Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-17
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglass.
AUNT MARTHA COMES TO THE
RESCUE.


4 1Hhptcl Liza
could not sit still. With Peggy's
letter still in my hand, found my way to
the bedroom, and almost unconsciously
began packing my bag. Where was
going? could not answer But ] knew
must go to New York. There perhaps
could get some trace Of Peggy-at least
| should be doing something.
Just time to catch the IL 40 to New
YorN should have to hurry, though. AZ
first though of stopping at Howard
and telling him. But what could nc dol
Only CONFERENCE.-The is my affair and
| must carry it through" | told myself.
For | shall never forgive myself for
what PEGGY has done.
sank down in the tram, conscious
that | had my ticket and that my hat
was hurting my forehead where it pressed.
| took it off so that | might think more
clearly
That Peggy had gone off with Jack
Madden, | did not doubt Tor moment.
But that such a thing could happen to
hcr-to seemed n rcdlblc. had read
of such things Indistinctly rcmem cred a
girl whom had known slightly, cloping.
She had driftcd away; | wondered now
what had become OF her
If lack Madden were going TO marry
HRpEH. she N0tltl itftNt H'hid ~ IL
1ncmbered all that had taken place
four months ago, when | had brought
pepgv with me to Charlotte Ncwton's
| remembered what she had told me then
that she did not believe in marriage
that the pianist with whom she was going
TO 90 off. was already married.
II is all to dreadful too impossible.
II could not be triel Then | took out
pcpgv's letter and read 1t again
somehow the train dragged into the
ci, ~ II all seemed a great blur to me
rassivcv LEI red cap take my bag and
load me to a taxi Money now made 10
difference gave The Cotton (thc name
Of Pcegy's last slipping place After a
hurried drive, dismissed the taxi and
went IN.
Miss Margaret Richards2" The girl
nj the desk leisurcly into her book.
No She i staying here no longer. :
'IIaS she left an address2" / asked.
40 was the girls answer.
She looked ut me indlfTerently az !
stood there clutching my bag-torn be-
tween the desire for action, and doubt
al ~ what my next step should be.
would 70 10 the theatre. of course.
How | reached there, | scarcely knew.
had little difficulty in passing the man
at the stage entrance. My necessity was so
plain, that for some reason 1t must have
softcned him.
Dorothy Donald? She went the end
of February No one knows Of her where
ahouts. But lets see: she had = friend
Mildred Arnold-in the company. You
might ask her
waited in the draughtv wings, where
the unpainted scenery stared at me
garishlv until at last slip Of a girl came
to p C-
Dorothy and had an awful row. be
fore she left. and guess she 5 covered her
tracks pretty well She always was the
slv one" This was all the satisfaction
had from this pretty girl who spoke SO
plainly with the Broadway accent
II was FIVE O'Clock now and | must
find some place to stop for the night.
| hadn't enough money 70 waste any
az il 81 all Mrs klmball? | could not 60
there and tell her tho reason Of my coming
to the city She would be sweet and
charitable, but / could not stand it, vet
that anv one else should know. Mrs.
Newton apartment was closed, knew.
Aunt Martha's q Why had not thought
of her before? She would give me bed
and ask no questions unnecessarily.
But why not tell herr With all her wisdom
and sane common sense, she might be
the very one
took a bus back TO The neighborhood
of Washington Square, and found myself
III the shabby back street that held Aunt
Martha. Her window was lighted, and as
rang the be could hear her wit. In
Then the door opened
"Well, well, child, am glad to see youp'
She held her capacious arms out TO me
and took me in.
Aunt Martha I began, then found
my lips were trebmhng beyond control
and as she led me into her CHEEKY sitting
room, the tears flooded my eyes, and the
hard sobs racked me | sank down into a
chair covered my face with my hands