Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-21
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
NEW THOUGHTS.


Peggy and | walked along until We
came to bus, As we swung through the
growing darkness, our thoughts were very
AUNT Martha would be the solution to our
difficulties. She would help mc to get
hold of Peggy.
Aunt Martha Ind aiwavs been an Inn
portant factor in our lives Her interests
were broad She seemed 10 search your
mind and find the thing that was bother
ing YOU. Sometimes she could even find
the way out.
Peggy and ] went up the old.fashioned
STEPS of the brown stone house. II had
once stood apart. in retired dignity, but
now little shops encroached on its privdcy.
When VIC had climbed the wide, worn
stairs, we stepped into a new atmosphere
Here everything was bright and cozy aud
interesting.
"I'vc gotten the special dinner that
you girls like Aunt Martha cried, when
we had opened the drop-leaf table and set
it for three.
She and Peggy arranged things, while
I made my usual tour around the room
The table WAS piled with magazines
Books shouldcrcd each other in tho low
shelves The old secretary was covered
with letters-Aunt Martha is . very
busy woman.
Now YOU girls tell me about your.
selves, said Aunt Martha when We werc
snugly ensconccd IN our usual places
Peggy had flung herself on the square
foOtstool besidc the tlr 'plaee She elasre
her knees in her arms sank back com
fortahly in the big, winged chair.
TIN in the chorus Of The lione}
Girls, YOU know, and as soon ns we've
rchearscd, we are going on the road
What do you do
"Oh, | sing and dance Would vou like
10 sec some Of the steps
Peggy showed aside the chars She
turned and twisted for iuni Martha :
benefit
Some man in the company in low
with votl7" asked AUNT Martha perry
would have snubbed Us FOR putting the
question But she did not deny IT
II 50 that little head of yours. Peggy
and don't LET yourself fall N love yet, that
ie, If YOU want to succeed. Do YOU
child2"
Peggy nodded Il helipve | can act if
onlv have chance, she said I had IL
take this wanted To get in | feel have
ii IN me Her voice WAS filled with
emotional feeling | saw, IN swift flash
new Peggy Peggy who had never let
that real self be seen bV her family.
Don't cntangle Yourself now with a
love affair with Some thlrd-rate actor II
YOU succeed, Won can do anything have
anything But wait
Peggy said nothing But was this not
the solution? Had not Aunt Martha ap
pcaled to the ambition IN Peggy She
had offered her m incentive vat chez
Peggys mobile face change and tighten
under the lden
You do believe in Inc She asked
= DO, SAID Aunt Martha firmly ano
with sincerity
There vas silence for while IN the
room
Would Hou mai thoec letters Tor me
asked Aunt Nartha. pointing 10 the pile
on her desk Peggy had sprung 10 her feet
at the suggestion She wanted 70 he aIonf
with her ncu hopc-hcr nov ambition
We heard the door close behind Ter
ou are unhappy Ilazel2 What !.
the trouble iunt Martha did not look a
me n She put the question. .Perhap:
YOU would rather not tell me- she ron
tinucd, as sand nothing How Is schoo
gong
4 hate it, | cried passionately, i wa.
never made 10 be Il teacher | 60 around
and around like = squirrel IN a cage
There ls no way out
No way OUT Aunt Martha unused.
Why must YOU teach school,
someone has 10 earn money ",
GO to help mother slong and have {
steady income.
You haven't gotten the thing yo,
wanted out Of l:fe2'
no, answered softly, the tear!
slowly filling my eyes
YET il YOU had interesting work, ane
work that you felt counted. your lf,
would not he empty not be a Inonote
nous round of days
What do you mean, Aunt Martha
| asked
4 mean just tbs get into something
YOU like There are endless opportunltic
for women now-a-davs lind out Hha
you would like 10 do study up for It
Learn all YOU can tbout II Then tax.
the plunge and strike out for yourself
When could YOU resign yoilr position
d have 10 glEe i month ( notice,
| answered
We heard the front door open Peggy
voico called happily to me We reall'
ought to get home. moth will hc expect
ing Us
sand goodbye 10 Aunt Martha IN
daze Ny mind seemed afame with tina