The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-04-10
CHAPTER XIX

When Duane came up to the door
he greeted her with the beaming JOY
BUSINESS or arising sun. He praised
her and thanked her for lending him
her time. 1he elevator that took their
bodies down.took her spirits up. She
noted that he had not brought his big
car with his chauffeur. He slowed
Aer 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.
"The 'treesAhow wonderful they
area" she cried. p
They had been wcRderfu1 for weeks,
but she had thought them dismal.
"They're nothing t. what they are
in Westchester," said Duane. "We're
going to have a look at them and
dine up there somewhere"
"Are WEI" was all she said
And he said, 1--WE are"
After they left the park and re-
entered the hard streets she found the
courage to remind him: "But you said
you had something important to tell
me. What was i'll"
miss Kip, you've played the very
devil with me. I thought I was ina
raune to the lover germ, but-well, /
told you the truth about going abroad
to shake off the-the fever-the
DaphniHs that attacked me. But 4
couldn't get you out of my mind for
long, or out of my heart at all. I'm q
sick man, Miss Kip. a lovesick man."
"Mr. Duane you mustn't can't al
low you-really"
"Oh, yes, you cant" he said, and
sent the a ahead with q plunge.
"You're going to listen to me for n
You can't help yourself. I'm not going
to hurt you. I just want you to help
me a little. I went up in the Berkt
shires and tried to get my sanity back,
but I. couldn't! I couldn't even play
golf-or cards-or drink. People drive
me crazy. I can't get interested in
anything or anybody but you"
"Mr. Duane, please- You oughtn't
to-I beg You. I have no right"
"Oh, / know you're engaged to Clay
Wimburn. He's q nice kid. I'm not
one-two-three with him. I'm not try
ing to cut him QUIT couldn't II I
would. I like him. I'd like to help
him, and your brother, too. l don't
mean to be im%pertinent, either; but
,)ell. the main thing b, ! Nant 10 beg
1ou to let me see You ol1es in a while.
II want to take you out riding and
dining and dancing and-you a take
Wimburn along il you've got to, but l
want you to save my life somehow.
And, by the Lord Harry I think It will
M yours. You don't look well, my
dear-Miss Kip. It breaks my heart
to see 1t. No, I don't believe you're
getting as much fun out Of life az 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
al that's going. Won't you let me help
you go after It? Won't you?"
They swung up to q height that COM
manded a vast reach Of the Hudson.
Between its banks it seemed to be q
river of wine. The western sky was
like a forest Of autumn leaves with the
last sad red pitifully beautiful, since
It must turn SO SOC to rust.
In a spirit of haste the feetly spin
ming wheels murmured, why not, why
not, why not, why-notwhynotwhynot?'
Before the sunset had quite relfn-
Quished the sky the % was over
the horizon-the harvest moon, huge
and close and Of a meditative mein.
It paled and dwindled as it climbed,
but its power seemed to grow.
It left Daphne more alone with
Duane, q little afraid Of him and Of
the cleaning. They emerged above
the chain Of Croton lakes and ran
across the big dam and wound along
the shore, crossing iron bridge after
Iron bridge, till they came to q little
roadside inn whose lights had q vel.
low warmth.
teWe're stopping here for dinner i
You don't mind" said Duane.
Daphne was a triae III at ease. but
abe was hungry, too. and the adventure
!. was exhilarating. There were mot
many people at the tables. and they
were OF an adventurous cast as well
When Duane had given his order he
asked Daphne IL she would join the
rest Of the diners who had left their
chairs to fox-trot. She shook her head
And he did not urge hen.
But ~ the time their dinner WA
served and eaten the jnagging. inter
minable music had played away near
= all her scruples.
When Duane looked Ut her With "a
appealing smile. she smiled back, nod
ded and rose. He leaped 10 his 6eet
and took her IA biz rims
Somehow, It was not mere dancing
now. He had told her that he Loved
her. There was 81 his elnbraee q
Oleerness that WIS full 90 deferencA
INT full ~ delight O. well. After ~
nm alone With him 4 comnpelInl,ss
sAeGmSdu NOT "a besvsEyreepectablA
~ e iRIlsosyWllitnzaeI - syeryy houps
. aalnd 81 laE.llmn11n1la>M