The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-01-23

she cdre Wnetner q waiter smiled or
frowned? But she did care, infinitely.
Daphne could not pump up any en-
thusiasm for the scenery. Her lover
took no advantage of the serial of
arbors and the embracing bowers. He
never kissed her, not once.
Daphne ceased to be sorry for Clay
and felt sorry for her neglected self.
Then she grew angry at herself. Then
at him.
At length she said, with ominous
sweetness, Are you going to walk all
the way, dear?"
"You said you wanted to. didn't
you" he mumbled, thickly.
"That's So"
She trudged some distance farther
a few blocks it was; it seemed miles.
Then she said, allow far is It home
altogether?"
"About three miles and a half"
"Is that all? The heroine of an
English novel I've been reading used
to dash off five or six miles before
breakfast"
Patriotism and pride helped her for
a quarter of a mile more. Then she
resigned:
II guess I'm not an English heroine.
l don't believe she ever really did it.
III resign! I'll have to ask you to call
me a cab"
"Pretty hard to find an empty one
along here at this hour" he said, and
urged her on.
Lets go over that way to the in
habited part of town." she said, "and
take a street car or the subway"
And then he stopped and said, with
guilty brusquerie, "Have you got your
%pocketbook with youY
"No, l left it at home tonight. Why?"
Daphne, I haven't got a cent?"
"Why. Clay! you poor thing"
"That's why I was so rough with the
waiter. If I'd had the money, do you
think I'd have made u row before you
about a few little dollars? Never! You
see, l didn't expect to go out to Clare
mont after the theater. The taxi cost
more than I expected, and then 1 gave
the head waiter five dollars instead of
one. I ordered with care so that it
would come out right. But that bust
ness about the melon finished me. I
just made it. I never was so ashamed
in my life. And I had to drag you into
it. and now I'm numbering your poor
little feet"
THAT'S the funniest joke 1 ever
heard. Why didn't you tell me before?"
"It's nc joke"
"Why, of course it is! You have
only to go to your bank tomorrow and
draw some more."
He did not answer this. He said
nothing at all. She had a terrified feel
ing that his silence was full of mean
ing, that his bank account would not
respond to his call. She could not ask
him to explain the situation. She was
afraid that he might.
She marched on doggedly, growing
more and more gloomy and decrepit.
Her little slippers with their stilted
heels pinched and wavered, and every
step was a pang.
ACI ~ ONC1 l1lClS anu SCL Ou d
street car, and dare them to put us
off" she suggested.
"1t's a pay-as-you-enter car" he
groaned.
The world was q different world
now. The drive that had been so ire
mendously lovely as she sped through
it in a taxicab was q pathway in Mo-
jave. She limped through the hideous,
hateful, objectionable length, and felt
that it was a symbol of the life ahead
Of her. She had counted on escaping
from the money limits of her home.
She was merely transferring herself
from one Jail to another.
Her young lover had dazzled her
with his needless courtship, flown away
with her on motor wings, dipping to
earth now and then to sip refresh
ments at a high cost, and then swoop-
ing off with her again.
And now his wings had broken; his
gasoline was gone; his motor burnt
out; and. the rest Of the journey was
to be the same old trudge.
She had been leaning heavily on
Clay's arm. Now she put it away from
her in a mixture Of pity for him and
of self-reproof. When he protested,
she said:
Il think I'll walk better alone for q
WHILE"
So she hobbled and hobbled by her
self, he pleading to be allowed to help
her. But she kept him away.
And they crept on Il little farther,
each other %piteously.
In the course of time they reached
the Soldiers and Sailors monument,
and Daphne sank down at the base of
it.
II can't go any farther She said,
mot if I die of starvation" lie sank
at her side. The o peered
8: ihorn hetwnon tho onl1lmnS and tha