Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-02-01
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary ilougtasn.
THE CURIOUS MAID.
Chapter IxXII.

lnapter LAAll.
''Ms. Madden?" | asked at the door
Of the beautiful apartment that was To
be Pcggy's home
Mrs. Madden is not in. just now but
she asked that you wait for her; she
will be here for lunch. "
] sank down in soft chair in Pegpys
drawing room, and looked about me. 1t
was very beautiful ! suppose: there
were wonderful rugs dark and soft and
rich. The furniture was early Italian,
believe, and gave YOU the impression oil
sving been brought from sor e museum IN
italy. Yet it was scarcely home-like.
Peggy's personality was not reflected.
nor was Jacks This was the home dec
Grated by professional according to his
own idea of the beautiful.
Mrs. Madden said that you might
like TO sce her clothes" swarthy-faced
woman, mature and strong, came toward
me ! rose and went into the boudoir,
that WAS still in an unfinished state and
did not yet reflect Pegeys French
Personality
How like Peggy, To tell her maid
that ! would be Interested in seeing
her clothes" | thought
! found myself more Interested IN tins
| swarthy-faced foreign woman than IN the
| beautiful dresses of my little sister. This
was no ordinary maid; and | studied her
wise face with curiosity.
| "Mademolsellc e not Interested she
asked at last, putting away n creation ot
tulle and satin that looked like sea foam.
Mrs. Madden is very pretty, but Made
moeiclle could he stll more beautiful II
she would wish, remarked the maid.
| was not offended at the personal
| touch in this remark had worked
4 fat
| not to realize that this woman WAS not
of the ordinary scrv Mt class.
| What does 1T matter anyway? ] re-
| piled rather bitterly.
at docs matter. she returned. watch
| ing me, even il one has to go through
sorrow, it matter that one look well
Il keeps up the courage.
What do YOU mean2' ! asked
will Mademoiselle forgive me IT
am frank
nodded.
Your sister, she is considered pret' !
is it not so7 She hns the eyes, the color
the even features that make for beauty
but vet She has not anything written IN hei
face, of life or experience or suffering
She has always had tho beat Of things. Sh'
feels thnt she IL Of the best She walks SO
She has poise She knows that she !
pretty, So sks has the charming manner
She paused looking at me TO see 1
] agreed Then she went on more slowly
Now. Mademoiselle has not always
had things SO LIfe is written on her face
She docs not believe that she IL beauti
full. SO she docs not try To act SO. She doe'
not arrv herself so. nor feel that she L
charming II Is not the conceit that yot
need; il is something other.
| g. LCpad n I'm
what she was trying to get Mt.
you mean that IT IL part of any per
son $ right TO be AS good-looklng as sh'
can-eve if she is not happy-cven !
she does not consider IL worth whlef
She gcsticulatcd with q vivaclous motion
'Yes-that ! tell Madenoiselle that /
she wished, she could be beautiful
"Oh no, YOU can't mean me, | Laughed
for the frst time IN days
'Yes, YOU, she went on. You hav'
beautiful eyes, very full of preston
YOU have the hair long and black. Ii yo,
would but know how II YOU would bu
walk rs if you were beautiful and be sur
that YOU were someone, you would b.
personality, as they say here. | hav'
lived many years and know what counts
Stand very straight, so-and walk so--no
proud-but sure of yourself. Hold the chi
that it polnts-so Take trouble with tn
hair Wear only those clothes that belong
to your type, is that the word?
There was something in her words
could scarcely help believing her
at Is an armor," she continued. 1T vii
protect Mademoiselle against the curioslt.
of people It will make her seem NOR
worthwhile to herself could show you-
she ended.
What" | asked curiously.
81 could arrange the halr.
| sat down before Peggy dressing tahl
and unpinned my hair that | nov cole
almost without looking at it-so long ha
| ] done it IN the same way
The woman brushed 1t out. | stud
led the oval of my face IN the mirror. 70
the first time, my eyes opened, and SAY
| myself as | really was | could be prett
or give the impression of being pretty
if would only care enough My eyes locke
back to me, large and blue and black
shadowed by my lashes-the brows abov
them, black and sweeping. | had alway
thought my face too pale. Yet the chang
that clothes wrought and my halr pile
high on my head had once made Howarl
say. "You are beautiful. Yet | had nc
then believed him.
The curious maid was finishing my hal
when Peggy came into the room.
"Isn't she a wlzard?' she asked
"Why Hazel, you are really good-lookin
with YOUR hair arranged SOL
Monday-I Write A Letter.