Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-26
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
by Marion Rubincnm.
4 LITTLE RIFT.
Copyright. George Matthew adams.
C'hapier XVI.

| and her hair half down from her hurried
trip.
81 have been having the best time.
| she cried as she kissed her mother.
/ | went over 10 see Peppito, she is feeling
much better, and they had a christening
next door and the whole neighborhood
/ turned out for it.
You're so late said Mrs. Fairbanks
! gently Better not try to do any work.
David is coming YOU know, and you're
| to 20 to Clara's party this evening.
| ''Think of anyone giving n party for
me, sighed Alice, happily. Never
mind, I've plenty of time. Dear me, |
wish I'd bought that silk dress-but my
blue gingham with the rufIies will have to
do. On YES, this christening. mother,
wanted TO tell you. They had cake with
green icing and Christmas tree balls over
il for decoration, and about 10 kinds of
cheese, and huge loaves block long, and
the baby wore dress made of a lace cur
tain. with red ribbons
My dear, Mrs. Fairbanks interrupted.
"lou must tell me again. Go and sham
poo your hair. SO it will look soft did
YOU buy yourself a hair net and n new
pair of gloves
Gracious, forgot And Ill shampoo
nv hair tomorrow it will have to do fs it
-
and the fun Peppito was having. She
liked David. YOU know, and was so glad
| was going to marry him" Alice hur-
ried out of the room, and presently her
voice came to her mother from the garden.
She was singing again, a snatch of church
hymn, sung almost in ragtime tempo.
Ten minutes later she came back with
her arms full of vegetables and several
eggs in the pocket of her apron.
Now. this corn had TO be pulled to-
night. it would have started getting tough
tomorrow" she defended herself. I'm
going 10 cut il off the cob now and cook it
while I'm combing my hair. Wen have
some for supper and the rest Ill just can
while it's tender.
Mrs Fairbanks raised her voice TO pro-
test, but gave it up. She walked pam
fully to the kitchen and herself cut the
Juicy kernels of corn free of the cobs,
heaping them like SO many pears on the
table, while Alice went hastily about her
preparations for dinner.
I'D much rather have bread and milk.
she did say finally. But Alice merely
kissed her and went on cooking the meal.
David was to come at 7.30~for parties
IN Pennington were early affairs. Mice
came out to the porch TO meet him. and
behind the screen Of the climbing roses
he kissed her
How wonderful you look IN your
white fanncls and nice new white shoes,
Alice commented | do like those blue (
Norfolk coats with white flannel trousers. /
Gracious, you outshrc me.
Her, remark was unfortunate. for il (
made David, unccnsciously, look at her 1
more closely Alice colored n little and /
laughed
II ought to have rev dress for my /
party. but haven't she said. | expect /
YOU think rever wear anything hut this +
old blue
You look sweet no matter What you I
wear" David said il Loyalty. ard took her 4
hands lie raised first ore ard ther the 4
other to his lips, which Alice felt suddenly /
almost weak II was 50 wonderful to 4
be loved like this.
David perched himself IN his favoritc I
place, the porch rail. and held Aliee's .
hands And that. too was unfortunate,
sired he was looking ~ them While he held f.
them Alice had speGt a morning wash !
ing clothes H. strong SudSy water and,
as any woman knows. this plays havoc
with the hands Following this. she had
spent an afternoon digging IN her beloved
garden. ard her hards already dried from
the soapv water had taken sunburn and
stain that could rot be- removed except
with DAYS Of carc-which AlicC was not
likely 10 gave
Besides this. two fGger nails were
broken and all were stained from work
a kitten belonging To Peppito had clawed
her adding raw looking welts to her hands
and wrists ard She had cut one finger
slowly. almost imnersonally. David look
ed at her She had no; had time TO dress
her dress. it was mussed, her hair, hastily
done, was not becoming Her skin looked
shiny from hurried washing with too
much soap. Yet IN spite Of this Alice
was pretty.
But David frowned
You know, honey, he said gently. Il
lon't think they care ii we were half an
lour late My mother used to use cold
.ream to make her hands soft-Why don't
you 20 on upstairs and fix up a little.
I've never owned cold cream, Alice
aid it almost proudly.
Its nothing to boast Of David was
learly angry.
But. my dear. if you love me really,
'ou wouldn't notice these trlhiEg exter-
lals, Alice put her offending hands be-
lind her
Il do love you, and that 5 why | want !
'ou to be the prettiest and the best groom .
u glfI tncfE tonight. 1fOOullHB uoCsb I 4
mean expensive dressing. L can't quite
ell you what it means"
''It means hours spent fussing over
'ourseH, Alice said it almost spitefully,
ears Of vexation IN her eyes. She was
.ngry and hurt--she did not want TO go
O her own party. II was not until David
.issed her and apologized that she felt
,etter and even then, little of the hurt
tayed with her
I