The Connecticut labor press., 1919-04-12
CHAPTER XIX.

her and thanked her for lending him her time. The elevator that took their bodies down took her spirits up. She noted that be had not brought his big car with his chauffeur. He slowed her into a 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.
 ''Ths 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. We're going to have look at them and dine up there somewhere"
 @ Are we?" was all she said.
 And he said, I've are.''
 After they left the park and re- entered the hard streets she found the you had something important to tell me. What was it?''
 Miss Kip, you've played the very devil with me. I thought I was iIn- Tlune to the lover germ, but-well, 1 told you the truth about going abroad to shake off the-the fever-tre Daphnitis that attacked me. But couldn't get you out of my mind for long, or out of my heart at all I'm a sick man. Miss Kip, lovesiek man."
 MT. Duane, you mustn't-I can't ai- low you-reallyi"
 "Oh, yes, you ean!'' 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. I just want you to help me a little. went up in the Berk- shires and tried to get my sanity back, but I couldn't! I couldn't even play golf-or cards-er drink. People drive me crazy. can't get interested in anything or anybody but you"
 @Mr. Duane, please You oughtn't to- beg you. I have no right-'
 ''ohs know you're engaged to Clay Wimburn. He's nice kid. I'm not one-two-three with him. I'm not try frs to cut him out-T couldn't if l would. I like him. I'd like to help him, and your brother. too. I don't mean to be impertinent, either; but well, the main thing is. I want to beg you to let me see you once in while.
 'T want to take you out riding and dining and dancing and-you can take Wimburn along if f<you've got to, but | want you to save my life somehow. And, by the Lord Harry I think it will save yours. You don't look well, my dear-Miss Kip. It breaks my heart to see it. No, I 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 you?"
 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 spirit of haste the heetly spin ming wheels murmured, "Why not, why not, why not, why-notwhynotwhynot?"
 Before the sunset had quite relin- quished the sky the moon was over the horizon-the harvest moon, huge and close and of a meditative mein. It paIed and dwindled as 1t climbed, but its power seemed to grow.
 It left Daphne more alone with Duane, little afraid of him and of the gloaming. They emerged above the chain of Croton lakes and ran across the big dam and wound along el.o hTsid of iron bridge, till they came to a little roadside inn whose lights had yell low warmth. "a
 Were stopping here for dinner, If you don't mind," said Duane.
 Daphne was a trif1e i'll at ease, but she was hungry, too, and the adventure was exhilarating. There were not many people at the tables, and they were of an adventurous cast as we'll.
 When Duane had given his order he asked Daphne if she wonld 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 deference, but full of delight as we'll. 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:
 ''I'm sorry, but rPd rather not dance any more-here."
 Duane paused in moments chagrin. Then he sighed: "An right"
 They retreated to their table. and he looked at her sadly, and she sadly at him. Then be seemed to like her even better than before, and he said. with g.