Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass
MOODS.
CHAPTER .XXXU.

! found myself in that position, | DIS
covered as many drawbacks rs ! had see
beauties before.
The life had certain luxury about
it-perhaps it would seem SIMPLE ne
cessity to the majority OF women, but ~
was not so to me. rose at seven and took
nv shower in bright white-and-bluee
bathroom. | lrfx,lriated in the towels OF
heavy huck and small, white lnen that
bore the monogram, &C. T., n" Now |
could have fresh lingerie as often rs |
desired; and SINCE Mrs. Newton never
wore a stocking that WAS darned, len
heir to some heavy stockings oil black SILK
that ] could not possibly have afforded:
/ brushed my hair I'LL 1T shone and
slipped into my simple morning dress
and | was ready.
At half past seven ] brealdastcd alone.
Mrs. Newton had her coffee IN bed when
the mail came, but preferred to have my
orange iuice and toast and coffee IN the
dining room. glanced over the paper and
SAW how the war looked, and turned al
WAYS with that extra beat OF the heart TO
the casualty list. "kimball, " II traced
il down with nv finger) 'N0, he is not
there to-day | would breathe IN rehei,
III can go to my work now, If not with
carcfree heart, at least without that awful
weight of pain that know Others have to
bear"
First would look over Mrs. Nrwton's
engagements for the day; thus did at her
own desk in the morning room, which
always overfowcd with papers and notes
and advertisements. | wrote her engage
ments Of the day ont plainly ON her
calendar pad and ran through the
motley collections OF papers that seemed
to gather overnight. As ] was finishing,
MH. Newton usually l0mged into the
room, trailing negligee Of frothy
georgette and satin. her feet in mules OF pink
where am | due to-day" she would
yawn. Another meeting OF that com
mittec; ] don't see why they ever put me
on IT, You go, this afternoon, Miss
| Richards. Yes, and won't you sec about
my black and-gold frock At Dsriey.st
] didn't like the neck: stop IN and sec u IT
is right. and ask them to hurry It. Herr
are some letters 10 answer. Tell that
society cant give a cent more, and
! answer thus invitation 70 the stephen s
| dinner and get my tickets for the Elman
concert
At nine. every morning now, | went
to the garage and got INTO pair OF
overalls while Andrew initiated me into the
tt AHkitiA tEait " t4At A*fiF 20
rather stupid about mechanical things
so it often took me longer than would
like. Before lunch | was not half through
with Mrs Newton's crrands, but ! would
hurry home to be in time
| discovered that one Of the unwrittcn
rules Of my position was that | must SUIT
mvseh to every mood Of Mrs Newton
One afternoon, | had still several notes
to write for her. some fine en- ing to do,
that she had come to think no one else
could do as well, and a committee meeting
to attend, but when We had finished
luncheon, she caught my hand and drew
me after her into tho drawing room. She
flung herself back among the cushions
and lighted a cigarette with a rtaln grace
"Aiy dear, I'm going to call YOU
Hazel after this, she said. You arc
ono Of those rare women th I can be
trusted and | want some ono TO talk to,
10 tell things 10, that would shock the
majority Of our kInd-or at least they
would pretend 10 he shocked. Iou won't
tell. either q know you well enough for
that Well nv dear, I'm really desperatci'
Through half closed eyeS, she watched
the smoke curl and twist, and with q
supple turn Of her wrist she filcked away
the ash Desperate, From her grav-grcen
ewes to her slender ankles she was perfect
in every slight detail Her brown hair
, touched with fiicks Of gold. her lashes
tartling black In contrast. the deep cream
Of her throat and, against II all, the
frock Of amber-color cloth that she
wrinkled so carelesslv She had money,
/ a strange, fascinating type Of her own thar
made for charm, she was still young. and
could do what she wished. Yet she said she
was desperate!
I'm in lovc-nevcr as | expected to
bel never cared for my husband and
this man makes no advances. | gave him
every opportunity, yet he only sIdesteps.
feel as if | am Gagged here; sometimes /
think / could almost give all this up; my
freedom and luxury, YOU know, to go with
| him ! CT he does not ask me
The fragrant wreathS Of smo' fioated
above me, and wonder d idly who It
could be
The drawing voice continued. .'Of
course, should have 70 give up my friends
and everything ! have nov he cant
marry, you know Hut he has such an
effect on me, that sometimes think Il
made desperate thfow and offer myself
TO him Think OF it, if nc only turns asid".'
l said nothing The silence grew and
lasted
Shocked"
/ shook my head But on my lips the
question longed tob spoken, "W no is he?"
Could it be Mr. Trenaine2 And if it was,
why could he not marry?
81 think you could get over it, ad-
vanced II you wanted TO
You've never been III love"
only looked at my white hands against
my black dress
Sometime I'm going to tell you about
my married life, then you may under
stand - Charlotte Newton Strengthened
herself on the long couch and then shot
to her feet, Come hurry, ! think III
90 to BriarclliT to see one Of my friends
You can run me up there III the car
pinned on my hat securely, wondering
what her next whIm would be her
next mood
Tomorrow An EicroIption