Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-03-14
CHAPTER vII-continued.

Leila said nothing, but thought hard.
Bayard was silent. Later the door-Den
rang and young sewing girl brought
two big boxes from Dutilh's. Iney
were so big that there was no conceal
ing them Leila made timid effort 70
escape with hers, but Bayard was fun
Of cheerful curiosity:
"What's all that, honey?'
"Oh, it's just IA little thing !
picked up today at Dutilh's."
what is 1t, a scarf or something!
Give fellow q look at it.
He began to unite the knot. Sealed
across the cord was an envelope, with
a statement. Bayard tore it free.
Leila snatched at it. 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 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. pay my bills in thirty days
or discount them for cash. can't pay
this in thirty days. Every penny !
can see ahead of me is laid out"
Tin sorry" Leila faltered. "You
said the times we're getting better"
II thought they were. hoped they
were. But they've gone bad again. Be
sides, was trying to cheer you up,
to give you happy honeymoon: And
I bought you everything you saw
abroad. And it wasn't enough! When
will you get enough clothes!"
Leila had stared incredulous at the
calamitous 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. He noted the other box.
Daphne had not dared to open it.
Bayard ripped the envelope from its
cord and read:
s'Bayard Kip to Dutilh, DR.. Parch-
mentioned gown, for Miss Daphne
Kip, two hundred and seventy-five dol
lars.
He was parchment-tOned himself as
he shook the statement at Daphne
and whispered, huskily, whats this r.
Daphne could not muster any cour-
age. She explained with craven re-
morse, II saw gown that IL needed
there, and Ii He offered to let it
on your account till l could get the
money"
Bayard was choked with wrath and
a terror greater than hers.
81 go to my Office and work like 8
fiend all day, and come home to find
/ that my wife and my sister have run
me into debt for-fve hundred and
fifty dollars. And the firm, the big
firm 1 work for, had to extend 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
q soft answer:
II guess it's all my fault, honey. The
dresses looked so pretty on the girls
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 !"
Mrs. Kip nudged Daphne and whis
pered, go on, put the dress on; lei
him see you in II"
She spoke with great canniness, but
Daphne stared at her with derision
and edged away and spoke in tone
as biting as cold blue vitriOl.
''Put it on, mother! Do you think
I'd ever wear the thing? I'll send il
back tomorrow morning at daybreak
And I'll never take 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, Ell? What are you
going to live on-air?"
She answered him, grimly, "There
are several million women in this
country earning their own living, and
I'm going to be one Of them"
His comment was barking, "Hah T.
She lugged the box away to her room
Bayard flung himself into chair and
listened to the cauldron of his own
hateful thoughts. Gradually they
ceased to bubble and stew. He could
hear now the muffied beat of Leila's
sorrow. He resisted it for while
anecsrd at it, ragged at 1t, and then al
llaa cruelty OF the world.