Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-05-02
CHAPTER XIX.

BUSINESS of rising sun. He praised
| her and thanked her for lending him
her time. The elevator that took their
bodies down took her spirits up. She
noted that he had not brought his big
car with his chauffeur. He, slowed
her into powerful roadster built for
| two. But she had no inclination to
protest. The car caught them away
and they sped through Central park
with lyrical, with dithyrambic, sweep.
'The trees how wonderful they
are!" she cried.
They had been wonderful for weeks.
but she had thought them dismal.
They're nothing to what they are
in Westchester," said Duane. Were
going to have look at them and
dine up there somewhere"
"Are we?' was all she said.
And he said, eve are.''
After they left the park and re-
entered the hard streets she found the
courage to remind him: "But you said
you had something important to tell
me. What was it?'
Miss Kip, you've played the very
devil with me. / thought / was inn
rune to the lover germ, but-well, /
told you the truth about going abroad
to shake off the-the fever-the
Daphnitis that attacked me- But I
couldn't get you out Of my mind for
long, or out Of my heart at all. I'm a
sick man, Miss Kip, a lovesick man."
SNVs T11onn WON no I.
low you-really!"
'Oh, yes, you can T. he said, and
sent the car ahead with a plunge.
You're going to listen to me for once.
You can't help yourself. I'm not going
to hurt you. / just want you to help
me a little. went up in the Berk-
shires and tried to get my sanity back,
but I couldn'tl couldn't even play
golf-or cards or drink. People drive
me crazy. can't get interested in
anything or anybody but you"
"Mr. Duane, please You oughtn't
to- beg you. have no right
"Oh, / know you're engaged to Clay
Wimburn. He's nice kid. I'm not
one-two-three with him. I'm not try
ins to cut him out couldn't If i
would. i like him. I'd like to help
him, and your brother, too / don't
mean to be impertinent, either; but
well, the main thing is, want to beg
you to let me see you once in while.
II want to take you out riding and
dining and dancing and-you can take
Wimburn along if you've got to, but /
want you to save my life somehow.
And, by the Lord Harry / think it will
save yours. You don't look well, my
dear-Miss Kip. It breaks my heart
to see 1t. No, / don't believe you're
getting as much fun out of life as you
ought to. There isn't much fun in the
world any more, but what Titles left
is very precious, and want you to get
all that's going. Won't you let me help
you go after it? Won't your"
They swung up to height that COM
manded vast reach of the Hudson.
Between its banks it semed to be a
river Of wine. The western sky was
like forest of autumn leaves with tie
last sad red pitifully beautiful, since
| it must turn so soon to rust.
In a spirit Of haste the feetly spin
ming wheels murmured, why not, why
not, why not, why-notwhynot 2"
Before the sunset had quite relin-
pushed the sky the moon was over
the horizon-the harvest moon, huge
and close and of a meditative mein.
1t paled and dwindled as it climbed,
but its power seemed to grow.
It left Daphne more alone with
Duane, q little afraid Of him and of
the cleaning. They emerged above
the chain of Croton lakes and ran
across the big dam and wound along
the shore, crossing iron bridge after
iron bridge, till they came to little
roadside inn whose lights had yell
low warmth.
'sWe're stopping here for dinner, If
you don't mind said Duane.
Daphne was a trife ill at ease. but
she was hungry, too. and the adventure
was celebrating. There were not
many people at the tables, and they
were of an adventurous cast as well.
When Duane had given his order he
asked Daphne if she would join the
rest Of the diners who had left their
chairs to fox-trot. She shook her head
and he did not urge her.
But by the time their dinner was
served and eaten the nagging, inter-
minable music had played away near
ly all her scruples.
When Duane looked at her with an
appealing smile, she smiled back, nod
ded and rose. He leaped to his feet
and took her in his arms.
Somehow, it was not mere dancing
now. He had told her that he loved
her. There was in his embrace an
eagerness that was full of Difference,
but full of delight as well. After all,
she was alone with him in a company
that seemed not to be very respectable,
and was growing less so every hour.
Her feet and all her limbs and every
muscle Of her reveled in the gambol,
but her heart and mind and conscience
were troubling her till she stopped
short at last and said:
'Tm sorry, but lid rather not
dance any more-here."
Duane paused in a moments
chagrin. Then he sighed: "All right"
They retreated to their table, and he
looked at her sadly, and she sadly at