Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-11
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
by Marion Ruhancsm.
Copyright. George Matthew AdsmA.
FREEDOM.

FREEDOM.
Chapter %.
The next night David came, an iDuAl
to call Mrs. Fairbanks had recovered
enough to be up that day, but Alice hac
insisted that she keen the room upstairs
go now after chatting few moments
the mother went on up.
lois disappeared, too, in compan,
with one Of the young men who had
been at her party some time before. Al
Alice knew, Lois would attract the men
Of the town as soon ~ they would gel
over the slight feeling Of constraint that
her extreme prcttiness and her modish
clothes had inspired.
Lois isn't wearing black much any
morc," David commented casually.
NO" Alice answered, after all, wear
ing black was nothing to do with her
sorrow over her mothers death. Lois had
lots of pretty clothes but she hadn't
much money to buy mourning after her
mother died, you know"
Eyes, know. She told me all about
her affairs. Poor kidT' David said, thought
fully.
Alice was looking at him steadily.
Usually he came straight to her TO kiss
her the instant they were left alone;
tonight he stood III the window staring
out, unconsciously perhaps, looking down
the street in the direction taken by Lois
and her new adm,rer.
After few minutes, however, he turned
away and came over TO the chair where
Alice sat. He took her hand and leaned
over her, but Alice drew back and would
not let him kiss her.
"Why not dear?" he asked surprised.
''Well. | want to talk first" Alice said.
IL was going 10 be awfully hard. hut il
was something that had to be done.
David dear" she began, II want
to ask YOU this-do you really love me9
Now waltz as he started to interrupt with
A protest 81 want you to think about 1t
first before YOU answer.
Il know YOU have, and think yoo still
do. but do you love me ss much now, rs
you did--well, as you did before YOU
met Lois?"
oBut what has that TO do with it7 Lois
is just just little kitten, soft and eud-
dlesome and cute, perhaps, but she hasn't {
the wonderful qualities you have
''She has qualities | haven't, that you
admire" Alice told him looking at him
with all the seriousness In the world
She is very very pretty, and feminine !;
she loves pretty clothes and knows how to
wear them. You like girl who is always
we'll dressed, fresh and dainty. stylIsli-I
don't know the word | want. Perhaps
mean well groomed. Lois is 81 of that. :"
.'I,ut Lois could not look discouraging
world i'm the face and laugh AT it,, and YOU
can. Alice. And that wonderful cheerfulness
and courage il one thing that makes me
love YOU. As for being pretty, YOU are--you
would be anyway II you'd learn TO fix
Yourself UP" A little Of the old criticism
returned to his voice for an instant
But are YOU sure you love mef" Alice
insisted Her gray-blue eyes searched his
face fearfuIly. Alice dared not think what
Il would mean ii he said mo
But he tried once more to kiss her, and
protested.
''Of course, | love YOU, Alice, Why do
you talk this wsy?'
Because I'm not suro. Alice said. And
we must be sure. dear. Think how terrible
il would be Il YOU were TO marry me, and
find out when IL was too late that YOU were
not as much in love as YOU thought
But what do YOU want TO do?' David
asked puzzled II don't see what all this
leads to-"
ITO this, dear, and. Alice nerved her
self for the supreme effort THAT want
TO break our pflgagenlent---noN Nlt till
I'm through--for tune. We cannot be
married for months, as you know. | want
youtobe free for the next couple of months
at least. Then you'll be sure-and if
YOU love me then, come and tell me so.
But, Alice, this is so foolish" David
began.
But Alice insisted, and had her own
way in the end.
Still protesting, David rose to leave,
and she walked In the door with him, and
out on the porch. 1t was moonlight again,
a glorious full moon. And if the perfume
of the roses had vanished, there was n
dangerous sweetness in the July night that
made everything fairylike and wonderful
I'm moving 10 the farm tomorrow
David said so cant come so often-or
10 YOU want me to come at all?'
"Of course / do, :" Alice said. And as he
turned towards her she suddenly put out
her arms and hid her face on his shoulders.
kiss me, goodby," she whispered.
Kiss me, Just once more-goodbye."
Tonorrow-The Little Kitten.