Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-13
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
ry Msrion Rubincam.
Colyrieat. GeorGc A-atthew Aunh'st
SHAM HAPPINESS.
Chapter l.Nl.

Chapter LNl.
On the whole, It was an exciting week
hat followed
The next day, Lawrence drove up IN
MS car. lie came into the house carrying
he fur coat and the little fur hat he had
brought before, and announced that they
we're going for drive. Alice, always
with the feeling that duties were waiting
Tor her. was inclined to protest.
ITS all right. he answered, assuming
the masterful tone he could take So welFat
times III know YOU should take Berenico,
out. Well. nut on her things, and tell
ynur mother TO do the same, and we u
All no out together Only, he added,
a. he saw Aliccs eyes brighten with
pleasure. when Bercnicc comes home Tor
her nap, you're going alone WIN me ior
drive
- il was settled. and Mrs. Fairbanks,
very much excited, went for her trst ride
IN an auto. There were very iew- among
Alice ; friends who owned even cheap cars,
and Mrs. Fairbanks had of course spent
most of the last 10 years as an Invalid.
She was rolled up in one of the'rugs, and
as she watched Alice slip into the fur coat
and hat Lawrence had brought her old
ewes beamed with pleasure.
How well Alice graccd expensive clothes
She thought with motherly pride How
wonderful to feel that at last she was
going IA have them, and all the other
things that money could buy her. Mrs.
Fairbanks had never been 81 hSppyi
And the baby snuggled into It's adopted
mothers arms and shared the general
spirit OF Joy.
Lawrence had his ride alone with Alice
afterwards. They ran the. car swiftly
over the country roads 10 the tea house
where he had first asked her 70 marry
hum. and they had tea again before the
blazing log tire.
I'm have to teach You how 10 run the
machine. he said on the way home.
tNou Il pick il up easily, as you picked
M chemistry So well. BY the way, shall
| come around tomorrow and give YOU
another chemistry lesson?
Alice nodded her head. Her checks
were bright pink from the air, her eyes
were sparkling with the sheer pleasure OF
the rush through cold wind and the dc
hghtfu warmth Of her furs.
.'Of course You can have 2 chauffeur
if you'd rather, Lawrence went on
.'But its much more convenient to be
aLlc a. run YOUR own car at times! I'll
o., YOU little roadster rs wedding gift
~ would YOU rather have 1t as an engage
mcut present?
but where would | keep it," Mice
ga~pcd with amazcInent NJ the idea
Two davs later he came 10 the little
house. and gave her a tiny velvet box,
Inside. on lis velvet cushion. Sparkled 2
diamond ring Lawrence Slipped it on
ncr finger, and kissed the finger and then
rcr lit,s. and laughed at her finally because
al her EXPRESSION.
never owned a diamond; III fact, ]
never owned any jcwelry but brooch of
my grandmother Alice said, II
lcvcr thought / would have a diamond
rnu She regarded the gem thought
mllv. II shot out flashes of blue and
white light Ii was really splendid
stone. better even than Alice imagined
"Oh. well diamond is the usual thing.
Lawrence laughed. II thought Of getting
sapphire. because anything blhc looks
- we'll on you. But Ill get you a sap
phire by and by
But wait, Alice begged, and then
laughed al her OWL confusion lou 20
% last. Lawrence Autos and diamonds
and sapphires will YOU offer me
next? You re like q fairy prince, you
Don add anything 10 that. Lawrence
interrupted, and suddenly put his arms
=
romantic remark. ! like playing fairy
prince to you. Do you love me little
bit?"
oh. Lawrence" Alice began, her ewes
suddenly serious and almost frightened
she began TO tug at the ring 10 Get it Of
Don I. Lawrence begged, holding
her hand and pushing the ring back IN
place Il didn't mean to say that. /
won't not for a long time anyway. You
w<ll love me in time. Meanwhile, pretend
I'm only dn extra good friend-or a fairy
prince
Tn fairy prince part really suited
Lawrence very well. lie had the manner
than.went with such a part. the wonderful
case and poise that most people have to
he born with and that few acquire. Life
had been easy for Lawrence, and he had
alwavs taken rather naturally TO the
graceful action and 10 the social manner.
Alice wore the ring only after her work
was done She still did the very hard
work about the house. she fed the chickens
and watched them for signs Ct sickness,
she took most Of the care of the baby
But after her tasks were done and she
was curled up on the courch in the warm
hvingroom with her books. she would
slip on her ring again. She liked to move
her hand about to catch its cleaning
flashes of light She played with it as a
.hild might with a toy. At twilight,
before she lit the lamp to GO on with her
studying. she would hold up her hand and
watch the fire that seemed To come from
the stone. Ittypifed everything luxurious
70 her mind.
And her mother. too. used to watch the
ing with pleasure greater than Alice had.
Mrs. Fairbanks at least was genuinely
iappy those DAYS.
Tomorrow-Was 1t Love?