Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-19
A New Friendship
CHAPTER rs

What a queer question for him TO
ask. Alice thought. Was she happy?
A little resentment came back again,
as before. 1t gave her exactly the
stimulus she needed at the moment.
Why should he ask whether or not
h was happy? After all. 1t was
David himself who had caused her
two years of sue terrible misery.
Unconsciously her chin went a lit
tie in the air. And she answered
calmly.
Yes. I'm quite happy, thank you.
Those books YOU sent me were IN
valuable. l worked hard at them.
/ studied all my spare time for two
years, winter and summer, n finally
learned enough to enter the third year
at the college here"
so it's your first time here?" You
see, I just came too, and I'm only
giving this lecture once a week
I've other work. But most OF my
books were on agriculture p"
Most of my course is that" Alice
answered, that and related topics.
Chemistry, biology, physics she
named her subjects to him. I'll
AXE some practical work on planting,
irrigation and such things next sum-
mer at the model farm. l want TO
work there some time"
You've done wonderfully" David
tdlu. WAS aII&lu-lHdL i, Il
thought you were married. Then /
saw YOU name, Alice Fairbanks. and
/ knew YOU hadn't he broke of
confusedly, then plunged on to cover
his awkwardness. You've done won
derfully. Especially chemistry
that's so difficult to do at home"
Lawrence helped me-" Alice said.
Lawrence? Obi. Who's hep"
Hes my iance," Alice said quiet
OH There was a long silence.
The girl could see the expression
change on the mans face. After a
time he said:
You'll let me wish you happiness,
won't your"
Thank you" Alice answered, and
felt a prayer of gratitude to her new
friends for the social training that
taught her when to say too little
rather than too much.
After a time, their mutual embarr-
sssment left them, and they talked
naturally and intimately. Alice told
him of Lawrence; she described him.
his dark eyes and hair. his gentle
his love OF fas driving. his
constant good humor. She described
his mother and his home. Shs-talk-
ed of her mothers improved health,
OF C~lara-always the same dear old
Clara-and of the baby. Berenice,
adopted from the settlement house
when its parents deserted it.
David listened, and laughed. and
sometimes frowned.
You look as though o had In
herited a fortune-I hope So he
ventured finally.
And Alice told him simply that
Mrs. Marlowe had insisted on Civ
ing her most of her clothes and that
she had taken money for her col
iege course from their tiny principal.
1T doesn't leave enough interest
for even Mother to live on. but Il
was a case OF rick nothing, gain moth
ing. To earn money for Mother, j
needed education; I'll pay 1t bach to
her from what / earn. For j want
10 work at something, even after-1
marry" she said.
quite right-there would be few
or unhappy marriages If both people
had separate interests" David an
swered.
Alice wondered whether he meant
he was unhappy because Lois had no
separate work of interest. but She
did not dare ask.
After they rose to leave. and as
they walked towards the college David
said:
you'll let me see you again.
Aliee?"
The girl hesitated. 1t seemed silly
TO refuse-why shouldn't she see him
again? Finally she said.
DO you think you should?" And
as he frowned with annoyance. she
went on,
There's Lois"
And Lawrence!" David interrupted