Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-07
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THRO UGH
Ry Marion Rubcam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams
THE ITNOUENCHED FIRE.
Cbspter I\\NIl.

Alice. of course, told Christine more OF
,.s, abo,,t the meeting This wise ntt'e
cir, on,v nodded her head and said nothinE'
exospt that since she was to meet DAVID,
she would reserve Judgment.
And thus began n series OF evenings
that Alice found delightful, and disturbing.
Rnt she felt herself peri ectly helpless.
She wanted to see David so badly that
she could not refuse to go when he asked
her TO dinner or TO the theatre
IL was well along in November by tins
time. The college had settled down To
work, and Alice enjoyed every minute
ri her hfe. Her eager expression ana her
frequent questions, her obvious struggle
to make good in her studies, mace hcf
popular with her teachers. Her sweetness
and her anxiety TO find out about every
thing in her new life endcarcd her TO the
other girls With the men she met shC
Was sbv-indeed. rather reserved and
tbo,,eb MANY of them liked and admired
her, It was usually from a distance Ahce
was the sort of comradely giri that mas 10
he known we'll TO bc liked.
Sometimes. however. she went out
for long tramps about the city or over the
Palisades with some of the college boys,
b,,t more often continued 10 have tickets
for the best shows and concerts mailed
TO her. so she was quite able TO hold her
own among girls with more money to spend
David found many delightful places to
dine. When Christine first met hum, she
went out of her way To be extra nice 10
him and Alice thought that she must hike
him a lot. They had dned that first eve
ming at one OF the largest hotels, ~
table far enough away from the music so
IL did not disturb them, and later they
had gone TO the theatre.
Hes really very ikeable chap,
Christine said when they were alone
later. Hes the sort that stands out
from a crowd-he has a magnetic per
sonaIitv. he is good looking but | Zee
that there is some weak spot IN his charac-
ter. some flaw there" She stole a glanc,
at Alice to see how this talk affected her
Alice had smiled with satisfaction q
the first part Of this speech, but as sooi
AZ Christine mentioned a fault, her Whol(
face changed.
Christine thought this over. She hac
been convinced at first that Alice was nC
longer in love with David, and that sh'
was in love with Lawrence. Aiicc shoult
marry Lawrence and bc happy, sh'
thought. She could not understand nov
sheer any girl-could 90 on caring to
a man who had practically, as she put Il
deserted her for another woman. Ailce
she thought, was decelvlng herself cling
ing 10 the romance Of 2 first love
She was not so sure of It now Perhaps
after all. Alice did love David
Well David was married therelort
he was out of the question. 80 the mex
thing TO do was to destroy all Alice
illusions about him. Christine figured j
out
And the best way 10 do that sht
said TO herself very sagely, is 10 lct hc
soc him as much rs she wants, With Law
renee plavinG the part he Is now he dis
fant FAIRY Prince who sends magic pres
cnts."
And she smiled as she glanced over tn
room. Lawrence had written florist 4
send out huge bunch Of vlolets Sh
could see them in bowl on Alicc's table
She went to dinner with them agau
this time at candle-llt restaurant buIl
in the top of what had been stable wear
AGO. and what was now an antique shoI
Everything wss in keeping with the ol
time spirit, even the mattresses wor
colonia! costumes Alice had been delleh
ed with the place and, Christine thought
less interested in the man.
They went out again and again, an
Christine, watching closely, though
David was gaining IN favour. For Law
renee had not been able to get down owe
Thanksgiving, as he had hoped, and s
she had no chance TO compare these tw
men.
Lois came back TO town and left agai
in few days for the South, 50 IN Decembe
still another party was planned But thu
time Christine brought along man, an
80 the party was four.
What must do, she said 70 herseli
rs TO bring around as many men q
possible. The danger Is IN specializin
on one.
But the effect oi it was not according t
her theories. For party OF four is nothIn
really but two parties OF two each, an
Alice might just as well have been dlnln
alone with David
DO YOU like him better now you kno'
him better" Alice asked once.
YES, but ] still feel his weakness.
Christine answered.
Il mustn't see him again. kno'
/ mustn't Alice said In SO miserable
tone that Christine wanted TO cry.
But you cannot run away; YOU mus
saay and Gght II out. Don t YOU see that
Christine said. If you run away, yo
confess q weakness; if YOU stay, YOU
overcome il. You're not in love, You wi
see his faults plainly, as ] do now
Alice only stared mlserabiy ahea
Of her.
Tomorrow Confession
DIR. JOHNSON AT WEST.