Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-12
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
By Marion Rubincam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams.
THE LITTLE KITTEN.
Chapfer ENN,

Next morning. Lois appeared ~, 'iot
Aer. the unheard of early hour of haii pas'
eight. Alice had not allowed her mother 10
yef IN. 40 she had arranged tray, with q
few flowers from her "grandmother !,
garden TO dress it up and had oarr'eo
Il upstairs to the bedroom.
She was sitting alone staring out ,he
window with q cup of cold coitee peiote
her, when Lois came IN. Ia ,r.e
oWhy. you've not eaten hite, Aiice
de.r". ,ois said with concern that sound
al .,most real. 'You mustn't worry
,,,.ar vour mother so. she's really all right;
/ stonned in to say good morning, and
s.I,n, not worrying over mother,
,G.a interrupted. I'm not hungry,
ssYou must let me heat your break
Co, or,;n Lois remarked sweetly.
HT.a noted for the first time that she was
,,-aar;ng one of her simplest dresses, m
stead of the trailing negligee she usually
.,nDeared in. Lois sat for moment at
tbe tablc but as Alice, lost IN her thoughts,
made no motion towards getting the sec
ond breakfast, the girl got up and went
over to the stove herself
"You must let me wait on you ior 4
change she said, and her pleasant tones
made generous Alice suddenly ashamed
Of the hard thoughts she ID been harboring
against her. :, Ca
;Iv washing and wiping the cup re-
f;Iled + with hot coffee from the stove:
She sniff omen the cold rolls and toasted
Them and dished up fresh hot cereal.
ssNow that's fine, isn't it," she asked,
s;,.;nr down again. "You see what use
f,J rerson can be. Now you must eat,
Alice dear. after I've fixed zip new break
fast for YOU.
Alice was touched, and TO show her
,xrot;trde ate the food she did not want.
Lois fairly purrcd her satisfaction ana
mo,bered Alice by her manner IN 2 way
tho. would ordinarily have amused that
,,raNt;caJ minded Young lady But Alice
r-os in , sentimental mood today She
fcIt She had given up everything worth
while In life when she had gwen DAVID ms
freedom. and though down IN her inner
most heart she hoped nc would como hack
10 her. and though she was almost sure nc
would-stiTl. the world was black place
to her today.
cern. ..,.
ing about. It's Dayey, she SAID hnaiiy'
as though she had suddenly mace great
discovery. III
again with a start. a,,
aDovey. David. Lois explained. I've
been calling him Davey--its such NEE
nickname, don't YOU think.
Alice did not answer. Lois poured her
self another cup of coffee and returned to
the table. -,
DO YOU mind my calling him Davey.
she asked swcctly, watching Alice tace
closely Alice felt as though someone
were sticking little knives INTO her' out
she forced herself to answer with apparent
no. of course, | don't care what you
There was silence for moment: \
inv smile plaved over Los pretty little
features. Then she said suddenly
II think YOU are quite right IN breaking
vo,lr engagement to David.
"How did YOU know that? Alice almost
jumped from her chair, she was so startled
by Lois remark.
"Oh. it's perfectly evident" the yonng
girl smiled little tri,Imphantly ana hcip-
ed herself to another toasted roll You
have been nervous and pre-occupled ior
some days. A1mtie has been upset
would be: she thinks being engaged II a.
sacred as being married. Lois permitted
herself a gay little laugh, then resumed:
"And today YOU won't talk and YOU look
rerfectly miserable. and of course 1t must
be worrying over man. | always worried
and vept when | broke off engagements,
Lois settled back with little sigh and
drank some more coffee.
s'How many did you break Alice
asked coolly.
"Oh. not many-only three, IN fact,
Lois answered amiably. 1t used TO please
mother TO have the boys crazy about me
Poor mother she sat back with dropping
ewes again, but this time Alice did not
even notice her, so she dropped the pose
promptly.
You and Davey were never made Tor
each other" she went on IN honeyed
tones getting up from The table. SO, oi
course. it's Just as well its broken.
Still Alice said nothing, the PAIN IN her
heart was too sharp.
s.Since YOU aren't engaged then, Lois
went on. ready now to leave the kitchen,
'tyou wont mind my going about with
Davev bit. will. YOU, dear?
"Of course not" Alice managed TO say.
sWelI,'' Lois said, studying her polished
fngernails intently, II think Ill write TO
him TO come and take me for drive again.
They say the Indian Head river is quite
pretty to visit.