Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-18
THE Girl WHO
SMILED THROUGH
by Marion Rubincam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams
WHAT ALICE ANSWERED.

1t all came so suddenly that it liferall,
took away Alicc's breath. Every girl, o
course, thinks forward to her tirst pro
posal, and wonders what he viii say anc
what she will say ifranswer and such men
tai vlsionings are always most romantic
in character.
And few girls are taken unawaros. II
feminine instinct ever crrs, II is rather on
the other side--thc girl IS apt to exagger-
ate the mans feelings, rather than TO
underestimate them.
But Alice was not prepared for this.
And when David took her hand and
asked ''Was it because YOU loved me?a
there was one instant when everything
whirled about her. Sometimes it happens
that great JOY has much the same effect
as great sorrow, the sudden news of either
will produce genuine shock.
So all Alice was able TO say, for the
moment, was
II don't know.
But her hand stayed in his this time
though it trembed a little And she stared
across the room, trying to realize what he
bad said. to adjust her mind TO this new
and wonderful world that his words had
opened to her.
"Please tell me" David urged drawing
her towards him and putting one arm
"You know i love You, Alice, don't
you?'
'I-no, don tt mean / didn't. Oh.
David, it's been So"
But Alice did not finish her sentence.
She turned towards the man and hid her
face in his shoulder
And so these two stayed for awhile and
the only sound was the ticking Of the clock
in another room and the musical dripping
OF the rain outside.
81 love you, DEAR" David told her. and
repeated it gently after another minute.
Then he raised her face and kissed her
checks, which were warm and flushed, and
her eyes which were moist from the tears
OF happiness that had started to them
and finally, her sweet FIRM mouth.
After a time Alice drew away from him
and looked at him, her eyes the softest,
deepest blue in the world, and shining
with happiness.
IL suppose you think I'm silly" she |
said, her voice not quite steady. "But I |
didn't know really didn't. We've only /
known each other such little while, Just I
few weeks-and there are so many other /
girls that are younger and prettier, and t
ever so much more attractive than IL
Maybe" agreed David, pulling her
closer to him again "But | haven't seen
them. You've so many qualities that other
girls haven't. liked YOU the very moment
/ saw you coming over the lawn at Clara's.
and | liked your voice when you talked. "
''Then heard all the brave things YOU
have been doing-taking care OF your
mother these years and trying to study.
and doing so much hard work To save
don't mind If talk about IL.
do you dear2p He leaned over TO kiss her
cheek, and went on:
'Clara's family told me A lot about
you--they love you, as everyone must.
think. And then when | saw yon, Won
we're alvay doing something lovely for
They talked for time on that most
of topics, each other. David told
'er about his family, and his college. and
Nice told him a little about the over
yorked father, who was an impractical
reaner and who died, really. of disaD- 7
ointment In life )
But they always came back to each I
ther and to the miracle that had han
ened 10 both of them.
Its happened so suddenly" Alice re-
eated-. Its so wonderful. We met and +
e fell IN love, and there hasn't been anv a
nhappiness, or any doubts" =
You haven't told me vet when vo,, arc !
DING to marry me, interrupted David. y