Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-25
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
By Mary Dougla@.
ADRIFT.
Chapter IXVI.

| ChApter LAVI.
Mrs Ncwtons letter was mnch -
| expected few dcsultory remarks,
then she said, IL find the work not Al
all what | hoped to do. 1t is really nothing
abort OF manual labor-and feel that they
have no night to expect that of a lady.
! could not help smiling at thnt sen
tcncc. ] wondered what Charlotte bad
thought the work would be like in u
hnspitaL7 Perhaps she had looked for
somethng romantic, but not actual work.
| The letter went on casually. sT have
found the most delightful English girl
| here, who has taken quite fancy to me,
and know you will be pleased when tell
you that ! am going to bring her back TO
! New York with me rs my companion, for
j have decided to return this month ;"
What did she mean3 That my position
was hlled by another-that now / had n
source OF income in few weeks at
most | should be adrift againf
For, swift as | had rad the words,
l realized that this home that | have
grown to love must be gwen UP. could
not keep IL with no money whatever To
pay for the little things
| threw down the letter and went
out in the fading light To look at my
garden. There was where / was to plant
the corn-here carrots and beans and
tomatoes had pictured in tidy rows be-
yond
Adrlft AGAIN The dear srnnN shack.
with the white painted woodwork and the
yellow chintz, my own darling dining room,
the small n,mlikc bedroom. they must all he
closed up tight and fall into grayness and
dosolation-as | had found them
But a few hours ago, | had felt unhappy
that must STAY here alone now what would
not give just for this dear homestead to
live III through the summer. | paced be-
tween the sitting room and the kitchen
and ! saw now all the things that had
taken so much time and pain. .-tbe
yellow wall paper, that still showed the
lines where | had pasted it To the walls;
the chair seat, that had taken me the whole
OF one afternoon Ia make; the rough
furniture that | had painted and covered
with the ilowcred chint7 They were
mine ! loved them all, and now | must
give UP this dearly bought home and go
back tn the city and fight for = foothold
among those millions of other workers
and alone
] wanted to cry felt the tears rise TO
my eyes. But held them back and thought
Of all those others whose -oYrows were 50
much greater than mine. This r only a
little thing and yet il ,s my home
Ahead Of me | saw the long years
IN some boarding house or a room. maybe.
which ! would fit with INV own things
The meals | must cat alone The work
that would FIJI The long hours Of the day,
md the evening after evening that
must be alone
oh. Tor some one that world under
standi In a moment | had made my de
| uxuIt9 rim NERVES. n, IIpwrari's
Howard WAS a good friend Of NINE II he
werr q girl should not herutate TO go
would not hesitate | decided
blew out my light and pulled the
door 10, after me | ran acrnea the rough
grass To the white house whose lighted
windows cast friendly rays out INTO the
dark world
Impctuously rang the bell Impetu-
o,isly asked. lis Mr. Howard 10.
/ He r, but he Is at work, Mrs.
Damon answered uncornpromlslngly
She stared at me with her bcad-llke
eyes filed with suspicion.
ooh, then won { bother hum, answer
ed and started down the steps.
Hazel called voice, What are
you doing running away like that
But you're busyW | said
Never too busy 10 see you. To tell |
you the Truth, my heroine Is acting IN a |
most unpleasant wav. | think I'd rather |
wait until she reCoyers from her present |
mood"
''Oh, Howard, cried, "can you never
be serious?'
We went together INTO the great |
living room. | saw tie desk strewn with |
white paper, and lying on the floor about |
has chair we're sheets of paper covered with |
a fine small writing.
| stopped 10 pick them up.
just like a woman, Howard laughed |
cant be happy until everything is tidy |
about the ship. Now, the wilder this room |
gets the happier | am. That's the only |
cause OF contention between the Damon |
and me. But what's the trouble, little |
girl anythong happened"
His tone was big brotherly; and | felt |
quite at cas-. sitting there In his softly |
hghtcdstudy while Howard placidIv
smoked his pipe. Then | told hum what |
had happened must leave, find |
some work In the city, give UP my cunning |
shack
Howard smoked on and said nothing
for several moments.
Haven't you any income of your |
own?" be asked at last bluntly. |
: why no, / answered in surprise. |
I'm only Mrs Newton's paid com
panion."
What would you like TO do" he asked. |
The question was simple enough. inuo-
cent enough, but somehow / could not
hide the deep blush that flushed my cheek
and neck. ] stood up quickly and walked
neryously around the room, touching some
of his ourios and looking at the prints
on the walls.
Have you ever thought of marrying.
] stopped short in my walk and turned
sharply to him.
Monday-"You Don't know What
Love Isp'