The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-10-18
Sweet Daphne's
"Hope Box"
By MURIEL BLAIR.

'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. "Nelie 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 acqualntances.
She had promised not to forget them
when she reached the city on her we'd
ding tour. Now Nellie had redeemed
her promise.
81 shall wear the collar at the reg
ular club party next week." said
Mary. "YOu will be there, Daphne"
81 think not. My aunt is not very
well, you know, and needs me most
OF the time. Besides" and Daphne
gave a nervous laugh, 81 fear ] am
getting past the party age, Mary"
Nonsense - cried her devoted
friend. 'Twenty-three and you look
like sixteen"
81 shall put the collar away in my
hope box" said Daphne.
Just here Mary made II pretense Of
cllnching her pretty pink and white
fists and grinding her pearly teeth in
felnt Of the most dreadful rage.
Daphne Willis" she scolded Sc
verely, "if ever happen across that
hope box Of yours, Tll-I'll stamp on
It; yes, i will"
"rhats enough! !" retorted Daphne,
closing the CHEEKY lips Of her staunch
champion with kiss-"1 know I am
beginning to feel very old, ana l think
It n duty to be prepared If any liRely
cid bachelor-why. yes, even some re-
spectacle widower-should happen
along, you known
1t was all joke, Daphne's "hope
box" feminine c0ncelt that ap-
pealed to Daphne because 1t 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 a satln-lined
cedar chest. given to her by a dear
girl friend one birthday.
II was nearly year after the we'd
ding of Nellie that Daphne received n
letter from cousin who lived at Mer-
ton. She had been In correspondence
regularly with this relative, and sew
| eral times Miss Daily had referred to
| u neighbOr, a Mr. Paul Barnes.
~ 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, aud suppose ht
got lonely In the old homestead. Al
any rate he is about to marry, and
what do you thlnkp he has picked on
the poorest girl In the village. II Is
one Lima Temple. She Is SO poor hel
folks cannot AFFORD any kind of AZ
outfit, ana very quietly some friends
and myself are helping her out II
you have amy little trliles to contrib
ute, shall be glad"
,Good-henrted Daphne had something
of a struggle with herself. Then hel
generous soul impelled n sacrifice.
~ shall never marry" she said e
herself II shall he making some ont
happy" and the hope box" went t
Miss Daily.
Two months later Daphne's aun
died. II was natural that Miss Dalh,
should ask her to make her hom,
with her. This she did. and Daphne
found herself Installed ut Merton.
~ have often thought OF the wed
ding You wrote me about" observed
Daphne. the first evening of her mr.
riynl,
''Oh,, did l never write you." tx
claimed Miss Daily. "rhe match wa,
broken on We got up quite II hand
some outfit for Lima Temple, Sh,
never used It, for she elopcd with 1
circus performer two days before III,
date for the wedding"
"Ana Mr. Barnes2' inquired Daphne
II think. secretly, he was relieved
for the girl was not OF his clpss-
heads,rong, caprlcious, all for tinse
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 ut the garden gnte
tho tender Influences of the s,vee
June night seemed TO bind him lin
seringly to the spot
'iou are u good friend. Miss WI
lis." he said. ~ never told you, bu
have heard Of your kind thought I
make happy the young lady nj on
time thought TO make my wife. Shal
| we walk to the lake and back? II |
, such beautiful evening" he sug
, gested, and there was II strange. wisi
I full tremor In his voice,
4 Daphne listened to words that ran