Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-07
CHAPTER Nj
Daisy PLAYS a Trump

. CAROL did not realize how closely
~ her pride was involved in this mat
ter of Nick. Subconsciously her thought
was, That he should turn from me to
her-it's incredible" "
Therefore 1t was pride as much as
anything else that made her decide TO
step in and see if she could save Nick
from such fate. although this new
Nick aroused something new in her, IL
certain maternal instinct to protect him
from his own folly.
For the first time in her life Carol
allowed herself to be carried away by
emotion. She did not think, she did
not reason; she simply acted from i'm
pulse. and her one desire was to
see Nick again go that she might dis
cover for herself whether or not she
had the old power over him. And so
she wrote him little note.
1t was note strangely unlike Carol =
usual cool little epistes. and although
1t said little enough. any man who cared
for her any read between the lines would
have glimrCod n tantalizing new Carol.
II was 20 with Nick. but it reached him
at tire when he was filled with self
rrprONch over something that had hap
pCncd.
Nick had beeh steadily but surely
drifting toward the danger line with
Daisy. He had reached 4 point in his
own mind where he had practically de-
cided "a ask her 10 marry him. She
was such n good little thing. and She
needed him AZ much as he needed her.
what did he care what the world
thought. The opinions of his friends
meant nothing to him. and he could
do a great deal for Daisy. Taken away
from the stage atmosphere and sur
rounded with the better things Of life,
she would soon learn certain things.
Why. already she was dressing more
quietly. and her manner was more sub
dued. and furthermore he would never
forget what she had done for him at
n time when he had needed sympathy
and kindness most.
And 50 one night when he had called
FOR Daisy nftcr the thentre and had
taken her upstairs 70 md the apart
ment unoccuuicd, he hHd yielded to a
sudden impulse and taken her in his
arms.
4 faint perfume drifred up to him
from her golden hair. and sh" seemed
very young and sweet as she lay there
against him.
20. Nick" Daisy had whispered
faintlv, "vOu do care for me, then? |
was afraid that you were just Ike all
the others, and | hnve been 50 un-
happy
Her white arms crept up around his
neck, and in the dimly lighted room
Nick had n sudden vision Of Carol. He
felt that he was holding her, and that
she was telling him she cared.
His arms frightened and suddenly he
was kissing Daisys face, white blur
beneath his own,
Z Daring, darling" lie whispered
over and over and Daisy submitted tnr
a moment. only 10 draw away finally
with a pretty mir Of confusion
ooh. Nick, I mustn't let you make
love TO me like tlis, Why, You haven't
even told me you love me.
The words we're enough To bring Nick
10 himself with n sensation Of shock,
He had meant 10 think the matter over
before committing himself. for after al
he did not love Daisy. but he realized
now that he had gone too far. that Daisy
expected him 10 go on. He stood hesi
tating on the brink Of asking her tC
marry him. After all, hadn't he thought
the matter over in his own mind, and
hadn't he come to this conclusion long
! ago? Then why WAS no hesitating; why
was he so eager to postpone matters
70 be free in his thoughts for just q
little longer? Was he still deludinH
himself with the thought that Caro-
might change her mind, and II so, what
n rotter he had been to make Daisy
think for all these days that he cared