The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-11-24
Sweet Darhne's
slope Box
Bv MURlEL BLAIR.

Copyright, 1921, Western Newspaper Union
"How very nice of Nellie" said
Mary Lincoln, as she and her best
friend Daphne Willis, parted at the
village post office after receiving and
opening two boxes, exactly alike.
"The lace is exquisite" spoke
Daphne, glancing with taste and pleas
ure over the neck collar neatly done
up In tissue paper with dainty
sachet bag beside it. Nellie is very
thoughtful"
They had been great friends. those
three. All through Nellie's engage
ment Mary and Daphne had been clos
est to her Of her many acQuaintances
She had promised not to forget them
when she reached the city on her we'd
ding tour. Now Nellie had redeemed
her promise.
II shall wear the collar at the reg
ular club party next week." said
Mary. "You will be there, Daphne?"
II think not. My aunt is not very
we'll, you know, and needs me most
of the time Besides" and Daphne
gave a nervous laugh. II fear l am
getting past the party age, Mary"
Nonsense !" cried her devoted
friend. "Twenty-three and you look
like sixteen"
Il shall put the collar away in my
hope box" said Daphne.
Just here Mary made pretense Of
clinching her pretty pink and white
fists and grinding her pearly teeth in
a feint of the most dreadful rage.
Daphne Willis" she scolded Sc
vereIy, IF ever l happen across that
hope box Of YOURS, TIl-I'll stamp on
it; yes, I will"
That's enough" retorted Daphne.
closing the CHEEKY lips Of her staunch
champion with kiss-"I know l am
beginning to feel very old, and I think
it duty to be prepared If any likely
old bachelor-why, yes, even some re-
along, you know"
It was all joke, Daplne's "hope
box" feminine conceit that ap-
pealed to Daphne because it led to
pleasant quip and gossip among her
bright girl friends. In her own mind
Daphne felt pretty we'll convinced that
she would never marry.
Her "hope box" was satin-lined
cedar chest, given to her by dear
girl friend one birthday.
1t was nearly year after the we'd
ding Of Nellie that Daphne received a
letter from a cousin who lived at Mer-
ton. She had been in correspondence
regularly with this relative, and sew
eral times Miss Daily had referred to
a neighbor, a Mr.. Paul Barnes.
II have great news for you,
Daphne" this last letter ran. II have
often told you what fine young man
Mr.. Barnes was. His parents left
him quite an estate, and suppose he
got lonely in the old homestead. At
any rate. he is about to marry, and
what do you think? he has picked out
the poorest girl in the village. It is
one Lima Temple. She is so poor her
folks cannot afford any kind Of an
outfit and very quietly some friends
and myself are helping her out. If
you have any little tritfes to contrib
ute, I shall be glad"
Good-hearted Daphne had something
Of a struggle with herself. Then her
generous soul impelled sacrifice.
II shall never marry" she said to
herself II shall be making some one
happy" and the 'hope box'' went to
Miss Dalby.
Two months later Daphne's aunt
died. 1t was natural that Miss Daily
should ask her to make her home
with her. This she did, and Daphne
found herself installed at Merton.
IT have often thought Of the we'd
ding you wrote me about" observed
Daphne, the first evening Of her ar
rival.
"Oh, did l never write you!" ex-
claimed Miss Daily. "The match was
broken off. We got up quite hand
some outfit for Lima Temple. She
never used it, for she elOped with q
circus performer two days before tho
date for the wedding"
"And Mr.. Barnes?" inquired Daphne.
II Cnlnk, secretly, liz way IcIfcVeu.
for the girl was not Of his class
headstrong,, capricious all for tinsel
and glitter"
OF course, Daphne met Paul Barnes.
and there seemed to spring up mu-
tual interest between them. One eve
ming as he stood at the garden gate,
the tender influences Of the sweet
June night seemed to bind him lin
geringly to the spot.
"You are good friend, Miss WILL
lis" he said. II never told you, but
l have heard Of your kind thought to
make happy the young lady I at one
time thought TO make my wife. Shall
we walk to the lake and back? It is
such beautiful evening"" he sug-
gested, and there was strange, visit
full tremOr in his voice.
Daphne listened to words that rang
so true their echo thrilled and lin
gered, even as she came back to the
house, her heart beating with the joy
ne q nov.fOun6 hoDninoss hor Foon