Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-08
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubicam.
Copyrtsht. George Matthew Adams
NEWS AT LAST.
Chapter CIV.

he message on the NtlttN Htittt Nac
brief enough. Ii said
ARRIVE Pennington Sunday David
Answer" the messenger boy asked
laconically.
.Answor?" Alice repeated without
Pep. Any return? I'll take an answer
back If there's one
"Ohi" Alice was finding herself again
''No. there's no answer
The bov turned indifferently and saun-
tered off. All telegraph boys seem to ac-
oliire this supreme disinterestedness. Per
hans they are too used TO delivering mes
sages that make or break the whole course
of human life.
Ii was Mrs. Fairbanks who was con-
ccrned To her way of thinking, a telegram
meant news of death Surely nothing less
important would be sent in this Imperative
" hastv fashion. White faced, she turned
10 Alice when the necessary business OF
sending off the delivery boy was done with .
But IT was no news of tragedy or sorrow
that was reflected in the girls face. Alice
was still looking at the open yellow sheet,
and in her ewes was gradually dawning
the comprehension Of whole new life.
Sometimes it takes as long to understand
a great joy as it does to feel great sorrow
The warm pink crept back to her cheeks,
flushing them with the most delicious
tint. and her ewes were blue as summer
nights sky. She came to herself with a
start. and handed the telegram to her
mother to read.
WELL" was all Mrs. Fairbanks COM
ment.
And after few seconds she looked
again at Alice. and seeing the look of
happiness that was thcr she added !:
I'm glad, dear, if it means so much to
YOU.
And then Alice did curious and very
feminine thing. She ran upstairs to her
room, and throwing herself on the bed,
began to cry. Once before she had done
this same thing. but that time It was be-
cause the agony of the moment had been
loo great to bear. Then slie had TO be alone,
no other person could pity her enough
even her mothers sympathy was some
thing she could not stand.
And now-for great sorrow and great
iov are strangely related IN many OF
their manifestations she wanted
10 he alone for q little, for her happiness
was too great and too sacred Tor anyone
else to see.
1t was Berenicc who came 10 call her
That little girls sweet, shrIll voice kept
repeating.
.iwice. Awice
And Alice jumped up and threw open
her door Bercnicc. her frock full Of grass
stains. and her face most awfully dirty,
came tumbling in 70 greet her.
Whore were you? kep' calling and
calling
oh. I've been working don't you
know. In the yellow house where we see
Peppita every day. Now, how did YOU
get 50 dirty?
And Alice. once more awakened to
the duty that was nearest, gathered the
Ettle girl up, stains and all. for q kiss and
then carried her of to be washed.
'.Suppcr's 5 ready Her mother : voice
was most welcome with its announce
ment this time, and Alice with Bcrenice,
clean as 10 hands. face and knees. descend
ed with joyful haste.
1T is the best supper ! ever saw, Alice
remarked, as she settled tho baby in he
high chair. and took her own place by the
window. And strawberry shortcake. the
nice old-fashioned kind Why didn't you
tell me-
Il did. Mrs. Fairbanks defended her
self And YOU said That 5 nice. thought
you couldn't have heard me She put
the things on the table Warmcd-over
meat and steved tomatoes and tea. and
the cake as the treat of Tie meal
Isn't il glorious ont" Alice asked
leaning over so her head was out the
window. Her eyes took IN the beaut Y OF | he
evening with appreciation. the fresh
green OF grass and trees. the we'll tended
garden. always her pride, he flowers grow
lng bv the whitewashed fence.
''Gwashush. echoed Berenice, who
had not yet mastered the = 5 and RS
Of tho language.
Alice turned to laugh II her, and
then went back 10 gazing over the col
lection of backyards Dexter street had
rather pretty backwards; most Of them
were vegetable gardens and a few went
in for flowers And over everything
was the golden glow Of the setting sun,
enough 10 turn sticks and stones into
objects of beauty.
There's lots Of flies come through
that window, Mrs. Fairbanks said Flies
were always more important 10 her than
abstract beauty.
Alice laughed. Il did forge TO pack the
screen wire IN here, she said. III do II
after we finish. /. will be light enough.
Well, Mrs. Fairbanks conceded after
q silence. You do sound little more like
your nickname around here.
Alice laughed again, the. old, hearty
laugh Of the Happy Lady
''Oh, that 5 because David ls coming
she answered.
Tomorrow Comes.