New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-07-04
CHAPTER Vli-Continued.

tstliu Nllh i'NilAA- '''
Bayard was silent. Later the door-bell
rang and II young sewing girl brought
two big boxes from Dutilh's. They
were so big that there was no conceal
ing them. Leila made IA timid effort TO
escape with hers, hut Bayard was full
of II cheerful curiosity
"What's all that, honey
"Oh. it's just IA little hin
picked up today ut Dutilh's."
what is 1t, II scarf or something's
Give n fellow II look ut it,"
He began to unite the knot. Sealed
across the cord was an envelope, with
q statement. Bayard tore II free.
Leila snatched ut it. Bayard laughed
and lodged her. Leila pursued, IL
was Il ghnstly game of tag for her, and
Daphne and her mother looked on In
guilty dread. Bnyard, w~hooping with
laughter, dashed into his room and
closed the door, held 1t fast while Leila
pounded and pleaded with him.
His laughter was quenched sharply.
There was a silence. He opened the
OOoT uHn Nulktu bhlt II Sunny l"'i'A u
his lips, the statement in his han
''This can't be right, honey 'Bayard
Kip to Dutilh, debtor. ~Peach-blow
satin gown-two hundred and seventy
five dollars The price is ridiculous
and | nave no account there"
"He-he insisted on my opening
one"
But I don't want to open any nc
counts. | pay my bills in thirty days
or discount them for cash. ! can't pay
this In thirty days, Every penny l
can see ahead of me- Is aid out
Tin sorry" Leila faltered. "You
said the times were getting better"
81 thought they were. | hoped they
were. But they've gone bad again. Be
sides. | was trying to cheer you up,
to give you n happy honeymoon. And
] bought you everything you saw
abroad. And 1t wasn't enough. When
will you get enough %clothes!"
Leila had stared %incredulous ut the
calamitons result of her tender i'm
pulse to beautify herself in his eyes.
Then tears came gushing and she ran
to her room and locked the door.
Bayard did not follow her. He
turned for comfort to his mother and
Daphne. lie noted the other box.
Daphne had not dared to open 1t.
Bayard ripped he envelope from its
cord and read
"Bayard Kip to Dutilh, DIR. Parch-
mentioned gown, for Miss Daphne
Kip. two hundred and seventy-five dol
lars Y
lie was parchpent-toned himself as
lac shook the statement Mt Daphne.
and whispered, husklly. whats thlsf"
Daphne could not muster any cuur-
age. She explained with craven re-
morse. II saw n gown that IL needed
there, and IL He offered 10 let ii
on your account till | could get the
money"
Bayard was choked with wrath and
a terror greater than hers.
81 go 30 my office and work like n
iend aladay, and | come home to md
that my wife and my sister nave run
ne into debt for-five hundred and
fifty dollars and the firm, the big
firm | wors .or, had to extend II note
for seven hundred and fifty because
we couldn't meet it,
His mother tried to stem the tide Of
Bayard's rage. to turn his wrath With
u soft answer:
II guess It's all my fault. honey. The
Ir..... l..l-nI 81, r,,ss. On 81, .vsrI- n
urged them TO take them. You ought
to see how beautiful they are. Go put
the dress on, Daphne, and let your
brother see how sweet you look In IT,"
Sweet, She looks sweet in it, It's
beautiful. And that justifies anything.
Lord. what did you make 'em out of.
these women :"
sfrs. Kip nudged Daphne and wits
pered. Go on. put the dress on: bet
him see you in it,"
She spoke with great cannlness, but
Daphne stared at her with derision.
and edged away and spoke in a tone
ss biting as cold blue vitriol.
Put ii on. mother! Do you think
I'D ever wear the thing? I'll send il
back tomorrow morning at daybreak.
and III never take a thing that any
man pays for as long as | live"
Bayard roared at her over his Shout
der: You won't take anything that
any man pays for. eh? What are you
going n live on-air?" /
She ansy3red him, grimly. There
are several million. women in this
country earning th4r own living, and
Tin going to be oneSf them"
His comment was Sbarbng. "Hahr =
She lugged the box away to he- room.
Bayard flung himself into a chair and
listened to the cauIdrOn of his own
hateful thoughts. Gradually they
ceased to bubble and stew. He could
hear now the muffled beat of Leila's
sorrow. He resisted it for a Whit !
sueered at it. ragged at 1t, and then at
the cruelty OF the world. Il