The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-03-06
CHAPTER xiI-continued.

Satan or Raphael had whispered to
her an invitation to revisit the scene
Of her late humiliation with Clay. With
Duane's magic purse there would be
no danger of a snub from the walters;
with his own car there would be no
risk Of footing it home.
Then an imp of mischief spoke for
aer and said, GAIL right"
Duane told the chauffeur and the
car shot like a javelin from the lighted
street into the deep f~orest-night of
Central park.
What would Clay say? But, after
all, he had failed her in a crisis. Per
haps he had turned his heart else
where. Men were impatient, vindic-
tive, tickle.
When Claremont was reached and
Duane handed Miss Kip out he noted
that her hand was hotter thar his own
and a little quick to escape, her face
was flushed and her lips parted as if
with excitement. He assumed that
the speed of the ride and the tang of
adventure were to blame.
While the walters were serving the
supper and while he was attacking it
with the frank appetite of honest hun
ger she recounted the evenings dis
aster as calmly as if it were the story
Of somebody else. In fact, she was
standing off and regarding herself with
the eyes of an alien. We change so
fast that the persons we were yestcr-
day are already strangers, and their
acts the acts of distant relatives. He
calm was really the %numbncss Of
shock. The anguish would come to-
morrow.
II can't understand myself at ALL"
Daphne said. Il went through every
one of the motions, but 1 couldn't
reach the audience once. I vas like a
singer with. a bad cold singing in a
foreign language-you don't know what
the song is all about, but you know
that it never quite gets on the key"
"You mustn't be discouraged"
"Oh, yes, l must! 1 couldn't be an
actress in a thousand years. Nh. Bat
terSOn told me Sc himself.
Duane felt the truth of this, but it
hurt him to have her feel it. It Of
Tended his chivalry to realize how i'm
polite fate could be to so pretty a girl.
He hated to see her reduced to the
necessity Of proving how plucky she
could be. He tried to find an escape
for her. He said:
"You're far too good for the STAGE"
II don't believe that for a minute,"
she protested. "But I've got to find
something l can do"
MAY l help you to declde?"
IF you only would! But I'm getting
to be q nuisance"
"YOu are a-a-tO me you are a.
well, you're not a nuisance"
he dared not tell her what she was,
especially as the waiter had set the
bill at his elbow and was standing off
In an attitude of ill-concealed impa-
tfence for the tip, which he knew
would be large. Mr.. Duane always
gave the normal ten per cent and a
bit extra. He tipped wisely but not
Luz WE'LL uOWll lIliL I'LL e~AtruyuSHuC
tip wins a walters contempt almost
more than one at all. The head waiter
fairly cooed "Good night and almost
gave them a blessing.
The starter had Mr.. Duane's car
waiting for him ut the curb and lifted
his hat with one hand as he smuggled
a quarter away with the other. He
stepped in to lay the linen laprobe
over their knees with reverence, closed
the door exquisitely and murmured,
"GOod night"
The car was IN a%ristocrat; it float.
ed from the culb with u swanlike
sweep.
Daphne thought of Clay and herself
plOdding homeward. She seemed to
see them or their wraiths staggering
disconsolately along. She felt very
sorry for them. Here was u chance to
save n of them-both OF them, in
fact; for in taking her financial bur
den from Clay's shoulders she would
be twice Strengthening him. If shG
were to accept Duane as her HUSBAND
then her problems would be solved
and Clay would be free OF her.
To be Mrs. Tom Duane; to step int.
the society Of society; to Lift her fathe
and mother from 4 position VI meek