Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-31
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubicam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adesns

lie DIV ncr optimism. one nhs hau ss0
wonderful ability TO smile in the face OF
the most discouragng circumstances.
Her sunny disposition first attracts TO
her David Thorne, with whom she falls
in love. When n pretty, silly little cousin
of hers takes him away and marrles him,
she is heartbroken.
Later she meets and becomes engaged
to wealthy Lawrence Marlowe: She THINKS
she has conquered the old love, until,
while at college in the city, she meet
David again and finds he, also, cnres.
Then she runs away home, and breaks
her engagement with Lawrence. lew
weeks later she learns that her cousin.
David's wife, has died. She waits, but
does not hear from him.
CHAPTER 81.
Alice was still waitingi
But she huriedly knew now what she
was waiting for, or why she was stu
in the frame of mind where she beloved
anything might happen. II was her natural
optimism, of curse. that kept her always
expecting something nice.
But week after week went by, and
still she had no word from David. Surely
he would write perhaps he would come
instead OF writingl When she thought Of
this, her ewes would look down the street,
to the turn some blocks below--in the
old DAYS she used to see David come
around that corner on his way over from
the house where he boarded.
Little memories came back To her,
quite as dear to think of though they
were so fnr away. She remembered the
horse he hired and the drives out TO the
Model Farm they had taken together.
She remembered the afternoon they sat
on the high bank above the brook, when
their hands met instinctively, and the
love that had as vet found no voice WINS
in their eyes and the trcmour of their
hands.
And now David was freel Why did
he conner
Perhaps she said to hcrself-ehe
was alone in her room at the time-"Pcr-
haps he only loved me whom / was un-
attainable, when | was engaged and he
was married Some men are like that. Nov
I'm free and he is free, he doesn want me.
Pursuing this dolefu line Of rcfec-
ton, Alice went on 10 her work at the
Settlement House When she greeted
Peppita, she had such long face that
tho miscellaneous little girl assumed mock
solemn expression in return. And that
amused Alice so she laughed and the two
won't into the house together.
''You have the plain sewing clsSs to-
day, haven't your Alice asked.
'fYes, and class to teach the older
girls punch work" Poppita answered.
She was noted for n certain difficult type
Of embroidery she did, punch work on
coarse linen, and she was quito proud
that she was teaching II TO girls a. old
and older than herself.
Then there's my kindergarten clnes
Mt eleven Alice went on. consul ting
her chart II think I'll take them out
IN the woods today, it's so warm.
She went on, bent over her work, and
presently, surrounded by her class Of small
children. she went out to hunt flowers and
10 give them little lecture on plants and
plant life. The day passed as pleasantly
and monotonously as usual, and late IN
the afternoon she started homo.
Il think III walk around by the post
office, she decided, putting on her hat
carefully before the mirror
Her extra walk was rewarded, for
the afternoon train had brought letter
for her 1t was not Christine S handwriting;
Alice realized suddenly that il was Law
rencc's. She was always looking for word
from David-why should Lawrence write,
she wondered
The letter was not very long. The
paper bore the name Of one Of the quiet,
exclusive hotels in New York Alice
remembered il very well. She and David
hsd dined there alone one evening and
they had gone later to a concert. She tore
open the envelope.
Dear Alice" Lawrence wrote, Il |
know YOU are going 20 envy me as soon |
ms YOU see the CITY post mark on this let |
ter. / meant 10 write sooner. but I've been |
pretty busy-vou know the number OF /
the city can provide. You
should be here-there are still q few good |
shows though the season Is almost over
for producing anything worth while,
and there are several farewell concerts.
do YOU know, I'm really very coun-
trifed. You used 20 laugh at me. and
said ! looked so much like q city-bred
YOU remember a walk we
took way back during the days when ]
was arguing with you against adopting
Berenice? You accused me OF being 'citi-
fed then. when | tore my coat on lot
Of brambles
Alice smiled She remembered the
walk very we'll She had on one Of thecheap
house dresses which were all she could
afford in those days, and her hair, under
a hideous sunburnt hat, had come loose,
as usual. during the walk
Unconsciousy she patted her hair
moderate success. and it was softly and
becomingiy done, with the thousands OF
loose ends held in by a hair net. She
glanced down at her frock-slmple. IN
deed, aud home made, but fitting well
and looking smart
She went on with the letter. reading
as she walked up the street.
II took your young friend Christine
TO the last concert She's as red headed and /
as impish as ever She tells me frankly /
YOU don't appreciate me, that's why you |
wouldn't marry me--you see talk OF /
this quite calmly now. She says the bone t
Of contention IL now removed. ] believe /
she means the David person, my old riva /
He's gone West. or South, ! forget which.
But ! suppose you know
Alice stopped. with little gasp. David |
gone away Where. had he gone-and
when7
Tomorrow Unfortunate Incident. |
trThere goes man who can't bottle up |
-. - a. .r,bap ba gnaaLs of rarahfbf. /