The Monticellonian., 1919-06-06
CHAPTER XXVtI.

In the course of few wretChed days Clay picked up some of the facts about Daphnes presence in Wether- els fatal ear. He was more furious at her than ever and more incapable of hating her.
 He saw Bayard often, but Bayard knew little and said less. One after noon he invited Clay to ride with him to the hospital. whence Leila was to graduate. He warned Clay not to be tray how shocked he would be at Lei las appearance, which, he said, was a wonderful improvement on what il had been
 She WAS. indeed, mere shell, and Clay was not entirely successful with his compliments.
 Leila sighed: Much obliged for your good intentions. I'm mere sack of bones, but I'm going to get well. The doctors say that if take care of myself every minute and go to d lot of specialists and go to Bar Harbor in the hot weather and to Palm Beach in the cold and spend about million dollars I'll be myself some day. That's not much. but it's all I've got to work for. Poor Bydie He didn't know he was endowing q hospital when he married me-
 What do I care, honey?" Bayard cried, with perfect chivalry. "rhe money is rolling in and I'd rather spend it on you than on anybody else"
 "The moneys rolling out just as fast as it rolls in" Leila sighed. "The Lord seems to provide a new expense for every streak of luck. And that's my middle name-EXpense."
 She had actually learned one lesson. That was q hopeful sign.
 Clay sought Daphne in her odious (to him) place of business. She asked him what she could sell him. He said he would wait till the shop closed. She raised her eyebrows impudently and gave him a chair in corner. lie sat there feeling as out of place as a strange man in a harem.
 Eventually the last garrulous GUS toner talked herself dumb the last sewing woman went Mrs. Chivvis pulled down the curtains in the show window and at the door and bade good night.
 Then Daphne locked the door, dropped wearily into a chair, and sighed, "Well, Clay?'
 "I want to know why you don't give up Tom Duane
 She shrugged her excellent shoul- ders again, but she did not smlle. She spoke instead: T don't ask you to give up your stenographer."
 "Oh it's like that chi Well, then, why won't you let me lend you money instead of Tom DuaneT
 Her answer astounded him with its feminine logic: T can borrow of Mir Duane because I don't love him and never did and he knows it. can't borrow of you because-"
 He leaped at the implication: Be cause you love me?'
 "Because used to"
 Don't you any more:' he groaned.
 How can I tell? It's been months and months since l SAW the Clay Wimburn that came out to Cleveland and lured me on to New York The only Clay Wimburn Eve seen for some time has been horribly pros porous, domneering snob who is toe proud to be seen with q working woman. He wants to mary Hdy I never was one and don't Want to be one. I'm q business Monun and l love it.
 And you wouldn't give up your shop for me-"
 ..CertainIy not
 He looked at her with baflled emo tions. She was so delectable and So obstinate, so right-hcarted and so wrong headed. It was intolerable that she should keep shop. He spoke after q long delay:
 May come and see you once in a whileT
 If you want to-
 Where you living now?n
 "Still at the Chivvises'."
 You ought to take better care of yourself than that. Surely you can afford a better home."
 'I suppose so, but it would be lonely anywhere else. It has been