Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-20
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
UNCLE THEO.
-

| lNc little rruiUplcu lettcr iIolll IHcic
Theo | smoothed out, that night, and
read with gathering tears In my eyes.
Dear Hazel, ut began)
Il never did seem to get on very well IN
the world, and guess felt it worse when
you and Peggy were growing up and
couldn do anything for you. Your mot her
, was always a good sister to me and may
! be YOU never knew that she helped me
out, when ! couldn't get work, and gave
me mopey. ] wanted you TO know at the
last how kind she was, but ] couldn't
{ II YOU before, when you would only
| pity me.
Up in the country, on one oil my
wandcrings, came across little shack.
IL idnt cost much and | managed to
buy it-thc only thing of my own that
ever had. loved it, but thought other
people would think il was all foolishness,
so / never have said anything about 1t.
It's not much TO speak OF. Just rough
boards. but il meant homo TO me; and now
| that / know I'm going, | want that you
should have it. The title and deeds are
all clear and the taxes won't take much
money TO keep paid up
| Here the letter broke off; for the
writing had been growing faint and
weaker in the last few lines. Uncle Theo-
! dorc and his poor little shack IN the
! country Something that he had told no
one. for fear they would think 1t was AL
70 lishness." | folded away the wrinkled
letter and made up my mind that must
get down 10 Pcggy's tonight to tell her
about Uncle Theodore
Mrs. Newton was very kind when told
| her abotH nv uncle's death and that ] wo nd
| like TO tell Pcgsy myself IL was one OF
the great Crawbae4s of my position that
| | had no time to myself. Every minute,
| from carly morning until late evening,
! belonged TO her She used them, too, TO
! the fulcst-li not in actual work Though
| there was enough Of that at least by
| using nv time TO listen to her talk.
Whenever | got away alone, telt as
though | were out of prison, as though
| could be myself and set aside the demure
little person that must be TO sympathize
with Mrs. Newton and be ready always TO
react TO her latest mood.
Peggy was At home in the apartment
hotel off of Washington Square, where !
hsd secured room for her. She flung
open the door and dragged me into her
room. which seemed mad collection
Of clothes and papers and books and
furniture thrown vIlly-nilly about.
What's the matter, Hazel?" she
asked. pccring INTO my face that must
have reflected the sorow ] felt.
When | told her, she threw herself on
the bed and wept As though her heart
would break! Yet Pegyshad never cared
for Uncle Theo, and had been impatient
of his slowpeSs and his failure to make any
thing Of his life. Then sac lifted a face
still wet with tears and SAID, when |
haven't an engagement IN the summer
III come and stay with you st the shack!
But | haven't any money 70 keep
it UP, Peggy" / explained. Besides all
my time is taken up with Mrs. Newton
She wants me with her all the time, you
know"
Why don't you get a decent iobf'
Peggy flashed.
But ! did not tel her that the reason
was. that wanted TO be near her, and TO
Be able TO take care Of her when she
would be free, after this engagement.
Il want 10 tell YOU something funny.
! Hazel. Peggy had wiped the last tear
from her evelasheS, and had dabbed sornc
| powder on her piquant nose. She cleared
/ Of a chair now and made heap of evening
/ slippers, two glasses, and some under
! clothes at her feet, / was walking down
/ the other. afternoon, after rehearsal.
/ when some one came up 70 me and held
4 out his hand and SAID, Where have You
! been hiding" II was Jack Maddcnl"
I "Oh Peggy. | cried in dismay.
/ II like him, Peggy went on quickly,
, "Oh Nca I've heard you-say 10 Mother
I that YOU thought nc was Stacker and
+ ought 10 % 10 war. But ! don't care; he's
aWfully good-lcokIng and he's Just SC DIS
I Of money,
The last time | had seen Jack Madden
/ flashed across my mind ] had q vivid
picture of his sllllen, stubborn face as he
said. Are YOU con1-ng?" He had never
looked me UP, telephoned me- or written
me since that week end ut Southampton.
And | had been SO busy with little things
and the great sorrow that had come into
NV hfe. that ! had almost forgotten his
existence
He Is = Stacker, Peggy" I said, 'I
don want 70 be unfair IN my Judgments,
but surely hc could do something if
Will not actually Cht All the hnc men"
"Oh. ! suppose YOU mean Jamie
Klmball and AL his friendsr Peggy
fareo. .'h!t what about that suitor OF
yours Mr. Trcvail or something,
Hes on o war mission here. | said
sfoutlv but please. Peggy what difference
does H. make. Don't let quarrel"
'rOf courso. II doesn make any real
difference, Peggy SAID softly.
l lifted ny ewes suddenly to notice f!
for the first time bunch Of violets and |
orchids on Peggy tumbled bureau
..semmed the question ! should like to |
ask did he send YOU those? For hc is the |
last man ! would choose for my little f,
sisters companion.
Peggy had gone over to the bureau and |
taken out a big box Of Page and Shaw's |
chocolates, Won't you have some?'' |
she asked with her elf-like charm.
| left her, not happily. How / wished |
she had not met Jack Madden
Tomorrow Tho New Enthusiasm.