The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-04-11
CHAPTER VlI-contlnued.

s.
Leila said nothing, but thought hard.
Bayard was silent. Later the door-bell
rang and a young sewing girl brought
two big boxes from Dutilh's. They
were so big that there was no conceal
Ing them. Leila made timid effort to
escape with hers, but Bayard was full
Of a cheerful curiosity:
"What's all that, honey"
''Oh, It's just IA little thing I
picked up today at Dutilh's."
''What is 1t, scarf or something?
Give fellow look at It,"
He began to unite the knot. Sealed
across the cord was an envelope, with
a statement. Rayard tore it free.
Leila snatched at 1t. Bayard laughed
and lodged her. Leila pursued. 1t
was CHASTITY game of tag for her, and
Daphne and her mother looked on In
guilty dread. Bayard, whooplng with
laughter, dashed into his room and
closed the door, held it fast while Leila
pounded and pleaded with him.
His laughter was quenched sharply.
There was a silence. He opened the
door and walked out, sickly pallor at
his lips, the statement in his hand:
'This can't be right, honey: 'Bayard
Kip to Dutilh, debtor. Peach-blow
satin gown-two hundred and seventy
ave dollars The price is ridiculous,
and have no account there"
"He-he insisted on my opening
one."
''But / don't want to open any &C
counts. I 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 laid out"
'T-rm sorry" Leila faltered. "You
raid the times were getting better"
II thought they were. l hoped they
we're. But they've gone bad again. Be-
sides, l was trying to cheer you up,
to give you happy honeymoon. And
I bought you everything you saw
abroad. And 1t wasn't enoughi When
will you get enough clothesl"
Leila had stared ineredulous at the
calamitous result Of her tender i'm
pulse to beautlfy 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. He noted the other box.
Daphne had not dared to open it.
Bayard ripped the envelope from Its
rord and read:
'Bayard Kip to Dutilh, Or. Parch-
mentioned gown, for Miss Daphne
Kip, two hundred and seventy-five dol
lars"
He was aforementioned himself as
he shook the statement at Daphne,
and whispered, husklly. "what's thisf'
Daphne could not muster any cour-
age. She explained with craven re-
morse, II saw q gown that IL needed
there, and II He offered to let 1t
on your account till I could get the
money"
Bayard was choked with wrath and
q terror greater than hers.
Il go to my Office and work like a
Send all day, and l come home to find
that my wife and my sister have run
me into debt for-five hundred and
fifty dollars. And the firm, the big
arm I work for, had to extend a note
for seven hundred and tifty because
we couldn't meet itr'
His mother tried to stem the tide of
Bayard's rage. to turn his wrath with
\ soft answer:
Il guess It's ell my fault. honey. The
dresses looked so pretty on the girls I
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 1t"
Sweet She looks sweet In I'll It's
beautifuli And that justifes anything.
Lord. what did you make 'em out Of,
these vomenT"
Mrs. Kip nudged Daphne and whis-
pered. go on. put the dress on; let
him see you In It."
She spoke with great canniness. but
Daphne stared at her with derision,
and edged away and spoke In a tone
Is biting as cold blue vitriol.
Put II on. motherl Do you think
I'd ever wear the tkingi III send II
back tomorrow morning at daybreak.
And III never taks = thing that any
nan pays Tor Is long as I live"
Bayard reared at her over his shoul-