Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-13
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Ru6lncam.
(nnxri~ht Cassnrea "A n thaN AdnxuA.
4 PROPOSAL.
Copyright. George Matthew A

Chapter MN.
One afternoon. week after Alice had,
rs she expressed it, given him his freedom
David Was crossing the meadow near the
Model Farm House, when girl rode up
the lane on horseback. He did not know
her at first, for David had been lost IN
thought 1t had been n week since he had
seen Alice and he was desperately lonely
and at the state when he Was a bit resent
full because of it. In other words, David
WAS at his weakest place.
And he looked up and saw Lois riding
towards him, up the lane leading from the
farmhouse She sat astride, and she was
dressed in the smartest riding habit, with
leather puttees and rough straw nat
pulled down over her hair. She leaped,
off the horse when she came up to him
and stood laughing up in his face. the
bride rein over her arm, conscious OF her
prcttiness as she threw her head back
against the horses black name.
"Glad to see me?" she asked.
ooh, gee, I'm so glad could eat you!'
he said with boyish enthusiasm.
'sThen stop working. and we IL tie up my
horse and go sit on that log above the
creek" Lois said.
David thought he would send her home
in an hour, but two hours and then three
passed, and he could not let her go. She
laughed and chatted, told him all the stories
of the neighborhood, reimbursement about
familiar theatres and restaurants IN New
York, and frankly coquetted with hum,
As the afternoon waned, she let the
talk become more serious. Finally she
held our her hand. :.
II must go" she said, but did not pull
her hand away. 81 came on an angel
errand, Davey-boy, but I'm not good
enough to go through with IT"
What was your angels errandl
David asked, content to hold the small
white hand she seemed so willing to have
him possess.
sfWell, i wanted TO make il up between
YOU and Alice, Lois said and looked away.
'1s she unhappy" David asked IT
eagerly. He wanted her to say yes, and
she knew 1t.
'I-I don't know" Lois answered. II
don't think Alice is the type that Is ever
unhappy think she feels her life work IS
looking after her mother and that she
wouldn' I be contented being nythinge
But she isn't as-well, as gay and
cheerful as she was, is she2
She's think she's relieved. The
word came as an inspiration to LOIS. She
wanted to give this impression, but she
didn't know how far she dared go with
out seeming to tell an untruth.
She heard David draw q sudden breath,
then they sat silent for long time. FINAL
ly she turned TO him, her old disarming
smile with her. the one that made her
seem to be smiling through tears, and her
voice had the slight quaver LOIS knew so
we'll how TO give it.
81 thought you might be unhappy.
Davey dear she said, so l came TO
make it up between you.
did Alice send you?" David asked.
NO" Lois answered truthfully. "She
doesn't know I'm here. But i thought
you might be unhappy and Id do any
thing in the world rather than have you
miserable" The quaver was most pro-
nounced.
'5Whv?'' David asked Loislooked away,
the hand in his trembled nervously. This
by the way. was genuine-Lols wfssnervous
Because" she answered, still looking
away.
'Why?" David insisted.
For answer Lois turned TO him, her
blue eyes appealing. She was sitting near
him, and her right hand lay in his. As she
turned she raised her face TO him. David's
arms went around her, and his lips found
hers. And Lois leaned back against his
shoulder, her face still turned TO his and
smiling.
She was sweet and comforting, and
David was lonely, desperately lonely-and
re.entful because he felt Alice was not
quite Just to him. 1t was natural that he
should kiss Lois again. She was so near,
and so willing.
After a time she spoke, softly, as though
continuing conversation:
$50 YOU see couldn' gather the strength
TO make it up between you and another
woman, when l loved you so much my
self" she said. II knew she wasn't the
sort OF girl you would be happy with.
And knew you loved me, only you were
too honorable TO say so before"
Had he said soP He started to pull away,
but Lois chung to him, and when ne want
ed to talk, she stopped him by holding
up her face for kiss.
And so David knew he was engaged
again. There are surprising number of
engagements that ''iust happen" without
either one formally asking the other TO
marry hinl--or her. David was somewhat
frightened by this turn of events, little
pleased, AID almost entirely bewildered.
II am so glad you love me. You've
no idea how happy we're going TO be."
Lois said as she mounted her horse to
ride home.
Mo nday-A Pleasant Surprise.