Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-20
THE GIRL WHO
SMILED THROUGH
By Marion Rubincam.
Copyright, George Matthew Adams
BL.ANKNESS.

Chapter XXXVI.
So a week passed-a week when there
WAS no laughter in the gray-blue eyes, and
NO smile about the mouth of the girl the
children called the Happy Lady;
Alice could make no pretence OF cheerful
ness. =. :,
s1It's lust as though she had died.
Clara said to Mrs. Fairbanks one after
noon. 1t was hot day in early August,
and Alice was standing in the vegetable
garden among corn stalks taller than she
WAS. and beans that leaned their glossy
dark green weight upon long poles; "A
glimpSe of her cotton housedress and her
blue sunbonnet could be seen now ana
then as she walked about.
.'She hasn't much life or spirit, Mrs.
Fairbanks said. There's one curious
thing about it though, Clara. She used to
be so afraid might work, or make an
unnecessary movement that she fairly
had me wrapped in cotton wool. whatever
I wanted 10 do. she was there ahead OF me
TO do If first. And that wasn't good Tor me.
She's been Indifferent about things lately,
and I've had chance to prove l can stu
be physically useful.
well that's good anyway, clara sa'o.
Alice came around the house with
basket on her arm laden with vegetables,
her cheeks scarlet from the exercise and
heat. her hair. for once tucked up neatly
under her bonnet. She dropped on the
steps of the porch TO rest, and smiled
mechanically at her chum.
sEWant to 60 to party at the Oyen's?''
Clara asked. "NIrs. Oyen asked me to
bring Won. She's telephoning around to
get up dance tonight"
mo. | don't want to go, thanks,
Alice answered lifelessly.
Clara did not urge. Ordinarily Ai1ce
would have been enthusiastic over any
such little affair She loved people and
lights and life and there was very little
entertaining among her friends, and very
few chances of amusement IN the little
town.
That afternoon late, when it had cooled
q little. Alice walked over to Shanty town
to find her little friend Peppita. The little
crippled girl held out her arms as usual,
and hugged Alice with all the enthusiasm
that only 12-year-old girl can feel for AN
older woman.
I'm happy today, Happy Lady" she
announced, her black eyes dancing mer-
rily. ~
ine Indifference. She was usually In
hearty sympathy with all the tiny pleas
ures that came the way Of this little girl.
II have a beau announced Peppita
with much Importance
Good heavens YOU re only an infant,
Alice reproved her, and frowned suddenly
"Rut he's a nice beau" Peppita insisted
"He brings around great baby carriage
which his twin sisters used to sleep In, and
I get in so. with an expressive action, and
he takes me for long rides down the street
and out to the country, pushing the car
riage. And ride in style, she mlmicked
the naughty air of grand lady and laugh
ed at her own Joke
''Oh well, that's different-he IS nice
beau Alice conceded.
You have a beau to take you riding,
too Peppita remarked, remembering
her own trip in the carriage with David and
Alice. :,
Il haven't a beau. Its . vulgar word
and YOU mustn't use it, Alice said IT.
ritabiy, and got up TO GO home. And she
went in spite of entreaties. She found her
self curiously annoyed. Even Peppita,
u wears old and crippled, had her head
full OF ideas about 'beauX. What dld
most girls think of anyway? LOIS thought
of nothing else-and we'll, LOIS got her
beau"
Alice brooded over it on the way home
Not even the thought of supper waiting
to be cooked hurried her. What was the
use of anything?
Her mother was pairing potatoes IN the 4
kitchen. Alice took the KNIFE and pan
away from her.
Don't help me, she said. 81 want to 4
work. I'd die without it. Go on out on the 4
porch and read till call you.
What are YOU going TO do with al
that" her mother pointed to the laden 1
hasEa+ cfs4iDu nm q fabla
Can succatash tonight, Alice SAID
briefly. The Womans Exchange can get /
so cents jar for it for me. I'll send them
eight Jars tomorrow. We need the money
we've overdrawn awfuly.'
Mrs. Fairbanks said nothing and left the
room. Alice, petulant and temperamental,
was a new girl TO her. She had never seen
her moody. II worried her that the girl
was pale, except when her checks flushed
with exercise: it worried her that Alice
was so Indifferent to food. But, of course,
it was natural, and she would get over 1t,
she concluded comfortably.
And Alice, mechanically going through
the familiar motions of fixing the meal,
drew down her mouth and sighed little.
Canning vegetables tonight, hOelng the
garden tomorrow, planning another garden
next year-and so on for al the other
wears. Life looked blank and bleak TO her,
and nothing seemed to matter.
Monday-Some News.