Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-13
A CATS CLAWS

Alice Fairbanks is called "The
Happy Lady by the children of the
little town of Pennington because OF
ner bright smile and sunny DISPOSE
ton. She seems to rise superior to
clrcumstanceS-her fathers death,
her mothers invalidism, the struggle
70 make an insufficient income keep
them comfortably. And when she
meets and falls in love with David
Thorne and becomes engaged to him.
nor cup Of happiness seems overflow
ing.
David has been attracted by Alice's
happy, e~asy-going disposition. Only
once her comfortable carelessness-
in the matter of her appearance
called forth a gentle rebuke, Mrs.
Fairbanks sister dies and her daugh-
ter Lois. left penniless, is asked to
stay with the Fairbanks. Alice gives
up her trousseau to send the money
Tor her fare to Pennington.
CHAPTER 10
Several days passed after Iois's
arrival and the little family on Dex-
ter street settled down into its new
routine. Alice as usual arose about
z in the morning, and she and her
mother breakfasted al the table at
the kitchen window, while the wind
blew gently in, laden with all he
perfumes Of June.
As usual. she went through her
routine of work, often thinking how
curious 1t was that so small a place
should require so many hours of eff
fort. N morning was gone by the
time breakfast was cleared away, her
mother dressed and established COM
fortably on the porch, the house clean
again. and the dinner ready.
Dinner was at noon, and Lois
Usually never came downstairs until
hen Alice would hear her stirring
around about II, and presently she
would hear the water running in the
bathtub, and while the young visitor
bathed, Alice would slip in and
straighten her room.
I'm do It," Lois would protest
sweetly, coming in from her bath
rosy and sweet in her blue velvet
robe, her golden hair flying around
her a and her cheeks pink.
II may a. well, while I am doing
my own ROOM" Alice would answer
o~heerfuily.
For Lois never protested strongly
enough to be convincing. At noon
she would be at the table, in the
draped silk negligee Alice admired so.
The two women had tea for lunch,
but Lois liked coffee, since it's my
breakfast" she explained. And she
liked eggs and hot rolls, so Alice
baked crisp little rolls n buns es-
peciaIly for her, and cooked her a
breakfast while she made a heavier
aok CllN IlVl
She likes it and it's not much to
do" Alice told her mother when Mrs.
Fairbanks protested at the extra
work.
But she goes upstairs to dress
while you do the dishes! She could
said.
I "VVelI, perhaps, but it would be a
shame to trail that pretty gown in
the kitchen, and she's not used to
work, you know" Alice laughed
cheerfully as she stirred the dish mop
In the soapy water.
Lois did no work, Her dressing
took a remarkably long time, but, as
Alice said. the results justified it,
Her golden hair was waved and piled
high on her small head, her nails
were given a daily manicure, her
dresses were perfectly adjusted. Her
sheer black silk stockings revealed
her slim little ankles, and her dull
black pumps were high-heeled and
buckled, and every article of clothing
seemed to go perfectly with every
other.
The neighbors were fascinated by
this little blond doll in its simple but
amazingly good looking black dress
es. Mrs. Riley called almost daily;
Mrs. Meyer, always in house dress
and apron, would come and sit in her
favorite perch on the porch step, and
look auoFlnSiy at LOIS. Anu LOIS,
laying aside the love stories she was
always reading, would talk by the
hour to them-of New York. of the
life there, of theatres, dances, cloth
es. She would give them advice on
making new dresses and predict the
coming styles.
1T must be dull for you here,
where there Is no life" Mrs. Myer
Ventured. You must hav had aw-
full good times in New York"
Yes, We did, but you see, my dear
mother was alive then. and We al
ways vent out together. Her friends
were mine, and all mine were hers"
Lois pulled down her little pink
mouth, and looked the picture OF de-
spair.
Its so sad for you" sympathized
Mrs. Riley, who had fallen in love
! with the newcomers Dresden china
prettiness.
Eyes, no one a guess how. les
peraHely lonely / am" Lois leaned
back In her chair, her blue eyes
closed. her long lashes sweeping her
cheeks. And she sighed deeply, with
an in-taken breath like a child who
has wept until exhausted.
"But I mustn't talk so. / make
| Auntie sad" and Lois smiled at them,
q smile suggestive of unshed tears
ana went over n kissed Mrs. Fair