Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-06-14

again u he said. II will take you
home" He turned to call a redcap
standing in solemn patience beside two
travelling bags and bristling golf nag.
Porter, take my things to the parcel
room and bring me the check"
mo-" said Daphne, hastily. 81
MUSTN'T You MUSTN'T ReallyI 1
mean It'll Goodbye
She walked away so rapidly that he
could not follow her without unseemly
haste. She heard him call, sharply:
Porter, never mind the parcel room.
Come along to the train"
Her success in escaping him was so
complete that she rather regretted it.
When she reached the apartment she
found Leila almost FRUSTRATED from the
effects of her altruism and from the
fact that Bayard was in one of his
tantrums.
A special delivery letter had lust
come from Dutilh's shop. It said that
Mr.. Dutilh was arriving from Paris
with his winter models, and since he
would have to pay large sum at the
customs house ii was regrettably nee
essary to beg Mr.. Kip to send by re-
turn mail check for the inclosed bill,
which was long past due.
And now the briefly adjourned laws
of finance were reassembled. Leila's
short reign was over her extravaganza
had again found her out and demanded
punishment. The gown she had bought,
and was asked to pay for, had been
worn shabby, danced to shreds in
Newport. But the bill was as bright
as ever.
Bayard was so tagged with his
weeks of Encouragement that he was
as irascible as a veteran Of the govt
whose toe has been stepped on. when
Daphne walked in he was denouncing
Leila in excellent form. He used
Daphne as a further club.
"My poor sister sent back the gown
she bought But you-you bought
more I"
Daphne realized how much this
would endear her to Leila and she
took immediate flight. She found the
Chivvises in n state of tension. Mr..
Chivvis was not usually home before
half-past six. Daphne felt an omen in
the way they looked at her when they
acknowledged her entrance.
She went to her room in O state of
foreboding misery She had not paid
her board for several weeks. She had
not mentioned the fact to Mrs. Chivvis,
nor Mrs. Chivvis to her, though the
nonpayment Of board bill is one of
tho calf ovidou+ Truths @hot 1on5Io5,oe
usually discuss with freedom.
A few minutes later Mrs. Chivvis |
tapped on the door, her thimble max
ing a sharp clack. She brought her
sewing with her and sewed as she
said: "May I sit down a moment?
Thank you" She kept her eyes on the
seam while she talked.
swell, Miss Kip, the war has reach
ed us also at last. My husband lost
his position today"
eyes? Oh, how horrible" Daphne |
gasped, with double sincerity.
'"The office was closed unexpectedly |
by an involuntary petition in bankrupt |
cy. His salary was not paid last week
nor this, and-well-we don't want |
to inconvenience you, but"
Il understand" said Daphne. 'T'n |
give you what can"
She took her poor little wealth from
her handbag. She had paid ten of the
fifty to the photographer as a deposit.
She gave Mrs. Chivvis twenty-five dol
lars, and promised her more.
Mrs. Chivvis was very grateful and
went down the hall, smiling a little
over her seam.
Clay called that evening. He was
exhausted with day of tramping the
town, looking for work. He was too
weary to talk and he fell asleep twice
during one of Mr.. Chivvis' common
taries on the probable effects of the
imminent capture of Paris by the ir-
reslstible Germans. The French gov
eminent had already moved to Bor-
deaux and But Clay had read 1t all
in q dozen different newspapers, and
he passed away.
Daphne was restless. Mr.. Chivvis
was on her nerves. Clay was not
pretty, asleep, sitting with his jaw
dropped and his hands hanging down,
palms forward, like an apes. She was
enjoying another of the woes Of mar
riage without it's privileges.
The Chivvises began to yawr, and
Mrs. ChiJvis finally babe the startled
Clay "Good evening"" She had been
brought up to believe that it was In
delicate for a woman to bid q man
Goodnight"
Clay, left alone with Daphne, at
tempted drowsy caress, but she felt
insulted and she snapped at him:
IF you're only walking in your sleep
you'd better walk yourself out of here
and go to bed"
His apology was incoherent and she
was Indignantly curt with him at the
door. She went to her room and sat
at the window, staring down at the
dark swarm Of watchers before the
bulletin boards.