Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-19
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
ry Marion Rubincam.
Copyright. George =. atthew Adams
LAwRENCE'S SUGGESTION.
sYNorsrs or PRECEDING cnArTERs.

Alicc Fairbanks has won her way
through life by her optimisim. 1t has
,arried her through a variety of troubles
IN her early youth lt first attracts 10 her
David Thorne. with whom she falls m
love They arc engaged but Alice breaks
the engagement when her cousin LOIS
seems 10 fascinate David. Lois and
David become engaged. Alice hears of
their marriage later.
Ahcc takes refuge in work, her natural
good temper and sweetness buoy her up,
IN spite of her heartbreak She meets
Lawrence Marlowe, son of a wealthy
fau,sv m the town A baby is deserted by
wandering family; Alice adopts IL. Law
renee asks her TO marry him and eventual
IN She consents But, after few months
nf their engagement. she feels the old love
too strongly TO be happy at the prospect
ol marrying Lawrence.
CHAPTER LxI.
Lawrence had been SO sweet with all
Alice's moods and doubtings that she
hated TO tell him the truth SO she worried
over If for perhaps n week. And when she
did tell him, it was brought on by n re-
mark nc made.
They were driving through the country
along one of their favorite roads. There
was a long, smooth stretch that ran for
several miles without a bend: II was not
freuuented bv many cars and II was there
that Alice had first learned TO drive. As
they turned into his part, Lawrence slowed
down the car.
Want to take the wheel?' hc asked
Alice shook her head
Lawrence gave her glance of surprise
Usually Alice was enthusiastic over driving
and could not do enough of IT.
shall we take the short cut to Burby
and let her out on the back road?
asked He was talking of one OF the spots
so dear 10 motorists, where a good road
was less carefully watched and speeding
WAS possible.
Again Alice shook her head. She was
looking far out over the hills, her gray
blue ewes rather serious IN expression.
Lawrence laid his free hand over hers.
What's the trouble, dear hc asked.
''You haven't been your usCal self for
DAYS Nou are always 50 cheerful, IN fact,
| fell in love with YOU first because YOU
had such happy disposition
''Will you fall out Of love with me if
stop having a happy disposition? Alice
asked with little humorous smile.
"No, don't suppose | viii Lawrence
answered. but | prefer you happy
"1'm smiling" Alice turned to him
10 confirm her statement.
Mechanically Lawrence answered.
what Is the trouble? Don't YOU love
me any more
Yes I do, Alice replied But
don know Lawrence. | can explain IT.
! do love YOU and do want 10 marry YOU
i don't knowwhy | vc been So depressed
II think you've been depressed be
cause YOU had ceatain things in mind
20 do and you've worried because YOU
haven't done them, was Lawrence way
Of summing up the situation,
You worried all spring because YOU
were not over there at the settlement
house working Yourself TO death i'll the
gardens; you worried all winter because
YOU weren't there doing n lot Of work
that girls with plenty of leisure should he
doing. You felt badly because ] refused
e. let YOU plant an enormous garden back
II YOUR house and let YOU break your
back tending 10 It.
There Is something IN All that. Mice
conceded II like 10 work, perhaps that's
one thing that troubles me about our
marriage. III have maids and ! wont
dare do any work I'll nave TO play all
the time I'm sure | shant like IT rs well.
Probably I'll want to bake YOU a cake. (
or 90 ont q ,d hoe the corn patch. And
wife and people would talk.
Lawrence threw back his head and +
laughed and there was relief IN his voice /
when he spoke again.
III that's all, don't worry your nice I
little head about II, he answered. III I
YOU long 20 grasp hoe and 60 forth and /
weed, take a bag Of goh sticks and go +
out on the links at the club There /
remarkable similarity of movement be-
tween hitting golf ball and aiming at
weed. but golf has the advantage of
exercising more muscles than hoeing
20 10 will be better for YOU"
Perhaps we can build a bungalow
somewhere on a mountain and when
/ want 10 do housework, Wen go out !.
there and camp" Alice suggested.
Lawrence grinned.
81 hate camping unless / can have
a camp with a plumbing system and
a shower bath and electric lights" he
said. when you rough it, spiders and
flies get into everything YOU eat and
strange creatures from the forest crawl
down your neck. ! suppose I'm super
civilized, / don't like getting too close to
Nature"
They drove along in silence for q while.
Then Lawrence spoke again.
Il think, at that, I've solved your
be said.N Your talk about
hoeing and making cakes gave me an
idea. You are really worried because you
haven't followed out your plans. Would
YOU be any more contented if you did go
through the agricultural college? | don't
know what good il would do you now, but
believe that's what YOU want to do"
'It Is" Alice cried enthusiastically,
'It's exactly what | want. But | can't
now we're to be married"
IF If viii make you happy, We'll go
% the city for a few years TO live" Law
-enee answered, land you can finish the
,ourse then. In fact, you can start in
september. Wen be married in July
md take AZ apartment in the city in
ate August.
Alice thought over this suggestion
happily for several days.
TomorrOw-An Honest Confession.