The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-01-16
BY
RUPERT HUGHES

"Have a good time, honey, and If
you see anything you absolutely got
to have, just you get it. And if the
money you got isn't enough, why, I'll
get more somehow. You can usually
depend on your old dad to do his
best"
He felt repaid when his beautiful
child cried, II know I can! you angel!"
and reached high and drew his head
down like a faithful camel's. He never
told her that she vas squeezing his
eyeglasses into his nose. He managed
not to sneeze at the exquisite agony
of her curls tickling his nostrils, and
she Toasted his hungry a with eager
gratitude.
Daphne slept little that night in her
Pullman %pigeonhole; she was too busy
with her thoughts, and the wheels
made a banjo of the rails. But she
was glad of her insomnia. Even better
than sleeping well is staying awake
well.
The train was on time and rolled
Enthusiastically into the Grand Cen
trail station. Clay Wimburn was there
by special d%ispensation from the office,
and he had had the forethought to Sc
cure a permit to come down to the
platform. He told the station master
that he had a crippled aunt to meet.
He did not tell Mrs. Kip that. He let
her believe that all doors opened to
him.
Daphne had not finished pointing
out her hand luggage to the redcap
when Clay's arms were about her. She
turned to draw her trusty "Sir!" but
smOthered it on her lips. He charged
her mother next, and kissed her we'll,
saying:
"That's not for Bayard; that's for
me. How are you, mammal"
Mrs. Kip blushed and squealed as
she had squealed long ago when her
first lover stole the first kiss.
After making arrangements about
the baggage with magniticence and
tipping the porter like a freshly baked
millionaire, Clay %taxicabbcd them to
Mr.. and Mrs. Bayard's apartment
house, a towering habitable chimney
on Fifty-ninth street, overlooking Cen
trail park and Columbus circle.
The convenience and ingenuity OF
the apartment enchanted Daphne. II
seemed impossible that all this luxury
this of wealth, could be secured
in so small a space, on part of one
floor, the twelfth of q building. Every
thing came up in baskets by pulley
people, food, everything; it was like 6
monastery in the mountains-witf
some differences.
She was grateful beyond words tC
the young man who embraced her ant
stared over her shoulder-over hel
left shoultler-at the tiny commerce
Of the streets and the toy park. She
said to him:
ooh, Clay, this is heaven! What dc
you say to II having an apartment
just like this? Let's!"
She felt in the arm about her a sud.
den s%lackening. The chin on her shoul.
der seemed to weigh heavier.
"Er-it-wOuld be NICE" said Clay
She turned out of his embrace and
looked at him.
He explained: "Do you know how
much Bayard pays for these seven
rooms and two baths?"
mo"
swell, I've been looking about for
Il little nest for u.s., and 1 priced one
like this. They charge twenty-five
hundred dollars a year,"
She asked, shyly. "And that's more
than we can afford?" She had no idea
what salaries were paid to fairy
princes in this city Of fabulous
wealths. She had merely a glamorous
impression that her lover was there
to get what she wanted.
swell, we could afford it, all right
he laughed, meekly, "if we could eat
the view and year the altitude. But
we've never talked about money,
honey, have we? l suppose we ought
to. l don't want to give you any false
impressions. Shall we talk about it
nOw?"
"NO! please!"
Daphne sat suddenly. She felt as a
stranger to tall buildings feels when
an express elevator starts downward.
She had rejoiced to think that she
was escaping from her fathers nag
ging d%ollarocracy to a region Of love
and light. She sorrowed a moment,
then she gazed at. her lover and saw
how anxious he was. Her love came
back to her. The express elevator was
| shooting upward now.
"What does it matter where we live,
| so long as we have each other?"
"YOu're a little saint" he said as
he took her in a very secular embrace.
And then she began to laugh.
The whimsy struck her that she was
1il:a a bird uoipinp itS franIOm frOu,