Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-10
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubincam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams.
ALICE.
CHAPTER IL.

Alice Fairbanks came up the path
to the porch where the three neIghbors
sat. She was smiling and her cheeks were a
little flushed. Whether it was because she
had walked fast with laden basket on
her arm, or because she suspected herself
to be the subject of her neighbors' gossip,
only one who knew Alice very we'll could
say.
Whaiever it was, her checks were
the lovehest rose. and it gave her look
of buoyant health that she did not al
ways have. She was gray-eyed, and creamy
skinned, with straight brown hair that
fell, just now, in loose wisps where the
wind had blown it about her face, she
was too slender to be very fully develop
cd-in fact, her figure was immature.
IL want you to meet Mrs. James,
Mrs. DR.. James," Mrs. Riley introduced
her guest by her full title.
''Sho used to be neighbor out here
years ago"
IL think | remember you," Alice said,
looking at the woman with her clear,
honest eyes. 81 came to your house one
night for your husband-one time when
father had a. sudden attack.
ooh YES" Mrs. James said Indifferent
ly. People who came In the night for her
husbands services were nothing new to
herl
"How's your mother? Mrs. Myer asked,
starting 10 get up from the porch step.
'Oh, about the same" Alice answered,
and smiled.
well. | must say YOU take IL cheer
fully" Mrs. Myer shook her apron out.
end prepared to go. I'D probably feel a
little discouraged in your place. It's been
six years now, hasn't it?''
about that time" Alice agreed. "Bu
you see, she isn't any worse so there's
that consolation
Now, that's YOU all over Mrs.
Riley approved. pulling the last OF the
peas from the paper bag and dexterously
shelling them into her pan. You can al
ways think of the cheerful thing. | wish
could"
For answer Alice laughed again. Then
she turned from the Step-"l left some
bread In the oYen, she remarked, "and
won't be able 10 think of any thing cheer
full if stay away so long it burns
I'm so glad to have met YOU, she
added to Mrs. James.
Som |, I'm sure, Mrs. James said in
her best company voice.
Mrs. Myer announced that she too
would have to be 'trotting along and
left with Alice. The other two women sat
on the porch and wached them 90 up the
street, until Alice turned into a gate and
into a little house half q block away.
IL was the very epitome of the word
'neatness. " this other little house. Origin
ally il had been built. exactly like all its
fellow on the street, two stories and an
attic, plain overlapping boards with a
porch across the front The builder had
saved money on his architects fees, at
least.
But time and the diverse characters
of those who occupied the houses, had
worked to giw each dwelling a little per-
sonality OF its own Some had added carved
frills and ornaments, some kept their
places well painted, 4 few prosperous ones
had opened the walls 20 let IN bay window.
One could see that no extra money had
been spent on the Fairbanks home But
roses had been trained on crude
ely nailed ladders, and in June the house
was bower Of fragrant bloom. and all
summer it WAS clothed IN green leaves.
The hedges was trinity cut, the lawn moved
the flowers along the edges
showed good care. Every window shone,
and If they could not boast the elaborate
ace hangings most dwellers on the street
in, they were all the daintier
With their freshly laundered muslin
curtalns.
Ahce hurried around 10 the back door
and with housewifely anxiety opened the
1ven door. She took out several loaves Of
ieliciously Drowned bread and set the
% cool, first brushing them carefully with
1utter so the crust would keep nicely.
Quickly and efficiently she spread the
white cloth over the kitchen table, and
,ut out the silver and the plates and cups,
stopping now and then to stir something
away inside 9 pot. Last of all
me made tea, and opened q jar of preserves
Then when everything was ready, she
walked over the kitchen to the closed door
eading TO the next room.
She stopped for an instant, her face
rave and troubled. But her expression
hanged as she opened the door, and her
Supper is ready" was in
he most cheerful sort of tone.
A frail, sweet faced little woman ernerg-
d from the room-the living room of the
my cottage. Her arm around her. Alice
ed her to a place at the table, and sat
opposite, serving the food while the little
id lady poured out the tea.
They were a charming contrast, this
mother and daughter, and the picture of
,eace and harmony.
TonorroW-Alce Meets David.