv arms and covered me with IN
pulsive kisses. Isn't it wonderful she
bubbled on the way home. "A chance on
Broadway, that some girls have TO wait
ten wears for or never get! 1t | make
good-Oh and / shallLprobably they'll
offer me real part IN a year, and may
be a star, with my name IN Harlng electric
letters! / shall have my own maid, and
nv car and lovers
Peggy had suddenly remembered the
pianist. She swerved around to Mr.. Tre-
maine. Don't you think one should |
sacrifice anything for career
Anything" Mr.. Tremaine replied; |
but ] only caught the words, "and any
one" that were not meant for Peggy.
This was the FIRST snd last reference |
that she made TO the man with whom she |
was going TO run away. ] never spoke TO |
her about il; she never mentioned him /
again TO me.
wondered sometimes ii II u,s no more |
to him than it had been TO Peggy But |
she proved her perfect lndcpcndcnce to |
herself.
1t was late when we reached Mrs New |
tons apartment Peggy tore off to my |
room. to curtesy before the mirror and |
trv ON all her pretty new tricks. We heard |
her reading the lines OF her part over aloud |
| sat back among the pillows Of the |
davenport: while Mr.. Trcmaine paced the |
room rcstlessly, smoking cigarette. |
was wondering, pItlfully, why mother
had had TO struggle on Ii poverty TO the |
dav of her death; and why ] should be
thrown suddenly into these new sur
roundings IN which poverty had no part. |
Yet, how gladly l would go back 10 those |
days Of pinch and worry, If ! could have |
mother with me.
You're a restful girl to be with, MIR. |
Tremaine's words reused me from my /
reverie. so few women know when TO |
stop talking They think they must keep /
up a steady chatter" he broke of sud |
denly.
I've got to go back in few days" /
he searched my face with his eyes.
Go baok?' / asked. tired to control |
the tremble Ii my voice.
TO England, he answered, 'G wish
YOU would go with me"
But when will YOU return?'
Il don't know about that-wheneyer
the government sends me-perhaps
month, maybe year, perhaps not until
The war Is over.
"Oh, / said ! felt great dreariness
overwhelm me. should be left alone
again, with no one who really cared
whether lived or died. Yet ! would strug-
gIe on. if only for Peggy sake
For the second time that evening. / felt
NV throat ache with sobs but dug the
nails into my hands and vowed | would
not give WAY to tears again. Whether |
cared for Mr. Tremalne or not | did not !
it was not in the way had
loved Jamie, knew, at least.
Il must CO." MIR. Tremaine said, Il
didn't realize it was so late" He took my
hand in his and pushed the portieres
aside. | heard the front door close after
him.
Inr,nrrn,z-AnnfM Martha Advises