Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-14
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
THE NEW DRESS.
rh.,tnr ~

Mother had dropped her knitting. Inc
color was swept out Of her cheeks show
ing the worn outlines of her tacc clearly.
ats useless to argue, explained
Peggy coolly, '1've signed up. Twenty
five per. and If make good Gus may
give me q line"
~ do think, Peggy, yo,I might have
asked Mother about it. You know we
care about you more than anything else
in the world How can VIC let you do
this? You are only eighteen. What do
YOU know about lie?
Pepgv's soft mouth Strengthened into
hard line.
Before she could answer, Mother said,
II wish you had told me first, dear, but
If that is what you have set your heart
on doina. YOU shall do it. feel sure MIR.
Stevens would never have taken yeu un
less YOU showed great talent.
As usual, Mother was won over TO
Peggys way Of thinking.
But Mother, don't you think Peggy
is too Young To 90 ont with company
that we know nothing about
ooh. | can take care OF myself
'fBut you've often said. Mother, that
Pegpv must be cayeful; She Is danger
ouslv attractive to men
Isn't IT lucky that there one IN the
family who isn't an old
There, there. Peggy, that is no way
10 sneak 10 votr sister II vour heart
is set ON this part in nc theatre, Harvey
and | will do all IN our power to help
vou Won't We, Hazel?
There WINS silence " on We, Hazel
Mother asked again, softly.
nodded | could not speak just then
Peggy east triumphant look III my
direction. She picked up her sailor hat
She and Mother went out OF the room
What was this pretty little -ster OF
! mine going TO do with her life. wondered?
/ She was not willing to travel along the
beaten paths Things had always come
| 10 Peggy She had love without struggling
| for IT, And /? Mothors words came
| back 10 torture me. y ou'H never get
married.
Then thought of jimmie again A
! great wave of happiness swept over rne.
/ loved him and | nm not afraid 10 ac-
/ knowledge il | should DO all ! could
/ for MY little sister. for am ! not blessed
/ above most girls? lie is going to fight,
| but | would not have Il otherwise. He
has told me he loves me. Of course, md
! vet ] feel
do not think that | am vain, for
! do not believe my self pretty Yet ]
care n great deal how look | cared
particularly when knew Jamie kiinball
| was coming home on furlOugh | did 20
want TO look we'll them For that might
make a difference | would let nothing
slip that could help me III my purpose
So when Mother was planning Peggy s
clothes for her new venture. suggest Cd
/ that | might have n new dress
Il do think YOU can get along, Harvey
until YOU have had your first months
| salary" Mother sad You might get
n pretty school dress then, and perhaps
| light silk for evenings We could make
| them ourselves Now about Peggy
clothes: she should have a handsome
suit and hat for travelling and
But how can YOU afford it, | asked
Il think we can afford 1t even If we dc
have to 60 without things Tor few months
II is 50 necessary. that she should lool
| we'll now when she is just starting out
| II may make a difference in her position.
said nothing. | thought that my
going without dress might make q differ
ence. too. in my whole life For il | did
not look well...
| went into my room and spread m,
wardrobe out on my bed \ blue taffe
with the chiffon sleeve torn had worI
il steadily all summer, and II looked any
thing but fresh little blue serg,
which was shiny In places A pale blu,
evening frock that had been made anc
remade until there was nothing of fresh
ness left in it
They simply would not do Especial,
with Jamie, who was always so CAREFUL,
groomcd His Mother always dresses
so beautifully He would not want
wife.
Perhaps / should have made up IN,
Z = j
at that moment looked M nj the NINA
ture Of grandmother that hung abov
mv white iron ted The idea glance
through my mind es. | would do il
| took the miniature III It's channin
old gold frame and wrapped II carefull
in tissue paper Grandmother seemed t
look at me reproachfully, almost rs
n she understood my purpose.
/ Then ! slipped out OF our little fla
( before Mother could ash where was goin
: Il will give you forty dollars for II tn
whltc-halred art dealer answered to IN
query ut is a very beautiful one, an
old Are You sure that YOU want to sell 1t
Yes. | answered, IF YOU will CIV
me the privilege of buying it back
"If we still have it, he SAIL ''If We sti
, have it,
As his old, veincd hand stretche
across fire counter with tie bills IN It,
felt as if were closing a guilty transact
| lon.
had read somwehere that THE sures
: sign OF being in love was that you wante
? to dress in yonr best clothes all the time.
c IL seemed true enough in my case Ft
4 when Eliza ushered Jamie kimball int
: our tiny sitting room, ! was giving las
look at the frock ! had bought with tll
( forty dollars 1t had been a reckle,
thing to do, felt, but So much depende