Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-06-28


sight more. He gives up his freedom,
and if she gives up hers she's only
giving up something she doesn't know
how to use anyway"
Daphne had rarely found a man
who would talk to her with Duane's
frankness, and If there is anything
that interests a woman more than an
other it is to hear womankind an
alyzed, even satirized. She was eager
for more vinegar.
"You won't be shocked and angry?"
he asked.
81 don't think So"
you don't know how pleasant it is
to talk life and love to a woman who
doesn't rear up and feel insulted at
everything. At first you gave me a
couple of hOw-dare-you's, but they
don't count. And If you do hate me
little more, why, so much the better.
When I thnught Won hnd broken with
Wimburn / said to myself, She's the
one girl in the world for me. I'm GO
ing to ask her to marry me- But /
was afraid to, for was afraid of mar
ANA6Ss 4AAA WELL u DGILGI
not Yes, will. I said, she be-
heves that men and women are equal
and have equal rights, and she's go
ing to get out and hustle for herself,
like little man. Maybe she could
learn to love me well enough to go
into partnership of hearts, That's
what / said to myself You mustn't
think it's because / don't want to
cleave to one woman; it's because I
do. But hate handouts. Do you
see? And now you know what 1 was
dreaming of. What do you think Of
it?"
The answer to his long grafton was
complete silence. Duane waited for
his answer, and, not getting it, laughed
harshly: ''Well, that's that. The next
number on our program will be bal
lad entitled I Never Dream but l
Bump My Head Go on! Marry Clay
Wimburn on nothing a year and live
miserably ever after"
She said nothing to this, either.
Duane was in wretched state of baf-
Element. He put the car to its PAGES,
and it ripped through space at fifty
miles an hour. Daphne had a new
terror added to the load Of her
nerves.
The car went bounding up steep
incline toward the swerve Of a head
land cut in rigid silhouette by the far
reaching searchlight of a car up
preaching from the other direction.
Duane kept well to the outside of the
road, but just as he met the other
motor and WINGED in the dazzle of its
lamps, third car trying to pass it on
the curve hurtled into the narrow
space with a blaze like lightning scar
ing the eyes. There was a yelling and
hOOting of horns and a sense of dis
aster.
Daphne bent her head and prayed
for life, but without faith. Duane,
half-blinded, swung his front wheels
off the road and grazed a wall. The
rear wheels were not quick enough
The other car smote them, crumpling
the mudguard and slicing off the rear
lamp.
Daphne was thrown this way and
that, and it seemed that her spine
must have snapped in a dozen places.
When she opened her eyes again the
car was standing still. Duane turned
to her with terrified questions, and
his hands visited her face and her
arms and shoulders. He held her
hands fast and peered into her eyes
while she promised him that she was
not dead.
The car that had bested his did not
return, but the other did Offering help
from q safe distance till it's identity
was established. In the light of its
lamp Duane got down and examined
his own car. Besides the damages in
the rear, it had sustained a complete
fracture of the front axle, twisted
fender, and a shattered headlight.
The driver Of the other car came
up and Joined the coroner's inquest.
He stared at Duane, and cried in the
tone of an English aristocrat, Sob
bless my soul, amt you Tom Duane?"
Duane, blinking in the light, peered
at him and said: "YOpl l can't see
SOu' Dul the voice would De WeLn-
erell's."
"Right-o; it's me. oh, pardon me,
you're not alone. Nobody hurt, 1 hope
and pray"
''NO, but we're pretty far from home
and country"
Il seel Huna-m Pity couldn't get
the number of the swine that hit you.
I rather fancy I'll have to give you a
lift-what? l was out on a kangaroo
hunt, but that viii wait-if you don't |
mind trusting yourself to bad com
papy."
Duane lowered his voice anxiously.
els 1t very bad?'
Wetherell put the mute on his voice |
"As good as yours, I'll wager. But |
let's not go into family history. Come |