The Washington herald., 1922-06-13

wont Joe, we have got the rag!"
She seized her escort and shook
him violently in the excess of her
joy. Nothing could restrain her.
She rushed pellmel down the tiers
and into the procession of the ,Pio-
neer rooters. waving her arms
throwing clouds of confetti, and
whirling reels upon reels of gaily
colored serpentine.
She marched in the rooters' pro-
cession until not enthusiasm but
nature had worn itself down. Even
then. bedraggled by the crush and
her voice only a husk, she still
raised the college cry of old Pio-
'neer while the celebrating crowds
surged by. Eventually Joe got
her into the car and down to San
Marino for dinner.
There the ministrations of. water
and the vanity box repaired what
ever damage the excitements and
extravagances of the Z afternoon
had done to her appearance, while
the bounteous and expensive dinner
which Joe's pride had provided be-
gan Immediately to restore the
resilient vitalities Of youth, so that
long before the dessert was reached
Leila was able to enter with viva
city upon that remaining delight
ful anticipation. the Junior Prom.
Tickets, she had heard, had SCARED
TO unbelievable prices, but Joseph
Hancock was calm and unper-
turbed outwardly about this-if
secretly exultant-for again he had
waved the magic wand OF his
dollars and provided them. Flow
ersN also. he thought OF. purple
orchids at about one dollar per
petal.
"Joe-o. joel" the girl breathed
excitedly into his ear. Aren't
you won-der-fulr'
Joe smiled bravely. and even got
the sparkle into his eye over
Lela's Manifestations of supreme
happiness. as expressed in a hun
dred little mannerisms Of voice and
eye, of pose and gesture, that
were both appealing and revealing;
but in his heart there was a fresh
stab of pain. induced by the re-
Election that all these earnest ges-
turings of gratitude merely meant
that she was thankful to him for
reckless extravaganza that had
not ceased till II had gone the
limit for her.
But while Joseph Hancock ar
raigned his circumstances. practical
Leila Mason thanked her lucky stars
and went on to extract the last
thrills of the day from the Junior
Prom. which. to her, marked the
climax Of the social experience in
her young life and left her in a
state OF signing ecstasy.
In this state Joe TOOK her home.
lrma Woods, her roommate, rode
with them. partly to make surer of
the proprieties and partly because
she wanted to spite Charlie Moran.
with whom she had quarreled on
the way over. In the small hours
they drew up at Mrs McIlheney's,
to find that worthy woman's doors
still open, the light still burning on
her wistaria -draped porch, and her.
self drowsily, but conscientiously,
counting her chickens as in groups
of, twos and threes they came Aut-
tering in.
Thank goodness. you're the last"
she calculated from the doorway,
surveying with amiable relief the
pair of attic roomers as they
mounted the steps. Irma entered
and went upstairs. but Leila lin
gered
Put out the porch light ana lock
the front door when you come in.
Mss Mason" directed the landlady.
For Leila this was the ending or
her most perfect day. and she felt
the necessity of so declaring once
more to its author and finisher,
joseph Hancock. before she parted
from him for the night. Besides,
now that II was over. she had to
ask him a question. That curiosity
reputed to be ingrained in her sex,
rudely strangled all day, had to be
satisfied now-had to be- She was
tired, but still spirited. Pale and
large eyed. she stood there, screened
by the wistaria and beamed upon
by the porch light, which gave her
sort OF halo.
It's been wonderful beyond ex-
preston. Joe" she crooned. 20,
there isn't a word in the dictionary
for the pleasure you have given me
today"
Even Joe enjoyed a certain sense
OF satisfaction in the fnality of
achievement. The day was over.
He had managed everything. In no
particular had he failed. The little
girl had had a bang-up time. no
doubt about II. He had given il 10
her. and now he paused a moment
to take farewell. Farewell, II was
going to be bitterly hard, much
harder than he had imagined, be-
cause in these last hours he had
reconstructed entirely his views OF
ner. He no longer misjudged her.
sne was not mercenary-merely
run loving and childishly simple
hearted. so utterly honest that she
mad seemed to be assembling when
she was frankest. Life had dealt
scantily with her. and now, when
as II seemed. a tidal wave of the
worlds pleasure came rolling to-
ward her. who could blame the
child woman for throwing her arms
wide and trying to drink in as
much OF 1t as possible? Not he.
Not Joe Hancock. with whom life
had also dealt skimp:ly Not one
single blessed bit. Sne was a treas.
ure. and he had lost her-that was
all and there she stood beaming on
him. positively beaming her gratI-
tude.
How ever did you do it?" she
demanded. as of one who had
worked magic. Where ever did
you get the money!"
%, II was some that didn't
have any use for" he laughed, but
there was a cynical note in that
laughter which frightened the girl
Use for?" she asked in an ap-
prehensive whisper. Joe? You
you have spent money that-that
wasn't yours? That you hadn't a
right to spend?"
(Conrinned TomoTTotc)
/ }"