Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-10
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubincam.
Ccpyrieht. George hattheO Adanis-
INDIGESTION.
Chapter LlV.

With her usual honesty Of mind
Alice went over this new problem will
herself FIRST, trying to look at it from al
sides. And when she had it clearly, o.
thought she had il clearly worked out
she told her Mother.
Ii was a week after Lawrence had tolc
her he loved her. During that time i
must be confessed that Alice did LITTLE
consecutive studying. or that Lawrence
did little but routine work. She had tolo
him not to see her for week, and the
unusually long absence was only increasing
his already very deep love and longing
for her.
One afternoon, while Alice was sitting
in her favorite pastime, on hassock by
the living room stove, and while the baby
was sleeping In her coach nearby, Alice
told her mother about u.
You see, she said. 81 am still in love
with David. ! don't want to be, but
can't help il. | even think it's wicked, for
David is married TO another woman. but
/ done suppose il matters if he doesn't
know | still love him, and If ] never see
him. And. Of course, | never VIII" She
broke of 20 stare into the shining red
windows of the stove. She could not con-
fess even 20 her mother how deep a scar
was still in her thoughts.
Next to David, she went on after a
time "a like Lawrence. II it were not for
the other mani could even be IN
love with Lawrence. He's been charming
20 me. he's gentleman, and so was David
lie is educated, and knows more and is
more interesting than the men I'm apt TO
meet. He's nice looking, he's clean look
ing. even though he is rather small. He's
fine and generous and lovable--"
He's very wealthy" her mother
supplemented. To age. with its dead
fires. sympathy with youthful love must
necessarily be "A little imporsonal. Mrs
Fairbanks wanted Alice to be happy.
more than she wanted anything else,
and Tawrence's bank account seemed to
her a very important guarantee of such
That's an objection" Alice announced
90 the old lady's utter surprise. There's 3
no use talking, Mother dear, we do have
social classes and distinctions In this
free land of ours. And I'm not in the
same social class Lawrence is, because
I've never had the money nor the educa-
tion he has had. I'd have TO learn to fix
myself up, and wear pretty and frivolous
clothes, and 90 dance WE'LL do IT wretch
edly-and to serve tea dainhly," she
stretched out n capable hand, and looked
humorously at the yellow stains and
callOuscs.
II think all that would be very nice, 3"
Mrs Fairbanks answered.
Alice laughed.
"Why, YES. of course il would. But,
after all, those things do not count so
much. It's whether | love Lawrence
enough 10 marry him, whether I'd he
more unhappy without David that way
than this. | never expect even to see
David again, Of course
Mrs Fairbanks stared into the fire, too.
IL always liked David, she said, after
a time. Even when he seemed "a go crazy
over Lois, couldn't hate him. Somehow |
blamed her; she was tricky-however,
that Is all over. like Lawrence vry
much, he would bc good husband, and
you would have all the comforts of life
That's something I've always wanted
for vou-the comforts of life. You We
never had them, 1 haven't either, but I'm
an old woman and IT doesn't matter.
You're young, YOU could be very pretty
II YOU were dressed UP a little, YOU have
more brains and ability than any girl In
this town. Lawrence can give you the
position and the money 10 bring you out
rs YOU should he She broke off, for
there was a knock az the door, and Clara
came IN
Clara looked az their faces, and guessed
something Of what they had been discussing
You were talking about David. she
said with her usual directness.
NO. we were talking about Lawrence
Marlowe,' Mrs. Fairbanks said. He
wants 10 marry Alice.
"Alicei I'm so gladI' Clara ran over
To her friend and kissed her. Il guessed
il, Of course In this small town everyone
knows he's been running around after
you and most people have YOU engaged
We all want you TO marry him.
/ hope YOU do. IL would be splendid.
And after she had gone, and after the
supper was cleared away and the baby
had been put 10 bed Alice and her mother
still talked OF il.
III marry him, il viii be for a home
and for some sort of love, Alice said.
1T viii be taking him as a substitute for
David, and his love as a substitute for
the love really want, just as ! adopted
this little orphan as a substitute for
the baby Of my own ! must have wanted"
She stared at her unopened book.
But that doesn't seen fair to Law
renee, she went on. Il don't know what
30 say. want to marry, | suppose that's
& It's the woman in me that demands
! home and love and children. don't
xnow whether it is Lawrence / want, or
that
"lts a thing only you can decide"
Mrs. Fairbanks said. "But / want you
70 much to have All the nice things and
.he comfortable things in life, to make |
I'D for all you've missed
"Well, that should help me decide"
Alice answered.
Monday-The Answer.