Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-09
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
BETTER DAYS ARE COMING"
Chapter NV.

1 tore open the thlck, Wiiitc enNeioPe
and read:
some money not very much-about
hundred dollars perhaps? I'd tell you
what It's all about but 1'm under sort
of pact not to. Do be dear, Hazel, for
| must have the money!
1t was hastily scribbled in pencil
on the beautifully monogrammed paper.
II WAS dated Saturday at midnight.
Not very much, about n hundred
dollarst'' ] thought Perhaps 1T was not
much to Peggy, but it was great deal
to me-and how | should scrape 1T to-
getheI, did not know Ii was time, any
way, that j began TO think OF money
matters. Too long ! had put of that
dread task.
so sat down with pencil, and paper
before the desk in Mrs Kim. alls room.
| had lust 500 left IN the bank.
The funeral, and all the expenses OF
Mothers illness, had eaten mp my small
savings adonly had Two hundred dollars
altogether. ! would send Peggy the Soti.
But i was AL could send and t left
me nj solut,ly witt out anything 10 fsit
! back on.
If kept my position IN school, | would
, have sevrntv-five dollars month Gut
Of that would have to pay the rent OF m
apartmcnt. my food. clothes and put some
aside. Dear old Eliza would have to 60,
but even then could not possibly do IL.
| thought with a feeling Of pane. ! must
have some home for Peggy TO come 10
when her engagement was over For there
would he long weeks in between, when she
might have mo work Mrs. Newtsss $
offer, corning at this time, seemed ashoss
like godscnd.
Peggy and | were entirely dependent
on ourselves now, for ncle lheo had
about fftv dollars month thai ne
scrapcd along on, and an old shack IN
| the country. while Aunt Martha, Father
sister, supported herself
If gave me almost dcSolate ieehng Ia
realize how alone was how utterly
dependent on my own efforts.
had health and youth. and thai would
| have to take tho place oi other g'ris'
| families and wealth
As soon rs | had made my decision.
/ told Mrs I>imball The next thing
was to send Peggy the money, then To
pack up al the things IN our shabby
Hat and tell old Eliza that | should not
need her any more telephoned Mrs
Newton that would accept her offer.
Her voice over the telephone pleaded
Oct here as fast as YOU can, won't YOU
! &c told my present companion, and she
i leaving immediately
SO went home to my apartment where
( Peggy and had grnwn into womanhood.
! and hogan that sad task Of looking over
/ things Once. as ! opened Mother door
/ and saw her clothes hanging there aS
though they were Just waiting Tor itcr t.
nut them on. | foi, that ! could not bear
+ Il The tears strcamcd down my checks and
1 sank 10 my knees amidst those shabby
+ garments.
Eliza found me there, with my hcad
+ buried in mothers COAT
/ Now. chile. chile, she hegrcd,
1 'fYonr own mother wouldn't hab you
/ breaking your heart so. You lest let Eliza
got ynu some nice hot tea
Then had to tell her that could no
/ longer afford TO keep her with me
"Oh. Eliza. cr'od, Il don't sco how
I ] am gong 10 let Won 90. hnt | haven't
money enough
Better DAYS are comm. chile. said
| Eliza comfort ingly. 4 spccks, III Just
"a to my brother down South. Hes hccn
wanting me to como
In spite of her cheerful words. saw
that her face was wet with tears when |
t lifted mIne 70 her.
"PartingS Is sad, chile, hut YOU won't
/ forget old Eliza, If vou ever wants COM
fortln bad. she asked.
Indeed, | won't" ] answered 1t made
me feel less lonesome TO think OF this
old woman who | knew would come If
Il ever needed ,'comfortIn.
II was late afternoon when | hurried
out to find a second hand furniture dealer
who might give me something for our
. L Il: -
EVERYTHING else was done. NV clothes
and some of Mothers things were packed
in the trunk would send 10 Mrs. Newton
Then whole painful business was finished
and felt as If that early part Of my life
had come To q definite end.
That night 81 supper, Eliza hovered
over me as if were q child She had made
little hot, Southern biscuits and some
warm maple syrup that was almost
waxy, for dessert. Iry as ! would,
could not help the tears from filming my
eyes and blottinG out Eliza kind old face
| There. there, she soothcd me. You
! and Eliza ies goln' to be happy, after a
| while. Wait and see Eliza II come up and
| live with YOU and she Ii take care OF your
babies while YOU rldcs around IN grand
| limousine
| could not help smiling at her visionary.
! idea Of my future
| Everthing was ready now ! looked
AT nv trunk labeled. Hazel Richards,
/ The Gotham" ! went over the ugly,
faded rooms once more. Tomorrow these
| bits OF furniture would stand IN a little
/ shop on some side street with 81 -9S tagged
| 70 them.
I Law down on the white iron bed IN nv
dark room for the last time.