Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-19
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
TWO WOMEN AND A MAN.
Cbapter xXX1N.

Chapter XNXlN.
would hear this morning from Mr.
Tremaine ] knew it. If Charlotte Newton
had not come in at that most unfortunate
moment, was sure that today ! should
be engaged to him.
Was ever a girl in such a predicament
before? wondered if | was an exception
or If most girls were not ncertain Of their
own minds For the more ] think the less
| know whether love Mr. Tremalne or not.
When was with him, was like different
person, responding to his mood, and OIL
most like quicksilver that does not know
why it changes Yet when | was away
doubted that cared for him In the only
way n woman should.
If Jamie had only loved met al the
puzzlings and the uncertainties oil my
present position would have been cleared
away. | should not have that lost feel
ing-ns though | were driftwood on the
current Of life, that any eddy might whirl
from its course and twist and turn-and
per APPS carry TO destruction In the
depths of the black river bottom.
If-if-if-I wondered If We were
"The masters of our fate" or only blind
instruments that must move so and so,
across the achinery Of life ] could not,
would not believe the latter; |, at least,
should not I row my life away as ] SOC
other women doing daily. The most tor
riblc example was Charlotte Newton
Yesterday she tod me Of herself The
story d girl who had everything and
yet things had melted beneath her touch
like the wraiths Of an evil dream.
She was the on child She had 'lthai
her adoring father cnul give her She wss
sent to private schools and 10 finishing
schoo At eighteen she was Lovely.
gay and full of dreams, IN her own words,
She lived in San Francisco. Here shc re
turn from the large finishing school N The
East to come out socially She was
deeply Influenced by her aunt, who tlvcd
with her father--a woman Of narrow
ideals and conventional ideas. But
Charlotte Newton was too full Of the Joy
Of living to mold herself TO set model; !;
though she touched on 1t lightly, ! think
she must have done scyetal things that were
Out of bounds, as she put II,
Her aunt, seeing that she was going 10
be hard to hold literally flung her into
| the arms of a man about her father $
| are He had money social position, all
the things that are requisite for suitable
match.
.Dh. Hazel, she had SAID with weary
gesture, ''hc was so stupid ! always knew
| what nc would do next, say next, think
| next All the little things he did, ! grew 70
hate Ills perfect manners bored me-.
/ his even courtesy I hated lie smofhered
| me in kindnessi OF course, ! would not
| have any children lie seemed TO re-
sent it-There were other mon who
found me charming. and enjoyed being
with them. Nv husband demuTed. Then
| he forbade me to be seen with them. 80
went on the sly. He found II out-He
left me
Nv position IN San Francisco became
| intoIerable ] came here to New York,
had money, and friends came to me.
have had men who said they loved me
But not ono Of them ever seemed worth
the sacrifice Of my freedom. should hav'
to get my divorce"
Charlotte Newton had suddenly riser
TO her feet and paced the drawing room WITH
restless steps At last know Whist love IS
| have form the man. and | shall have
him. | almost fancied she was q flgreT'
caught in the narrow confnes q ror
bars. as | glanced at her.
Who the man was she lid not tel me
But could not doubt that II was the mar
/ had begun 10 think ol-AIr. TreInaIne
The quick, feeting thoughts chased
through my mind as | sat menslng o.
| OF Mrs Newtc rs hlouses. One man anC
two women-thc same old story. Th'
sewing dropped into my lap IS puzzled
on through the maze.
Then was startled by the sharp rlnl
Of the telphonei 1t rang once-and agar
again Ny ythroat felt dry and wondered
If my voice would sound natural. He nngh
Just want
took down the receiver and listened
with breath that came IN qlickened gasps
Miss Richards
..Yes?a
This IS St Lukes II nital speaking
les. | answered saIn.
Your Uncle. MIR Theodore Miller
is dangerously III he has been brough
here. You had best come At once.
Al other thoughts we're swept frcm Ii.
mind | knew dangerously III was u
light statement Poor Uncle Theodroe
the weak one of Mother family, who la,
wasted his life
| hurried INTO my oGt dor things an
got on q car. still putting on my gloves
When | reached the hospital and aSke,
for Uncle, the nurse told me II was ''to
late . Poor Uncle Theodore. He had neve
had much real delight in HE nor hat
he used it to the fullest. | cl4sped lette
in an old crumpled envelop tight n m
hand, he had been careful oglve 1t to tn
nurse and tell her ii was for me.
The poor, pathetic letter with ii
last wishes written within. didnot Wis
TO read it qute yet.
Tom rroM .ncle T heo.