Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-06-18

anu Sic uiu Hut huOW I'LL well SuOuSu
to be sure how he would take her in
reference in his thoughts. She trudged
along in utter shame.
The worst of her shame was that
she was so ashamed of it. Why should
she care whether waiter smiled or
frowned? But she did care, infinitely.
Daphne could not pump up any en-
thusasm 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 SOL
She trudged some distance farther
few blocks it was; it seemed miles.
Then she said, "How far is it home
altogether"
"About three miles and half"
SIS 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:
81 guess Tn not an English heroine.
I'll 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, land
take street car or the subway"
And then he stopped and said, with
guilty brusquerie, "Have you got your
pocketboOk with your
"No, left it at home tonight. WhyW
Daphne, I haven't got a cent?"
"Why Clay! you poor thing"
"That'S why was so rough with the
waiter. If I'd had the money, do you
think I'd have made row before you
about q few little dollars? Never! You
see, didn't expect to go out to Clare
mont after the theater. The taxi cost
more than / expected, and then I gave
the head waiter five dollars instead of
one. I ordered with care so that 1t
Unnl6 rioht p11f fhot hI1Ci-
ness about the melon finished me. I
just made it. l never was so ashamed
in my life. And had to drag you into
it, and now I'm numbering your poor
little feet"
"That's the funniest joke I ever
heard. Why didn't you tell me before?"
"It's no joke"
'Why, Of course 1t 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 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 pang.
Lets go over there and get on a
street car, and dare them to put us
off," she suggested.
'It's a pay-as-you-enter car" he
| groaned.
The world was a different world
now. The drive that had been so ire
mendously lovely as she sped through
| 1t in taxicab was 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 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 seff-reproof. When he protested,
she said:
II think I'll walk better alone for a
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 little farther,
loving 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,