Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-11
THE GII2L. WHO
ALMOST MISSED
By Mary Douglass.
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL"


Chapter L1V.
Since the arrival Of Peggy'a telebram
from Jack, che had wandered reatlesaly
about the house liL @ a butterfly caught In
n net. She seemed to have no purpose, no
aim, vet certain hidden force seemed to
be Juggling Mt her TINT would not let her
rest
Peggy did not show the telegram TO me.
And did not feel ashamed that ! had
read it-althouph | knew she would not
have forgiven me for having taken that
privilege.
Jack" can be no other than Jack
Madden and the peremptory message
| sounded almost like n threat--"f on are
not going to get rid Of me so easily
] remembered jacks sulen stub
bornness when nc was reused | should
| not have liked To come again against that
almost british will Of his And here was
little Peggy, caught In his croes purposes
] had not enjoyed the left out feeling
had had these last few days, while Peggy
went off with Howard parks; but ! would
| much rather have suffered that. than to
| feel my little sister was unhappy restless,
| and not certain of her own mind-as she
| had seemed since the arrival OF the tele-
gram
Since Peggy had come, | had slept
| in the front room on the couch. and
| each night when | walked. had seen
| Howards light cleaning across the IN
| tervening darkness 10 me. Once, when
pcercd at NV watch In the darkness.
| saw il was o'clock. He was still up and
| working writing knew; Tor once he
| had told me he could do his best work III
| the quiet still hours when the minds oi
moat people were resting and when hc
rCat
void created by his fancy.
But there was much about him still
| that | did not understand. Behind hia
| CAV smile saw there WINS something had
not reached vet, something sad, too sod
| to put prying finger ON. He would still
say nothing Of the war and one day when
vcnturcd with fearful steps onto the
| subject, | saw that look creep into his
ewes that seemed deeper than one man 9
pain Somehow believed our companion
ship has meant much 10 him, as though
be were pulling himself out oi nm abyss,
| and Peggy and were small steps III the
rocky ledgea
Who's that stopping nj the door
Peggy called from the dinning room
window NO, | won't go; you come
in end scc''
Why, Mary Dalrymple,' : cried,
Il am glad to see you
egirl cam into the room and somehow
the sunny. Simple room seemed to take
on her own intensity. Tier dark beauty
| glowcd almost with suppressed fire, and
| | could understand liowards saying,
| That's the prctticst girl ever saw
Peggy !" | called, and Peggy came
into the room reluctantly enough and
| held out a careless hand to Mary.
a. II, fT tpn+
the atmosphere an awkwardness that
could not break; and ! was only too
glad when | saw Howard come hobblme
across the grass to our door.
pdggy sprang up from her seat where
She had been Iollng and flew to the door,
'Oh Howard : she cried and finished her
sentence in So low voice that VIC could
not catch her words
He came into the room and held out
an eager hand TO Mary. ! watched her
| name-like color come and go at his words,
and | could scarcely take my eyes from
her beautiful face.
I'm gong TO make tea and toast,
! said, This is a special party, and we
| must celebrate .
If truth he told, | was glad to get out
of the room, for felt rather ashamed OF
| Peggy quick angry glance at Mary, that
/ showed her rising jealousy and even Mary,
who seemed so superior to MINOR things,
did not conceal her scorn OF Peggy
| heard their voices rise and fall as they
| laughed and talked. Now and then |
caught sentence or two:
| THE country is 50 awfully dull, should
think people would stagnate turn INTO
vegetables.
ats dull If YOU have nothing IN your
I. hov,rV---n aff
| Measure depends on dong things, ana
seoinc things and having things.
Then heard Howard's voice freak
in burriedlv. 4 heard a funny tale the
! other day
was bending over the toast, that
seeaed IN no hurry 10 turn a golden brown,
while nv face burned red IRON the heat,
,Shen heard slight tap tap tehind me
Cant help27 Howard asked, and
sank down on the one kitchen char.
lifted face smarting with heat,
to his. -.
Who | questioned, brushing a strand
Of hair that would fall across my cheek.
MARY" he answered. "Jeve, | never
saw such eyes | could watch that girl all
ms life. and never grow tired.
Il thought you meant Peggy, | said
with a sudden glad ieaping OF the heart,
and burned my finger against the hot
t0aster.
she's bewitching, too Howard went
In the mirror across the sink caught
glimpse of myself suddenly and the
angry tears smarted to my eyes Why
wasn't ! beautiful? .,
u say, have you burnt yourself:
Howard asked suddenly solicitous.
ooh no. its all right, answered,
and turned away my face as | poured
the boiling water over the ten.
Monday-The Threat.
r1r.,y = pENrN1y,S G M0TEROOK