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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1917)
THE SUNDAY ' "FICTION MAGAZINE, MARCH 25, 1917 MIU MAGE P ... I I I OW came happy. work- filled days. Daphne, "with the awakening of new forces t hat drove ; her 'pen furiously. . Nel, very happy with soft blushes and t h o u gh t s of j pastel colors; ;ream and white froths "of laces for adornment. She seemed uplift ed to walk on clouds with Some secret . knowledge. - 'And about this time they received let ters again from their husbands. George's letter was surprising. He told Daphne that he and Bob were now friends. While at first he admitted he had blamed Bob for the catastrophe of Daphne's leaving him, still he had come to a more Just understanding. Perhaps their joint misfortune (the first time he had alluded to the flight as such) had drawn them to gether. No other reason occurred to Daphne. "And Bob had begun on a book. Nell' read part of his letter to Daphne "a dynamic idea has me in its grasp, and I am; at work. " "Well, I am glad," said Daphne, and as she said it she realized there had been a little vagrant prick of conscience now ",, and then at the thought of George alone, probably wanting his wife very much; undoubtedly holding himself quite blame less for her going away. ' "It will do Bob good to be kept busy," said Nell, but in her heart there was a strange feeling of desolation, as though a familiar picture had gone from It. She knew at last that she had been cherish ing, the thought of Bob pining for her; realizing what he had lost. She changed the subject abruptly. "How are the Benderlys?" she asked. She had had no desire to visit their attic again. She liked places where she was ' more personalised. Daphne, however, continued her visits there and at similar studios. ' They are very well," said Daphne. "But isn't it embarrassing for you all, especially for Rita, after her jealous dis play?" asked NelU Daphne laughed. "Not at all embar rassing. Rita's outburst was honest; we all recognize that, and so it was worth something. It's true, she's sorry she cut the evening so abruptly when you were there. But then her reactionary moment has afforded food for many discussions and conjectures." Nell made a little face. "It makes me tired how that kind of people try to get somewhere by a method of mathematical Seduction." - Daphne did not answer that comment ' because she was puzzled. It didn't seem like Nell somehow. '-"Does Betty still go to the Benderly parties?" Nell finished. "Certainly. She's greatly interested; almost more so than anyone else. She considers that Rita afforded fine material for thought." "Well," said Nell satirically, "it might be enlightening to learn your last con- t elusion as to the outburst." , "Oh, Billy Underwood seems to have - struck the moat universally appealing solution. He feels that a woman with a child is apt to revert. . Indeed, he warned ; Raymond of just that possibility when Raymond married Rita and wanted to be sure that bis third marriage would be a success by adding the element lacking in- the first two. There'd been no children before." Oh," said Nell. "Go on. Daphne. This is exhilarating." "Well, there's really nothing more to cay, except that we are all Inclined to agree with Billy that motherhood makes a woman reactionary and primeval for a time. " She wants her mate; she's afraid ' of losing his protection, his support. And 1 Rita agrees with him fully. But she says that phase will pass with her, she feels By Emily Calvin Blake Illustrated ly Dorothy Dulin SYNOPSIS. ELL RAYNES and Daphne Tunison, girlhood chums, separat- XT 1 JLI ed before, their marriages, were drawn together again by H chance. Nell's husband, an idealist and radical, made her married H life unpleasant by forcing, her to work in a law office and manage H her household as well. Daphne, tall and beautiful, had a husband 3 who fairly idolized her, but after listening to Nell's husband. Bob, S she became dissatisfied with conditions. Her husband's constant S attention displeased her. She longed for the life Bob had made H known to her. Nell, staying overnight with Daphne, tells of her H plan to leave Bob, which decided Daphne that her life with George U ' is intolerable. They leave together. . Six months pass. Nell and Daphne, in New York, occasionally write to their respective hu- g bands, but they are satisfied with their new freedom and do not of- B fer to return to Chicago. Nor do Bob and George ask them to. tj Daphne writes for a living and Nell has a lucrative position with an H advertising firm. They mingle with a set of bohemian men and fj women, and soon smoke and drink cocktails like the rest. sure, as the child grows older and is less helpless and needful of her, tnd she, in turn, of Raymond." S3 6 IS "You, like Biljy Underwood, don't you, Daphne.?" asked Nell. "You're seeing him a lot." "Yes," said Daphne: "he's different." "Well, he struck me as just a harm less, traditional sort," said Nell. "You're jesting or. else quoting, Nell," said Daphne calmly. "I'm going to the theater with him tonight. What are you doing?" " "Reading and roending;that's all." The bell rang. Daphne seized her hat. pulled it well down on her head, shrugged herself into her plain coat and with a nod to Nell went downstairs to meet Billy on speculation, since it was just 7:45. " Billy was at the door. "Your landlady and several others have interviewed me and found me sadly wanting," he said with his quick smile. He was freshly shaven, clean cut, altogether good to look at. Daphne found. Strange how he could quicken her pulses. Billy was so nt"uch everything she didn't intellectually ad mire in a man despite her quotations of him to Nell. And yet she liked best of all to be with Billy, Just Billy, who flitted about from brunette to blonde with his casual words and his plays at profundity, and who wouldn't recognize a responsi bility if he met one. She flung her mood from her and determined to enjoy the evening. The play was feeble, but Billy's funny comments kept Daphne amused. Still, being restless, she was glad of the final curtain. s . . "Let's get a bite," said Billy as they left the theater. SO THEY turned into a little side street : and walked till they came to what had once been a residence; now its first floor was used for a restaurant When the proprietor, sitting at his desk, beheld Billy with Daphne, he nodded in -friendly fashion, slipped from his revolving stool and took them in fatherly charge to a far corner. Inadvertently, it seemeci, as he left them, his hand moved a dragon screen, swinging it aboufa few inches, ' thus preserving the couple from the chance gaze of their few neighbors. 'Kind of the old chap," said' Billy. "Kind but not necessary." Daphne . ' did not relish the maneuver. r Billy's little bite consisted of spaghetti with green peppers and a high glass of beer. Daphne, a fruit sandwich and her unfailing favorite preserved figs '"With ' whipped cream. - ' "And still you remain slender," Billy. s bantered her. burst in on him. He sat up straight, ail his listlessness, all his acting, gone. "My God, Daphne, are you in love with me? Is that really why you object ed to that easy sort of kiss?" be cried. She covered her eyes miserably. "I think I- am, Billy." ' He leaned nearer, all fervor. "Let me kiss you again. Daphne." "So you may better translate your emotions. "Oh, Billy, Billy, what made' me fall in love with you? I don't-admire you very much." f He took her cold hands in his. She felt his pity flowing out to her. She did not ask for pity. . She had progressed be-' yond that. This thing had come to her; ' it was not to be helped. Simply talk it out and then be done with it, except for the fight afterward to forget. "Billy," she said, "I have none of the old pride of a woman in love with a man who simply cares for her as a friend, shall we say? So please don't feel so sorry for me." ' But he insfsted, and In the dimness she smiled. Old situations, old handlings man's eternal egotism. And yet (how - "Do you know, I received an, order to- ' day for half a dozen cameos," said Daphne. "No, I didn't know; how should I guess? In a little while, Daphne, you must start out on some real work." "Well, I'm learning while I'm work ing." " j ' They did not speak again for some time. Daphne finished her figs. "Let's go," she said. "I must be nerv ous or something. And you've probably a hard day's work ahead of you. How many books are you going to review to morrow?" "Seven," he answered promptly, un blusliingly. "How interesting for the writers," she , laughed. She pushed back her chair, rose and secured her coat from its hook. Billy took it from her and held it while she slipped into it. "Dear little girl," h'e murmured. He put his arms about her, and shielded by the thoughtful screen he bent and kissed ' her upon thg lips. Driving home, Daphne settled herself in one corner of the vehicle, as far away from Billy as she could manage. He tried to find her hand, but was unsuc cessful. "What's the trouble, Daphne?" he asked at length. He was genuinely sur prised at her withdrawal. "I object to being kissed," she said quietly, "without prelude." - "Without prelude? I don't under sland.' " "Oh. yes, you do," "Well, I like spontaneity; there's the only honesty." She spoke warmly. JYou like,' Billy. You wanted to kiss me, so you kissed me. You didn't think of my wishes in the matter. And after all your vigorous- ly expressed disgust for man's predatory instincts." "Daphne, you're not a bit Interesting when you're serious." He leaned back, half closing his eyes, trying to give the portrait of a terribly bored man. But Daphne pressed on. ' - .' - "You're ,not modern at all. You've done just as the old man has been doing since Adam, fitting a set of qualities to conditions as you see them. Because I'm not living with my husband, because I frankly discuss most subjects with you and our friends, I'm the kind of woman you Van lightly kiss. You ought to read woman by the light of her recent history, " not by antedeluvian poetry." j t w Beneath her lightness there was some- -thing doing hvoc with her. She was" making too much - of . an unimportant matter, he felt; and suddenly the truth D irhe despised herself) she wanted to feel his arras about her, rest her head on his' shoulder. She could not have resisted' had he drawn her to him. She sat up' very straight, hands wrung together till the taxi stopped. "Daphne " he began. But she said: "Here we are, Billy." He helped her out. "On my soul. Daphne, this is too bad. I wish " She felt he was being honest at that moment; that he did know a very sincere desire to help her. "You know I'm tremendously fond of you, Daphne, and if I can do anything, anything, be sure I'll not hesitate." i "I know, Billy and now, good night.", She went swiftly up the steps, while! he stood watching her, but she did not' turn again. XIIL APHNE Inserted herjcey, turned it twice to the left and on right before it did its work, and then went up to her room. She could see a light streaming softly through the tran som. Nell; then,- was still up. Daphne' knocked softly and coincidently pushed open, the door with her knuckles still on the panel. Nell wis not alone. She sat on the tufted window fat, a man close beside her. A low, cream-colored lamp, with winking topaz stones in its shade, was cn' the table wear her, giving her a startling beauty. Her hand had lain in the man's, but was quickly withdrawn at Daphne's' entrance. . The man, whose face had been turned from the door, now moved about, and Daphne saw Karl Noble, the young mo-1 sician. " , ; v Daphne spoke at once, softly, quietly,1 an though no curiosity and a little fear' had not shot through her seeing those', two so close together. "How are you,' Karl?" she said. He stood up. "Very well," Tie an swered; "and about to go." , "Well, good night," she said, and went on Into the little alcove. She took 6tt her hat and coat, switched on the wall light, turned It off again, and set to burn ing a twisted candle, which flickered in long shadows on the wall. Drawing a chair near the window, she sat down and tried to think things out straight She loved Billy Underwood. Some thing quite outside of her control -had made its choice; settled on Billy, She '.thought how. great It would be to be al-" . ways with Billy, helping him to larger understandings, helping him to cast off hls pretenses, while'he filled the need in her life. Need: Why, she was making herself out just the weak woman who couldn't go her way alone, supreme and sufficient In her trained independence. Well, it was tmev. She found an Insistent