The Monticellonian., 1919-03-28


 Never be afraid of an obligation"
 I'm afraid I can never repay it.
 Then you're one ahead. But you can repay me and you will"
 How"
 Lets wait and see Goodby. Don't worry"
 He gave her a hand-grip of perfect She followed him to tell him again how kind he was. As she was clasp ing his hand again Leila opened the door with her latehkey.
 Now there was triple embarrass ment Tom Duane had paid ardent court to Leila before she married Bay ard Here he was in Bayard's wife's home, apparently flirting with Bay ards young sister.
 Leila felt all the outraged sent ments of jealousy and all the indig- nation of a chaperon who has been cir cumvented. Duane retreated in poor order. Daphne stammered an expla nation too brief and muddled to suf- flee. Then she went to her room.
 There her mother found her when she came in later. Daphne had only faint hope that Duane could work his miracle twice, so she told her mother that she had failed as an actress. She told her bluntly:
 Mamma. I've been fired"
 To her comfort her mother caught her to her ample bosom and said I'm glad of it. I'm much obliged to who ever is to blame. Not but what you could have succeeded if you had kept at it. But you're too good for such a wicked life. A person couldn't be m actor without being insincere and q pretendef, and my little girl Is too hon est. So now you come along home with me"
 No, thank you, mamma"
 Mrs. Kip gathered herself together for vigorous assault when the tele phone rang and the maid brought word that q gent'man wished to speak with Miss Daphne.
 It was Duane, and she braced her self for another blow. But his voice was clarion with success.
 I've seen Reben. It's all right. He's promised to keep you on and give you Il chance. He says for you to report at the theater at seven-thirty tonight"
 And now again Daphne was more afraid of hey success. such as 1t was than of her failure. But 1t was pleas ant to carry the news to her mother and Leila
 
 It disgusted them both. They were still trying to dissuade her from con- tinuing on the downward path when a telegram from her father. came for her mother:
 Taking beaver arrive Grand Cen tral tomorrow don't meet me love.
 IVES"
 Bayard was late. as usual, and Leilas temper had just begun to sim mer when the door was opened stealth fly and hand was thrust in. It prof fered a small box of jewellers size and waved it like q flag of truce.
 Leila rushed forward with cry of delight, seized the packet and then the hand, and drew Bayard into the room and into her arms.
 ''This is your apology, I suppose" she said
 "Yes. the apology for being late, and that's what made me late"
 Leila was enraptured. She adored gifts and she had the knack of inspir- ing them. The little square parcel provoked her curiosity. She opened it so excitedly that the contents fell to the floor. She swooped for them and brought up platinum chain with delicate plaque of tiny diamonds and pearls on a device of platinum.
 Leila ran to Mrs. Kip and Daphne, exclaiming: Aren't they beautiful? Aren't they wonderful? Aren't they glorious?"
 Mrs. Kip and Daphne tried to keep the pace, hut once more they could not forget who it was that was raining down gold on this greedy stranger. Their alarm was not diminished when Bayard said to Leila:
 "You're not the only one who can open accounts. l started one for those.
 He took from his pocket pale brochure and said to Leila That al- lowance we agreed on. you know?'
 "Yes. I know"
 Well. instead of paying it to you week by week l decided to open a bank account for you; SC I ran over to this bank at the lunch hour and made q deposit to your credit-five hundred dollars ,''
 Leila forgot her jewelry for a mo ment in this new pride. She strutted about with mock hauteur. waving Mrs. Kip and Daphne aside and saving Don't speak to me. l am lady with a bank account"
 Mrs Kip sighed in dreary earnest. That's more than l ever was'
 Leila was boring over her bank book. the blank pages in which SO many dra- mas, tragedies and life histories could be coditied in bald numerals.
 Her first question was ominous. Do I have to go all the way down to Broad street every time I want to draw out some money?'
 Her first thought was already to at- tack the integrity of her store.
 NO dearest" said Bayard, there is an uptown branch, right around the corner. But l hope your visits there will be more for n putin than take out. Every time I give you anything want you to put some of 1t aside.