Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-07-16

whatever arms stretched down to her.
| She must not question whose they
were till she was safe again on the
solid earth.
| Duane was laughing now and pat
ting her on the back as if she were
frightened child. She felt no right
/ to rebuke his caresses. They were
such as brother might give a sister.
His arm about her was that of COM
rade, sustaining another in battle.
He was the only one in the world
who offered her courage and praise
and help in her need.
Duane said, with a matter-of-fact
briskness: "I'll call Reben up at once.
No, Pu 80 sse him."
"But you put me under such obliga-
tions. I'm afraid"
"Never be afraid of an obligation"
"Im afraid l 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 hand-grip Of perfect
good fellowship and went into the hall.
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 latchkey.
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 senti-
ments of jealousy and all the indig-
nation of 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 a
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 fred"
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
wicked life. A person couldn't be an
: actor without being insincere and a
!, pretender, and my little girl is too hon
} est. So now you come along home
with me-"
mo, thank you, mamma"
Mrs. Kip gathered herself together
for vigorous assault when the tele-
phone rang and the maid brought word
that gent'man wished to speak with
, Miss Daphne.
. 1t was Duane, and she braced her
self for another blow. But his voice
was clarion with success.
1--WE seen Reben. It's all right. He's
promised to keep you on and give you
a chance. He says for you to report
at the theater at seven-thirty tonight
And now again Daphne was more
afraid of her success, such as it was
|
ant to carry the news to her mother
and Leila.
! 1t disguised them both. They were
still trying to dissuade her from con
tinuing on the downward path wher
telegram from her father came fol
her mother:
"Taking beaver arrive Grand Cen
/ trail tomorrow don't meet me love.
YVES"
Bayard was late, as usual, and
Leila's temper had just begun to sim
mer when the door was opened stealth
fly and hand was thrust in. 1t prof
fered small box of jewelers. size ant
waved it like flag Of truce.
Leila rushed forward with cry OF
delight, seized the packet and ther
the hand, and drew Bayard into the
J room and into her arms.
"This is your apology, suppose,
she said.
"Yes, the apology for being late, ant
that's what made me late"
Leila was enraptured. She adoret
I gifts and she had the knack Of inspir
ing them. The little square parce
provoked her curiosity. She opened
:, it so excitedly that the contents fell
e to the floor. She swooped for then
:, and brought up platinum chain will
r delicate plaque of tiny diamonds ant
pearls on device of platinum.
Leila ran to Mrs. Kip and Daphne
s exclaiming: "Aren't they beautiful
s Aren't they wonderful? Aren't the!
n glorlousT"
e Mrs. Kip and Daphne tried to keel
= the pace, but once more they could no
forget who 1t was that was raining
t down gold on this greedy stranger
J. Their alarm was not diminished whel
Bayard said to Leila: 49,.