Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-31
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
BY Mary Douglas.
PEGGY COMES TO LUNCH.
Chapfar I.XXI

''1he telephone for you, Miss Hazell''
l went down the stairs from Mrs.
Kimhall's room to the hall below
Peggy called gayly to me over the wire,
aren't you surprised To her me. Hazel
What are YOU doing hcre?" | asked.
We're TO have an apartment in the city,
do want to see you. Cant we meet at
the Ritz for lunch?"
'Oh, Peggy" | demurred, wont
YOU come here? haven't been out yet
'Nerv well. Peggy answered, I'll
come at about one"
| was reading TO Mrs. kmball, when
the maid brought me u card: Mrs. Joln
Finley Madden
As | entered the drawing room. some
one at the other end rose with slow grace.
| could not help noticing the change IN my
Httle sister ns she came toward me
She WAS dressed more beautifully than
| had even seen hcr--in a dark. eavy SILK
with a deep fringe border. About her
shoulders hung fur, dark and silky.
Even her hat was quite the smartest thing
| had seen. The baby face that stared out
at me demurclv from all this new dignity,
brought n smile To my lips.
MY dear, Peggy said. turning her
cheek for me tn kiss. how can you stand
this stuiiy room?"
MS 1 ISktu III why
think Il s charmingl
But It's so old-fashioned. We are having
our APARTMENT done by Duval YOU know
that new decorator. Everthing is to be IN
period, of course. and were TO have the
most exquisite hangings YOU ever saw.
In some strange way. Peggy had ac-
quired a manner of patronzng sweetness.
Lunch is served Mrs. l<imhall's
maid came To the drawing room door.
led the way with Peggy. Mrs. klmhaii
was not vet coming down to her meals.
"Oh no. thank YOU. | wont take any
cream; my husband does not approve OF
fat women. Peggy said, IN answer TO
my question.
| could barely restrain the smile that
rose for the second time 20 my lips
You haven't notice my pearls Pcggy
said next. pulling them out from the
throat Of her frock
They are very beautiful, said quicily
Still Peggy made no remark about
James death. and at last. through her
chatter Of "Inv husband this and my
husband that ? | said. Mrs kimball Is
gong 10 give an ambulance IN memory OF
JamIc
'.Ste is21 Peggy said carelesslv, Do YOU
know. Hazel. | cant decide whether 10
have nv ruom Louis Sei7e or not The
decorator SAWS am such French little
lerSnn that ought to fit it 70 my rcr-
sonaltv.
suddenly my anger famed up
~ ou may be the old type 0t rench
woman | cried. "nut ! hardly thl'
the modern French woman ls troubling
overthe decoration Of her boudoir rs much
rs she Is caring for the wounded. ard try
ing 10 do all she can for her country
4 Ii hot hnf n dN
me-" Peggy answered.
Isn't Jack going 10 the war asked
bluntIy
why should he go? As he SAYS. there
are plenty Of mon 70 take his place in the
trenches and he is doing invaluable work
nc home
War work." asked
''You know. very we'll, It is not war
work: but II is perfectly ridiculous for
every man 10 give up his work and rush
of To some training camp
"How old is Jack" ! asked carelesSlv.
''Thrty-three, answered Peggy. raising
her eyebrows In vav she had acquired
since her marriage
Perhaps he will have 20 go IN tho
next draft, ] said tersely
81 hardly believe SO. 2 Peggy shrugged
her shoulders nonchalantly. "Do You
hbbNt tSAit cittfFtfA sNt ASsE AiA -
time. back into her old girlish manner
that Agnes Donelly. whom | knew when
we were I'D the same company IN Newark
has gotten into an awful mixupP She ran
of with man. He didn't marry her, oi
course and now she is going 10 have =
baby and she has written 80 ask me TO
help her.
What are you going 10 dop' ! asked
why cant help her, you know. Jack
would never let me; ne says the whole
thing Is her fault. if q girl Is sucha fool
Besides, she ought TO have knowAbetterf
] could say nothing to this. " as this the
Peggy that knew? A Peggy who seemed So
utterly hard and heartless? II she had az
been through the same experience her
self, might have understood her attitude
But now she seemed perfectly oblivi-
Gus of the fact that her experien should
make her more charitable, more understand
ing.
Wont you come up tomorrow
Peggy asked.
'@Oh, ! can't" I stumbled
81 never thought YOU were weak,
Hazel Peggy said. y ou can't wall your
self up here with Mrs kimbsll al the
time, even if she has lost her son.
Il will come, Peggy | replied
She was drawing on her gloves now
over her shining new wedding ring, She
turned her cheek again for me TO kiss.
Tomorrow Curious Maid