Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-27


| She flung herself free. "No no; I'm
an imbecile-Tm no gOOd-that's all.
Those big hands were at her shout
ders again. That soothing voice was
ministering courage and praise:
you are not no good. You shall
succeed I'll make Reben take you
back. I've helped Reben out when he
was in trouble. I've lent him money
and I'll make him give you your
chance. promise that, on my word y
She stared at him through her tears.
They blurred him in dancing flashes
of light as if he were a sun god. She
caught his hands from her shoulders,
but she had to hold them in hers. She
was drowning. and she must cling to
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 a
frightened child. She felt no right
to rebuke his caresses. They were
such as a brother might give a sister.
His arm about her was that of com
rade, sustaining another in a 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, I'll go see him"
But you put me under such Obliga-
lions. I'm afraid"
"Never be afraid of an obligation"
"I'm 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 a 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 Bayards 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
fee. 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 fired"
To her comfort her mother caught |
her to her ample bosom and said: "Pm
glad of it. I'm much obliged to who
ever is to blame. Not but what you
could have succeeded if you had kept
1T it. But you're too good for such
4 wicked life. A person couldn't be an
actor without being insincere and
1retender, 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
or vigorous assault when the tele-
phone rang and the maid brought word
hat a gent'man wished to speak with
Miss Daphne.
1t was Duane, and she braced her.
elf for another blow. But his voice
vas clarion with success.
"Ive seen Reben. It's all right. He's {
to keep you on and give you
chance. He says for you to report ,
t the theater at seven-thirty tonight" I
And now again Daphne was more T
fraid of her success, such as it was,
han of her failure. But it was pleas Z
mt to carry the news to her mother :
nd Leila. :
1t disguised them both. They were
till trying to dissuade her from con- ?
nuing on the downward path when 7
telegram from her father came for +
er mother:
taking beaver arrive Grand Cen
al tomorrow don't meet me love- n
YVES" v
Bayard was late, as usual, and b
elias temper had just begun to sim q
Ter when the door was opened stealth .
Y and hand was thrust in. 1t prof "
red a small box of jewelers. size and :,
aved 1t like flag of truce. =
Leila rushed forward with cry of :.
Eight, seized the packet and then .
lie hand, and drew Bayard into the
'om and into her arms. q
"This is your apology, I suppose" :,
lie said. a
Eyes, the apology for being late, and
ats what made me late"
Leila was enraptured. She adored :"
fits and she had the knack of inspir-
& them. The little square parcel
evoked her curiosity. She opened D'
so excitedly that the contents fell sc
the floor. She swooped for them ia
d brought up platinum chain with
delicate plaque of tiny diamonds and pf