The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26
Sweet Daphne's
slope Box"
By MURiEL BLAIR.

lfaeH1 ifhiitAF WINS 49,
village post Office after receiving and
opening two boxes. exactly alike,
.qhe lace is exquisite spoke
Daphne. CHANGING with taste and pleas
ure over the neck collar neatly done
% In tissue paper with a dainty
snchet bag beside IL. "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 scquaintances
She had promised not TO forget them
when she reached the city on her we'd
ding tour. Now Nellie had redeemed
her promise.
Il shall wear the collar At the reg
ular club party next week" said
Mary. "You will be there, Daphner
IL think not. Ny aunt Is not very
well, you know. and needs me most
Of the time. Besides" and Daphne
gave a nervous laugh. Il 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 a pretense OF
cllnching her pretty pink and white
fists and grinding her pearly teeth In
q feint OF the most dreadful rage.
Daphne Willis" she scolded Sc
verely, III ever ! happen across that
hope box OF yours. Fll--rll stamp on
IL; yes. ! will"
That's enoughl" retorted Daphne.
closing the CHEEKY lips Of her staunch
champion with kiss-"I know ! am
beginning to feel very old. and ! think
II a duty to be prepared II any likely
old bachelor--why, yes, even some re-
spectacle widower-should happen
along. you knowl"
Ii was all a joke, Daphnes hope
box" "a feminine conceit that APP
pealed to Daphne because II led to
pleasant quip and gossip among her
bright girl friends. In her own mind
Daphne felt pretty well convinced that
she would never marry.
Her hope box" was satin-lned
cedar chest. given TO her by a dear
girl friend one birthday.
1t was nearly year after the we'd
ding OF Nellie that Daphne received q
letter from cousin who lived at Mer-
ton. She had been I'm correspondence
regularly with this relative, and sew
eral times Miss Daily had referred to
a neighbor, Mr.. Paul Barnes.
II have great news for you,
Daphne" this last letter ran. II have
often told you what a 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 sto marry, and
what do you thlnk2 he has picked out
the poorest girl In the village II 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. IL
you have any little trifies to contrib
ute, L hnhll De klhu.
Good-hearted Daphne had something
OF a struggle with herself. Then her
generous soul impelled sacrifice.
81 shall never marry" she said to
herself. II shall be making some one
happy" and the "hope box went to
Miss Daily.
Two months later Daphne's aunt
died. II was natural that Miss Daily
should ask her to make her home
with her. This she did. and Daphne
found herself installed at Merton.
II have often thought OF the we'd
ding you wrote me about" observed
Daphne, the first evening OF her ar
rival.
"oh, did | never write you" er-
claimed Miss Daily. "The match was
broken OF. We got up quite a hand
some outfit for Lima Temple. She
never used II. for she clipped with a
circus performer two days before the
date for the wedding
and Mr.. Barnesf" inquired Daphne.
II think, secretly. be was relieved.
for the girl was not Of his class
headsirong. capricious, all for tinsel
and glitter"
OF course. Daphne met Paul Barnes,
and there seemed 10 spring up a 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
gerlngly 10 the SPOT
~You are good friend. Miss VII
lis he said. II never told you. but
have heard OF your kind thought TO
make happy the young lady ] al one
time thought 20 make my wife SHAH
we walk to the lake and backi II =
such . beautiful evening. he sug-
rested. and there was q strange. visit
fni tremor 10 his voice.
Daphne listened 70 words that rang
- true their echo thrilled and lin
rered. even a. she came back 20 tie
house. her heart beating with the soy
~ neu found haginess. her face
49,. .rfsR farIrafaN fIueHHae