Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-13
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubicanr.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams
A LONG TALK.


So the following day, which was |
Sunday. she went with David for tramp |
over the Palisades.
Bv this time Alice knew the great |
city fairly well-better, IN Tact, Tran |
most of the people who had always |
lived in it-as is the case with most |
newcomers She had been through ITS |
museums, its parks, its large zoo; she |
had been around its harhor and to the
many scashore resorts which are within
an hour of the great beating heart OF
the city itself.
But the Palisades. those wonderful
cliffs that rise so maicstically from the
Hudson. were still new TO her. So rolled
M in furs and wearing an old, comfort
able pair of shoes she crossed the Terry
with David and climbed the road that
zigzags up the rocky wall, and then
turned north with him ON the road that
runs along thc top of the cliffs.
Like many girls brought up IN or
near the country. Alice had never taken
any long tramps The Joy of Singing a
lunch ON a knapsack over her shoulder;
of wearing loose, warm clothes and
OF trampIng with long steps and taking
long hrcaths of fresh air, was n new JOY
to her. The exercise sent her blood racing
through her, her checks took on their
clear bright scarlet, and her eyes danced
with health and pleasure. For time she
forgot all that had worried her IN the
sheer JOY of the cold mir and the long
walk.
Sentiment goes with a stroll. Il has
little 10 do with a healthy tramp. ~
for some hours they chatted and laughed
OF mpersonal things an amusing student
In the biology class, an incident that nap
pencd ut college dance Alicc attended,
! AA,nr
time before. But when they had built firc
high on flat rock, with the river hun
drcds Of feet below them and the city
spreading out in the distance, gray and
gold in the winter sunlight then the talk
drifted to more personal matters.
I'm always So happy when I'm with
Won" David remarked once. on have
the incest laugh | ever heard. Most girlS
are shrill when they laugh, or else they
litter. But vour laugh Is simply happiness
Its rather hearty for a woman, but It
awfuly nice to listen to.
Alice looked over at HIM. They had
finished the luncheon David had brought,
and sat down by the diving fire. which
sent gusts Of warm ar over them, along
with the cold wind from the river. David
had worn a fur-hncd overcoat and cap.
The caps deep visor seemed TO bring ont
his profile even better than did tho SOFT
hat hc usually wore
There was no weakness in that pro-
flc Alice thought His forehead was
nicely high, his nose somewhat irregular,
but very we'll formed, his mouth tell
into firm lines and his chm had no hunt
of weakness Perhaps il had, though she
looked again. it was q little delicate for
mans chm. But she liked II better Tor
that-and his deep gray eyes were steady
in expression, not Wavcrlng. as are the
ewes Of people with weak character Drawn
bv the magnetic attraction of her look,
David turned to face her and their eyes
met And more than could hc told IN
chaptcrs passed in that one steady glance,
II was Alice who turned away, and
made herself watch the far-Off city and
the occasional boats below on the river.
But she could feel David's eyes on her
and she turned back to him again. All
mask of formaity was dropped between
them After that they did not pretend
any more.
What are We going 10 do. Alice
David asked. and Alice guessed all the
unhappincss Of the past years IN his
voice.
Il don't know. she answered Except
this that if we arc 10 be friends. there
are certain things We must not talk about.
Ourselves principally.
"Can | tell you-can | talk frankly
TODAY. if ! promise not to be personal
after that" nc asked
You can talk about everything YOU
want today-there is only one word YOU
must not mention. and YOU know that !
She did not have to speak plainly-Davd
knew as we'll as she, that all talk Of love
was not to be.
Il want TO talk about Lois and yon,
he said so you wont think too harshly
OF me"
So they talked over the brief DAYS
of the engagement. of Lois coming. of the
things she had said TO lead Alice TO think
the feeling between David and herself
was more than casual. David told her all
he remembered of the afternoon when. as
Lois insisted, he had asked her TO marry
him.
And he told bitterly some Of the in
nidents OF their life since, and the thorough
~ hard. selfish little woman Lois had be-
come. And Alice talked little of the
wretchedness Of the days following the
breaking OF their engagement and the
half-happiness she had had IN Lawrence, 5
devotion.
And now, do YOU think we can be
friends she asked.
Tomorrow-It Cannot Be