Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-19

come? Or do you cut out the hddies?"
Daphne bIushed, too. ''WelI, should
think that the business woman could
afford babies better than anybody else.
She has to give up the homework, any
way, even when she's q housekeeper.
1 suppose she could give up her shop
for while. At least she could share
the expense-or her husband could
stand the bills since he escapes the
pain. I tell you, If / ever had 1augh-
ter I'd make her learn her own trade
If she never learned anything else. I'd
never raise her to the hideous, indie
cent belief that the world owes her a
living and she's got a right to squeeze
1t out of the hearts blood of some
Woodworking man. No, STREE 1t may
be old-fashioned, but it isn't decent,
and it isn't even romantic. The love
of two free souls, with their own ca
reers and their own expenses, seems
to me about the best kind of love there
could be. Then both Of them can come
home evenings and their home will be
home-a fresh, sweet meeting place."
Clay breathed hard. He was silenced,
but not convinced-beyond being con-
WINGED that Daphne Kip was still the
one woman in the world for him, in
spite of her cantankerous notions.
Still of course, woman had to have
some flaw or she would not be human.
Daphne's foible was as harmless as
anyone's, perhaps So he blurted out:
II suppose you've given up all
thought of marrying me?"
She answered him with plous ear
nestness: 1--WE never given up that
thought, Clay. I've been trying to
make myself worthy of the happiness
it would mean. have had the trous-
seau all made, and paid for, long
while. That's what came to town for
originally-Our trousseau. But when
I saw how much sacrifice it meant for
my poor old father and what a bundle
of bills I'd be dumping on my poor
young lover I couldn't see the good
of 1t. So took my vow that wouldn't
get a trousseau till / could earn the
price Of it myself. And now I've
earned the price and I've got it. But
I've lost my excuse for wearing it.
"Still, I'd probably have lost you,
anyway, or ruined you If I had brought
you my old ideas. Everybody always
says that money is the enemy Of love.
/ wonder il it couldn't be made the
friend. 1t would be an interesting ex-
pertinent, anyway"
Daphne, honey, let's try the expert
ment."
She looked at him with a heavenly
smile in her eyes, and answered,
Lets"
He moved toward her, but she
lodged behind the counter. She
studied him a moment, then reached
below the counter. A bell rang and
drawer slid out. She took some bills
from it, made memorandum on
slip of paper, and put that in the place
of the bills, closed the drawer, and
leaned across the counter, murmuring:
'They say all successful businesses
are begun on borrowed money. So I'll
borrow this from the firm-for luck"
Sne put out her hand. Clay put out
his. She laid three dollars on his palm
and closed his fingers on them.
whats all this?" he asked, all mys.
titled. She explained:
"a plain gold band costs about six
dollars, and that's for my half of The
Women are wearing their
wedding rings very light nowadays"
II should say sol" Clay groaned, but
with smile.
She bent forward and he bent for.
ward and their lips met. She was only
a saleswOman selling a customer part
of a heart for part of a heart, but to
Clay the very counter was the golden
bar of heaven, and Daphne the Bless
ed Damozel that leaned on 1t and
made it warm.
IHE END.