The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-02-05

occupants. The only OstentatiOnS
about the place were the cupola of an
earlier day and the porte cochere
stuck out like broken wing.
She led him into the house and
waved him toward the hall tree. When
he had set down his hat and stick she
led him into the drawing room.
Mother, we're home"
Eyes, DEAR" said Mrs. Kip, who
called Daphne "dear" before COM
pany.
Mother" said Daphne, II want to
present Mr." (mumble-gulp). She
had not yet achieved his name.
Her mother shocked her by saying,
Delighted to meet you, Mr. I
didn't quite catch the name."
Daphne blushed for her mothers
query. but was glad to overhear the
strangers answer:
II am Mr.. Wimburn, Mrs. Kip-Clay
Wimburn."
At this moment a tall, shambling
man walked in. He looked as If he
looked older than he was. His spec
tacles overwhelmed rather unsuc-
cessful nose. Daphne hardly needed
to introduce him as her father. She
gave Wimburn name now, and he
felt called upon to explain his incur
sion. .
Il know your son Bayard very well.
I'm in his Office. We belong to the
same fraternity-different chapters Of
course. We struck up great friend
ship. When he knew I was coming to
Cleveland he said, Tell my sister to
be nice to you,' and-and-"
Wimburn paused in some embarrass-
ment before the ballroom manner Of
Mrs. Kip, but the pompous DISCUSSES
of timidity fell from her as she MUIR
mured-and blushed in motherly
way:
Daphne told me. He said for you
to kiss his mother for him"
"Ye-es."
swell, am his mother"
"Ohl May II"
"Will you?"
He pressed his lips respectfully on
her cheek, but she, closing her eyes to
imagine him her son, flung her fat
arms about him and held him a mo-
ment. He kissed her again with a
kind Of vicarious devotion.
I'D want Bayard to deliver such a
message to your MOTHER" she ex-
planned.
Already Wimburn was q member of
the household; he had been kissed
and sympathized with.
He turned to Daphne with an apollo
getic look and saw that she was star
ing at him with softer eyes than he
had thought she had.
Definite anxieties engaged Mrs. Kip,
for tea had come in tottering on a
tray carried by a panic-smitten cook,
as agile as hippopotamus and as
shy as violet.
| Daphne and her mother and father
went through the tea ceremony with
the anxiety Of people in an earth
quake, and the Swedish dromedary''
stared at the unaccustomed sight as
If the tea bibbers were drinking poi
son and she watching for the convul-
siOns to begin.
Clay Wimburn talked altogether
about Bayard and his wonderful prog
ress in business in spite of the hard
times. Bayard. he said, was sticking to
his desk like demon, and he let moth
ing distract him.
1T must be glorious living In New
York." Daphne sighed.
"Why don't you come and pay Bay.
ard visit?" Wimburn suggested.
HE wouldn't have time to take me
anywhere, and I don't know anybody
else there"
"You know me. And I'd be only too
glad to try to repay your hospitality
to me-"
Mrs. Kip looked on and listened with
the fond alarm of one who has seen
fatal courtships begun with just such
fencing.
When at length Daphne suggested
that there was still time to rush down
to the Hotel Statler for a dance OF
two Mrs. Kip smiled at her. Wimburn
did not know that he had been brought
home on approval. Mrs. Kip realized
that he was not to be returned as i'm.
possible. Her fancy gambled in fu.
lures.
Wimburn was the victim of an onset
Of that delirium amans known as love
at first sight. He was at the right age
and he found something exotically
captivating in this strange girl in the
strange city. He was poisoned will
love. and his opinion Of Daphne wa.
lunatically fantastic. No one in thu
world equaled her. No one ever hat
eQualed her or could equal her In any
future ever. M
Spring and love are the perennial
miracles, always new, always amazing
1t was springtime in Wimburn's year.
and in the calendar of the world; ant
countless other youth of mankind, ami
NAL kind, bird and fish kind. flowers
and fruit trees, and perhaps of chem
icals in the ground were feeling tn,
same mania.
Daphne's cordially was at frs
merely the hospitable warmth of he