Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-18
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
By Mary Douglass.
AN INTERRUPTION.
Chapter NNNU.

The streets were darkenng IN the
early twilight, and l ouickened my steps
SO that | should reach Mrs. Newton s
IN time 10 finish some letters that had
not been able to get TO the whole day.
/ would brush my hair and dress ior
dinner, first | decided as | pushed aside
the portieres and glanced into the lighted
drawing room. \ figure sunk IN a deep
chair, and motionlcSs, stirred at my
footfall-Mr. Tremalnc.
Il haven't seen YOU alone since your
sister began to rchearsc, he said, extend
ng his hand. Il suppose Mrs: Newton
told YOU that l called the other day!
| stammered something in reply; Tor
she had not told me, nor had she mentioned
MIR. Tremaine name.
VIII YOU excuse me while | brush my
hair?" l asked.
Certainly" he said, with his eyes on
my face and hungry look that almost
seemed to dcvour me.
! hurried to my room and splashed my
face In cold water and pulled the halrplns
from my heavy hair that fell about me
IN dark waves 1t rested me to brush 1t
out and ieel the strands about my iace
smooth out.
From the other room, ] heard cry,
quick, frightening, breath-taking, Hazel,
Hazel, come herei'
The brush slipped from my fingers
and | plunged through the door and
brushed aside the portieres. MIR. Tremalna
was standing where | had left him on
the rug before the mantcl with both
hands IN his pockets.
What IS it, | cried with my hand
81 my heart and my hair falling over
my shoulders
Il wanted to sec YOU with that haIr
down, you lovely thing, he cried
How could voul' / said and the
scarlet color flashed To my checks. | ran
back to my room and put up my hair with
trembling fingers; while The blush mel
slowly from my cheeks. | loltered ovc ny
dressing and hoped that Mrs. Newton
would come III. hat would she think II
she found him here and alone. Then /
knew that did not care what she thought I:
on.v v, nted to he with ia.
could not resist the charm OF the man.
Have you forgiven mc. he asked me as
] ,trolicd INTO The drawing room
looked at him frankly, Why didn't
you ask mc - take my hair down
should lc41c been glad 10, | said angrtly
On. YOU proud little thing. nc SAID
softly, forgive me this tlme: and
promise 10 reform, But pictured you IN
Lncrc With that lovely blue-hlack halr
about you and | made up my mind that
should soc YOU IL reality. | get most thAgs
that want hc concluded
could very We'll believe htn Tor ae had
bad i certain power tnat Mas hard tu
resist | wondered i men itit tine same
wsN about HIM
Ncwerc silent . long hat iclt nervous
and III tut quIctA,s~ ny vni,e. ut rng
ul iljt sounded forced.
~ don need 70 entertain mo- ue
,lld. i have not come here Tor thAt.
a. hat have you come Tor? ! asked
timldls
You don't know? ne asked
Nv heart quckened its beat and | heard
IL gallop in the silence, my Qulet blood
seemed 10 sweep through my BODY anu
make me hot and cold IN turns My ey
lIdsfclt heavy D. thoughthcy were weighed
with stones, but fitted them and looked
into his waiting eyes.
No, | said, and my voice was soft SO
soft that nc could only tell the word by
tho motion Of my lips
Oh don I know ne breathed
Aui 4c Aad come across the rug to me and
hal irisoued both my hands IN hls iii-
eye, were 80 near my own that u made me
dizzy - look in them. pulled away with =
htllc frightened gasp. lie seemed 10 take
from me all power OF thought and leave
me weak and tremulous.
You mean | said
Al Mr.. Tremaine, now glad ! am "a
sec YOU Charlotte Newton had ghded
INTO the room, so softly that had not
heard her.
Had Mr.. Tremaine been aware Of her
presence? could not tell from hIs manner
For il was perfect; not by the slightest
sign did he let her know what had just
passed bet ween ua>But ! y a. still trembling
ard the light blurred before my eyes
Oniy too gladly heard Mrs Newton
sa>, viii you look up those coInmltte.
pal.ers for me, Hazel2
Ihc excuse was q palpabl, one Q set rno
on. 81 the room, but the atHo-pher
thc draw lug room was charged lai "a tltt
til sccne which had ju>i taken ,.4ec. !
Was glad ior an Interm>sIon; Z chance TO be
alone.
But even In the morning room. with tho
door shut behind me, | could not rld my
self of the frightened sensation. the feeling
OF a crisis that had taken place. Did he low
me? Did Mrs. Newton love him Couid
she nave meant hin heu she SPOKE ot
the man she would give up her orld for
That man, she had told me--was married
Tomorrow Two WomeR-And A Man.