Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-11
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubincam.
Copyright George Matthew Adams.
ALICE MEETS DAVID.
Chapter Ill.

'Do YOU mind staying alone for half
an hour, mother" Alice asked when they
had finished tea and cake and the pre-
serves that formed the dessert of their
meal
"Of course not, Mrs Fairbanks ans
wered.
"Well ! think I'll run over to Claras !,
her father has been experimenting with
some fast growing beans, and he says II s
not too late 10 plant a crop after the regli-
lar ones are done, Alice explained. He
promised me some to plant myself.
I'm sure I could do the dishes. il |
sat on the high stool hy the sink, Mrs.
Fairbanks suggested
Indeed. no, YOU re lady uf leisure
dear. Alice protested She gathered up
the few dishes and piled them into a pan.
With n sureness OF motion that would
have overioyed an efficiency manager,
she scaldcd them from the boiling ket-
tie and whisked the pan OF hot water
with q soap shaker till n sparkling mass
Of bubbles appeared. She washed and
Tinsed them in a few moments, and clean
cd the pans while her mother. seated at
the little table wiped the china and pollsh-
ed the two plain water tumhlcrs. Her
mothers help did not save Alive any
Atifh.. DLb ~ Efit&tStd AAfaltd ~ Atst Slit
was of'some little service.
Now, stay as long As YOU want, Mrs.
Fairbanks said, when Alice dressed IN q
white muslin, was ready To 20.
''dalf an hour she called back from the
gate.
But as a matter OF fact, she fingered
much longer than that at Clara :. For old
Mr.. Joyce was digging away III ms garden,
in the late twilight, and Alice listened with
interest to this expert gardener while he
won ked and talked. As they started back
TO the house Clara's voice and that OF
man reached Shem.
There's some ono you'll be interest
ed In. Mr.. Joyce said That's young
Nr. Thorpe-he's going to be on this
Model Farm they're starting over 10
Five Corners.'
,sSee here. Mr.. Thorne, YOU want 10
know Alice Fairbanks. was his bluff
method Of introducing them. as they
reached tho front porch Of the house.
Alice here is one OF our best little
gardeners. he went on. Last year she
raised the prize squash of the neighbor-
hood. She has all sorts Of ideas rs 10 raslng
vegetables and chickens got a name 70
every one of them, believes in petting
them
Not as bad rs I'll that, Alice laughed,
looking up at this new young man, as
she seated herself by Clara.
Are you interested IN truck iarmingI
the man asked, leaning against the porch
railing.
Only as applied to tiny garden for
mother and myself, she answered. Mr..
Joyce said ] petted my squashes INTO
growing big. And it 5 true did name them.
lorna, Kate jim Clara began
reeling off the list of names. But that |
WIS just in fun" Alice interrupted AFRAID |
the man would think her too absurd. |
But YOU know, when you watch vegetables |
close they do develop a personality. One |
squash was absolutely contrary he
wouldn't grow no matter how ! tended /
him. While the Others
II know, the man laughed and Alice |
felt relieved. His voice and his smile were
She had childish fear OF
being thought silly-and naming vegeta-
bles, even prize ones, certainly did sound
foolish
IL was after dark when she arose TO go
home. and Mr.. Thornc offered to walk
over with her Alice felt strangely shy as
they started down the tree bordered walk,
old rs she was, she had had little atten-
tIon from men She had been TOO
busy TO go out much or even to think
about boys, and parties and fiirtatlons.
When She did go TO the small affairs
of the neighborhood, she stayed as near
Clara as possible and let her do the talk |
ing And most Of the evening she would |
spend worrying as to whether her mother |
was comfortable. !
..Of course, the Model Farm IS III a
chaotic state now" David Thorne was
saving. but we are going to make great
thing Of it. We've some few things plant
ed. but most Of the summers work Will
be getting in shape for the real wor OF
next year. This winter we'll experiment
with hot house vegetables and plants.
1T does sound exciting, Alice answered.
''Do you think so? BY the way, would
you like to see it in its present uncomplet-
ed state? Well, III come around for you
and drive you out"
Alive watched him walk away after
they shook hands at her gate. They had
talked vegetables-or had they? What
an enchanted thing this soft spring night
was.
Tomorrow-Friendship