The Monticellonian., 1919-06-06

She has to give up the hoHseWork any way. even when shes houSekeeper, suppose she could give up her shop for while At least she could share the expeuSe-or her husband could stand the bills since he escapes the pain. 1 tell you, If I ever had d daH2h- ter I'd make her learn her own trade if she never learned anything else Fa never raise her to the hdeous. inde. cent belief that the world owes her living and shes got right to squeeze il out of the hearts blood of some hard-working man. No. Sirree IL may be old-fashioned. but it isn't decent and it isn't even romantic. The love of two free souls, with their own ca- reers and their own expenses, seems 10 me about the best kind of love there could be. Then both of them can come home evenings and their home will be home-a fresh, sweet meeting place
 Clay breathcd hard He was silenced. but not ouvlneed-beyond being con yineed that Daphne Kip was still the one woman in the world for him. in spite of her cantankerous notions. Still, of course. woman had to have some flaw or she would not be human. Daphne's foible was as harmless as anyone's, perhaps. So he blurted out:
 "I suppose you've given up all thought of marrying mel"
 She answered him with plous ear. nestness: Eve never given up that thought. Clay. I've been trying te make myself worthy of the happiness 1t would mean. have had the trous- seau all made. and paid for, Il long while. That's what l came to town for 0riginally-our rousseau. But when l saw how much sacrifice il meant for my poor old father and what il bundle of bills fd he dumping on my poor young lover b couldn't see the good of it. So I took my VOW that I wouldn't get Il rousseau till 1 could earn the price of it myself. And now I've earned the price and I've got it. But I've lost my excuse for wearing it.
 "Stin, I'd probably have lost you anyway, or ruined you If I had brought you my old ideas. Everybody always says that money is the enemy of love I wonder if it couldn't be made the friend. It would be an interesting eX- pertinent anyway"
 Daphne, honey let's try the experi- ment."
 She looked Tt him with a heavenly smile in her eyes, and answered, Let's"
 He moved toward her. but she lodged behind the counter. She studied him Il moment, then reached below the counter. A bell rang and drawer slid out. She took some bills from it. made a memorandum on slip of paper, and put that in the place of the bills, closed the drawer. and leaned across the counter murmuring:
 "They say all successful businesses are begun on borrowed money. So I'll borrow this from the firm-f0r luck"
 She put out her hand. Clay put out his. She laid three dollars on his palm and closed his fingers on them.
 "Whats all this?" he asked, all mys. tified She explained:
 "A plain gold band costs about six dollars, and that's for my half of the partnership. Women are wearing their wedding rings very light nowadays"
 "I should say so!' Clay groaned, but with a smile.
 She bent forward and he bent for ward and their lips met. She was only a saleswoman selling a customer part of heart for part of heart, but to Clay the very counter was the golden bar of heaven, and Daphne the Bless ed Damozel that leaned on it and l made it warm.
 THE END.