Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-18
THE Girl. WHO
SMILED THROUGH
By Marion Rubincam.
Copyrtght, George atthew Adams.
A NEEDED FRIEND.
Chapter 81.

She was essentially social creature, and
having shut herself away from every
body in the first shock of her grief, she
did not mind telling another glrl about
it now--that is, she did not mind telling
Clara who was always full of sympathy.
Mrs. Fairbanks was ont of the porch,
in her own cushioned rocker, and Alice
went over to her and kissed her. :.
II didn't meant 20 desert YOU, Mother.
said she. But ! felt that if ] stayed here
and met Lois | would have wanted to
murder her. :,
"The best thing YOU could have done,
Clara remarked viciously, ard Alice, IN
spite Of herself. smiled nj the extravaganza
OF the notion.
''l didn't sec her either, Mrs. fatr-
banks said II went uo in your room and
shut the door, Lois displayed surprising
energy She went after the nackmttn, anu
saw that her trunks were locked and eX-
pressed
''Of course she bad erergy when she
wanted it," commented Clara.
did she come to say goodbye? Alice
asked IL didn't know she had gore SO
soon but I'm glad she has.
''She came" Mrs Fairbanks set her
mouth in n tight little line.
she dared to-" gasped Clara.
''Oh yes, she came with that sweet
sugary manner of. hers, and l told her
frankly what | thought Of her dlshonora,
BILE actions Mrs. Fairbanks displayed
more vigor than she had for years. Then
she dropped her sweet ways and became
sullen. And then she went away
II saw her at the station, Clara said
a little while later, when Mrs. falrbanks
exhausted bv the excitement OF the last
couple of days, had gone up to her room
for a rest IL wento tmeet the local from
the Junction. and W her waiting for
the express. | told her | hadn't heard
of her going. and guess didn't pretend
any great sorrow, either Anyway, she
said she had changed her plans suddenly,
and that she was to be married In few
weeks. and had TO GO back to New YORK
to buy rousseau-fancy, and she
supposed 10 bc overpowered wlth gIiei
for her mother"
And Clara leaned back and droop-
cd her eyes in imitation OF Lois pet ex-
preston OF SORROW
Then when she told me IT WAS David,
| nearly tainted" Clara said. And
came up here rs fast as | could Dear
girl. why did YOU break your engagement
TO him" | didn't mind losing him to YOU.
hut to her, Why, she'll make hun per
iectly miserable.
Alice sat listlCssly, staring out the VIM
dow. When she began TO tell the whole
story 10 Clara, her voice had the same
curiously monotOnous quality IT had had
once before AZ the end she repeated,
Il was so afraid he might tie falling IN
love with her, and had 20 be ialr. Cla1a
Suppose | held him TO his engagement,
and all the time he wanted heri Think
what a marriage like that would mean
nothing but the greatest misery,
w Whcrcss, If | gave him his freedom
and he found he did love me best why
my conscience would have been clear
and everything would have been aH right
Perhaps il is anyway, for he seems 70
have preferred her But Aicc's voice dld
not contaiA the optimism, her words
showed
Everything isn't au right. Clara
declared vigorously. First Of all. ] don't
believe he ever did propose to her
But how else could they he engaged
asked Alice, the innocent-mindcd. You
surely don't think she did It.
II shouldn't put il past her, Clara
answered Anyway ! have faith enough
in David's common sense to feel that he
will sec what silly, emPty-headed little
thing she L.
Even so. what can he do?'' Ahce asked
II don't know and suddenly Clara
became detected. She put her head down
on the table and began TO CRY. And il
WAS Alice who put her arms around her
and comforted her.
Il feel IS badly IS though he had
run away from me, Clara said finally.
wiping her ewes" Alice, how can you be
so brave and sit there without saying
word, when I'm crying as though | were
the injured oneP'
But I'm not injured. Alice SAID.
If he loves Lois more than he-than
he loved me. then it's best for him 10
marry her But she knew that down III
her heart she was rebelhng against this,
and that she did not believe a word of 1t.
Il love you both so much, Clara said
in a broken-hearted manner. And |
know YOU were made for each other.
is spoiled now, your life and
his too. Oh, | wish could do something!
But YOU can't" Alice said. That
the worst OF q thing like this. If mother
an | had lost our money. ] could get out
and work. could have fun scrubbing
floors, even. As II Is, there isn't anything
! can do--but stay here. If David had
died. / could at least be allowed to grieye.
As it Is. have to hide my feelings from
everyone but YOU. and YOU understand
and go on rs beforehand smile.
And then il was Alice who put her head
down on the table and wept, and Clara
who comforted her.
Tomorrow When DAVID Came.