Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-19
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
BY Marion Rubicam.
Copyright. George Matthew Adams.
A SAD TEA PARTY.
Cbapter IXXXNU.


It seemed to make it ever so much
worse, she thought. Yet this was the
only place they come could to. There
was not another road house for many
miles.
81 didn't ask you where you wanted
to go" Lawrence said taking her arm
as they went up the steps. do you
like this plaoc?"
Eyes, / love it," Alice answered look
ing away.
Il hope, we can get our old table,
| Lawrence went on. They entered the
! low ceilinged room. Except for a couple
in corner, the place was empty. The big
| fireplace was filled with blazing logs,
| quite rs il was before when they came.
| Alice shivcred, for Lawrence was making
straight for the sheltered little table
where they had sat together those other
times--when he first asked her to marry
him.
"No, not therc--let's sit some other
place. It's SO hot there" she told him
Then his disappointed look went to her
heart. How awlully hard 1t was going to
be- She sat down. After all, IL didn't mat
ter where they were, the only really ter
rible thing was what she had TO tell him.
1t was a dramatic coincidence that they
should be sitting in the very spot they sat
before under such happier circumstances
but il would not add anything more to the
general gloominess of the situation.
Tea, and crumpcts; aud lets see
suppose we have some little cakes after
that, Lawrence suggested.
Anything" Alice answered. I'm
not hungry"
The waiter left thcm-alone for the
first time since last September when
Alice had gone 20 the city. Lawrence
fairly ate her up with his eyes.
"How good to see YOU alone again"
he told her, and took her hand in hia.
Don't, Alice begged, please don't
i can't stand it,
'Why dear" he began. "What
is it,
''It's everything I'm so miserable
And | have to make YOU miserable too,
Lawrence dear. And | do love you, and
| don't want 20 hurt YOU -
Lawrence looked at her. Her face
was pale except for n tiny red spot in
the centre Of each check. and her ewes
were wide and frightened. There was
no blue in them now: they were as gray
as her furs Lawrence realized what she |
was gong through, cmotionally, though |
he did not vet know what it was about
Tell me about it quietly, and don't |
worry. he said, and his tone brought /
her To herself at once
Its so awful. Lawrence" she said
Then she began again:
You remember all | told YOU about /
David Thornc j told YOU before | prom
iscd 70 marry Won You said would
get over it and | told YOU Christmas
time whom vou came to the city to see me.
that ! had met him again, And told YOU
in some Of my letters that we had gone
out together"
"NcS9" Lawrence asked His brown
ewes held hers
"a on said | would gct over Il hut
haven't that's all ! still love David
Oh Lawrence. what shall | do?'' 0ne
hand. cold as ice. went over the table
and held his
Lawrence said nothing, but stared
at the fire Alice remembered that da7ed
hurt look IL the ewes az the animal that
was being killed She had felt Lawrence
would look that way, dazed and hurt
and he did
The silence was interrupted by the
waiter who brought tray with steam
ing tea things and set II before Alice.
Il have bacn afraid of this. the man
finally turning back again TO the girl.
But Christmas time your little room
mate. Christine assured me il would
slowly dls,lIusloned and that vour love
for hum would not survive that, AMI
all ! had IL IL WAS to 70 home and be
easy ii mind and keep on writing YOU
lctters
Dear little Christine" Alice said.
"Shc hkod you - nurh and she did
not like David She resented HIM She
was sure | would gst over II She care
fully pointed ont al David faults she
was wonderful, hut She couidn cure ne
know bis faults know ! have no right
"a lows hiui-hc married tired getting
over il hy seeing him and thinking 81
his faults ] tried being reSentfui over his
pas; actions 20 me ! tFlei not satlng
hin bur | oliv seemed "a care more.
suppose that sort of thing cant be con-
;rolled
"But. sinco lie i married. what are
YOU gong - do2 Lawrence asked
u knew ] dlin dare SEQ him again
50 / ran SWAY like d coward Chns-
tlne scrs ! d never 80 Hm again er-
Laps IN tune / II cease 10 lowe hHn though
I cannot imagine such a thing nov
don { know
She TOO stared miserahIy into the FIRE
then turned "a Lawrence
4 cnIy know one thing clearly N all
this muddle si5e said And that Is
that cannot marry YOU Il wouldn't
be fair - you. and want 10 release vou.
Perhaps you can forget me | love vou
awfully and you've been wonderful to
rne-but ] know now that cannot marry
you, dear
Tomorrow