Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-02
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So n week passed. week when
there was no laughter In the gray
blue eyes, and no smile about the
mouth of the girl the children called
the Happy Lady" Alice could
make no pretence of c~hcerfulness.
ITS just as though she had died"
Clara said to Mrs. Fairbanks one
afternoon. 1t was a hot day In early
August. and Alice was standing in
the vegetable garden among corn
stalks taller han she was, and beans
that Leaned their glossy dark green
weight upo long poles. A glimpse
of her cotton housedress and her
blu ~sunbonnet could be seen now
n then as she walked about.
'She hasn't much life or spirit. p"
Mrs. Fairbanks said. There's one
curious thing about 1t though, Clara.
She used to be so afraid i might
work, or make an unnecessary move
ment that she fairly had me wrapped
In cotton wool. Whatever I wanted
to do. she was there ahead of me TO
do 1t first. And that wasn't good for
me. She's been Indifferent about
things lately and I've had n chance to
prove L can still be physically use
full"
well. that's good anyway" Clara
said.
Alice came around the hous with
q basket on her arm laden with
vegetables. her cheeks scarlet from
the exercise and heat. her hair. for
once, tucked up neatly under her
bonnet. She dropped on tho steps
OF the porch to rest, and smiled
mechanically at her chum.
want to go to a party at the
Oyen's7" Clara asked. Mrs. Oyen
asked me to bring you She's tele-
phonlng. around to get up a anc
tonight"
mo, 1 don't want TO go. thanks"
Alice answered lifelessly.
Clara did not urge. Ordinarily
Alice would LAY been enthusiastic
over any such little affair. She loved
people and lights and life. and there
was very little entertaining among
her friends. and very few chances of
amusement In the little town.
That afternoon late, when 1t had
cooled q little, Alice walked over to
Shantytown to find her little friend
Peppita. The little crippled girl
held out her arms as usual and hug
ged Alice with all the enthusiasm
that only a twelve-year-old girl can
feel for an older woman.
I'm happy today, Happy Lady"
she announced, her black eyes dane
ing merrily.
prising indifference. h was usually
In hearty sympathy with all the tiny
pleasures that came the way of this
little girl.
'I have n beau" announced Pep
pita with much importance.
Good heavens. you're only an IN
FAINT" Alice reproved her and frown-
ed suddenly.
But he's a nice beau" Peppita
insisted. "Ie brings around u great
baby carriage which his twin sisters
used to sleep in, and / get in So"
with an expressive action, land he
takes mo for long rides down the
street and out to the country, push
ing the carriage. And I ride in STYLE
she mimicke ed the naughty air OF a
grand lady and laughed at her W
Joke.
"Oh. we'll, that's different-he Is a
nice beau" Alice conceded.
"You ave a beau to taxi you rid
Ing, too" Peppita remarked, remem-
bering her own trip in the carriage
with David and Alice.
81 haven't a beau. It's a vulgar
word and you mustn't use t." Alice
said irritably and got up to go home.
And she went in spite of entreaties.
She found herself curiously annoyed.
Ever Peppita, twelve years old and
crippled, had her head full of ideas
about "beaux." What did most girls
think of anyway? Lois thought of
nothing else-and well, Lois got her
beau"
Alice brooded over it on the way
home. Not even the thought of sup-
per waiting to be cooked hurried
her. What was the S of anything ?
Her mother was pairing potatoes
IN tho kitchen. Alice took the knife
and pan away from her.