The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-01-17

AS usual nowadays, instead of
knocking at the door Fate called up
on the telephone.
Though the bell shrilled almost in
Mrs. Kip's ear she would not answer
1T. She WINGED, shook her head, agi-
tated her rocking chair with petulance,
embroidered vindictively, and hardly
30 much called out as sighed very
loudly toward the hallway:
"Daphne Ooh, Daphne! the tele-
phone again"
On the stairs there sounded
muiIied scurry like the rush of an
April shower chased down a hillside
by the sun. An allegory of April dart
ed across the room and raised the tel
ephCne to her lips as IL it were a
beaker of good cheer.
Her mother was used to this humor
OF Daphne's and paid no heed till
sudden frost chilled the warm tone of
the girls voice. The smile of hospi-
tality wasted on the telephone had
given place to look of embarraSS-
ment
Mrs. Kip whispered anxiously, who
is it?"
Daphne motioned her not to inter-
rupt, and her voice grew deep and
important. 1t became what her brother
Bayard called her reception voice."
In her grandest contralto she said:
"This is Miss Kip. Yes. I have. Yes,
he does. beg pardon7 oh oh oh |
How do you do, Mr.. Wmbwm."
"Mr. Who?" her mother keened.
Daphne whispered to quiet her, "a
young man from New York-friend Of
Bayard's-same office. 1 haven't got
his name yet"
into the telephone she was saying,
and bowling and nodding the while
with her politest face. "Indeed I'll try
TO be. OF course Clevelands not New
York, but BY the way, do you
dance? That's good. That's right !;
might as well be deaf if you don't /!
How long will you be I'm Cleveland?
oh, is that all2 Well, then, you must
come out here and have tea with us
this very afternoon. I'll call for you
at the hotel in my little car No; it's
not one OF those, it's an electric.
run it myself. Afraid to risk It?
Brave man! I'll be there In fifteen
minutes. and you might be on the
steps. GOodby, Mr.. Wmbwm."
This last was said In the fond tone
of ancient friendship, and she hung
up the receiver with a gesture like
shaking hands.
She turned to find her motlsr thin
ming her lips in long, tight h1e her
checks bulged explosively Daphne
1orestalled her:
q ;"fie's young fellow in the same
drm as Bayard. Says he's here on
Susiness for ten days. Bayard told
him TO call me up and tell me to be
nice to him. That sounds like BY.
Also said he hadn't time tn write. That
sounds liker STILL Bayard told him
to kiss you for him, so he must be all
right. l was going to take him to
the hotel to tea-dance, but thought
I'd better give him loOk-over first.
30 I'll roll him out here. Get out the
nice china and the napkins l mono
grammed, and"
But, Daphne! Wait! l can't"
T haven't time to argue with you,
mamma. Please do as / tell you for
once. and don't fuss. Mr.. Wmbwm
will probably have lot OF news to
fell you about your prodigal son.
G'by"
= She popped a kiss on the forehead
6at anxiety had turned to corduroy
and ran upstairs like another April
shower chasing the sun uphill. She
dashed down again with hat and
gloves, and, with nose repOwdered,
slammed the front door gayly,
thrummed the steps, and strode across
Che long lawn to the little electric car
standing under the porte cochere. The
ear was very large for a beetle but
pretty small for an automobile.