PAGE TWENTY-TWO
TV Ntw OREGON STATESMAN, Sakn. Oregon. Sunday Morning, April 14, 1923
CHAPTER I
DAPHNE lay flat on her back
In the grass, squinting up at
a turquoise sky through the
lacy preen of the leares, the waxy
white o f the prune blossoms.
Thinking. Thinking about lots of
things.
Daphne was serenteen, a very
young and appealing seventeen.
Gray eyes as big as saucers, black
fringed and flecked with amber.
Hair as dense and dark as night.
A sensitive red mouth. A faint
line of freckles over a slightly tip
tilted nose. A smooth white throat.
Not at all the sort of seventeen
you would expect to find all alone
In a prune orchard on a glorious
April day.
But Daphne didn't know she had
beauty. She had been a particu
larly plain, awkward child a n d
had no idea she had outgrown It.
For a perfectly. normal seventeen-year-old
growing up in the jazz
age, the thing Daphne didn't
know were amazing.
It was partly because the Haines
ranch was so far from town, and
partly because Father. wa so. . . .
so different from other people.
While Motlier lived he was a Sul
tan in mail order clothes, forbid
ding his women to go abroad.
Her father was an angry god
with drooping gray mustaches
that wagged when he talked, and
a heavy gold watch charm that
rose and fell, rose and fell, over
an unbuttoned vest. He talked.
principally oi expense. But now
that he was married to Mrs. Gar
roty Daphne always 4bougttt of
the new Mrs. Haines as Mrs. Car
roty, though she dutifully called
her Mama now that he was mar
ried again he didn't care where
anyone, went or how much, she
epetrt: it .she'd' lust coa lof 'iL' t
Jlairia and 'her daughteV Crystal
had all kinds' of lovely things be
cause they didn't mind coaxing,
but Daphne couldn't coax. It made
her red and uncomfortable, just
thinking about it.
Mama had even coaxed for "a
woman" to do the work think of
that! But though three came, none
stayed longer than a week.
"You can't keep help in this
God-forsaken place!". Mama
stormed.
"Daphne! Daph-nee!" Someone
was calling from the house.
She lay wide-eyed, staring up at
the sky, clutching the falling pet
als in her small hot hands. All
over the orchard they were be
ginning to fall, all over the Santa
Clara valley.
Soon the ground would be
white with petals, blossom time
acente dbeauty gone turned
would be over . . .All this white
into Prunes! .... dried prunes
Stewed Prunes!
"And that's what I am!" she
cried furiously, and sprang to her
feet, "A prune!"
She turned, with swimming eyes
to grope her way to the kitchen
and the dishpan . . . About all she
was good for, to wash dishes . . .
Something bulked ahead of her
.... a man ... .a big man In a
gray suit. His hands were on her
shoulders, he was tilting back her
face.
Ralph McKevitt. She knew it
with her eyes shut. .... Ralph
McKevitt! Her heart was burst
ing, bursting with love and tears.
To think of him, stopping in the
orchard, getting out of his car as
If he had come to see her instead
of Crystal .... Crystal ....
"Let me go!" she whispered,
conscience stricken. All the ecstasy
of that one little moment faded,
leaving only the ache.
But he didn't let her go. He
pulled her closer, laughing. "Did
I hear you refer to yourself as a
prune? Did I "
"No, I didn't say anything "
"Now, now I'm perfectly and
completely sober. Miss Miss
what did you say the name was?
McKevitt is my name. What did
you say your "
"Oh, please let me go, please."
"But you haven't explained
about the prune. Now to my mind
a prune, that Is, female prune,
screen door clicked behind her
knew she ought to laugh too, but
she couldn't. She wanted to look
up at him, wanted terribly to see
him just once ... to see if his
eyes were blue or brown, and she
couldnt do that either
"Please please let me go "
"Why you're you're beautt
full" he said, with queer catch
In his voice. His bands dropped to
his sides.
Daphne crept up the back steps.
Her cheeks were flaming. The
with its accustomed familiar click,
its accustomed famUar click.
"Daphne!" - tt
"What did you say. Crystal?'
"For Pete's sake, are you deaf?"
Crystal exploded, and Daphne has
tily crossed the hall and came Into
the older girl's room, an apple
green bower foaming with
gold lace, boudoir pillow and taf
feta ruffles.
Crystal sat at the dresser, ner
vously powdering her white neck.
"Here, you do the back, and the
back of my hair, will you? Little
curls around your linger not
too stiff! I'vf got the front all
done!"
Mrs. Haines, a living prophecy
of what Crystal would, be at 45,
limped Into the room and sank
with a groan onto the green taf
feta bed. "Golly, my feet hurt.
That corn on my little toe Just
like a boil throb, throb, throb
"Oh, Mama dry up and-don t
say golly it sounds so com-
m"ll does, does it? Ashamed ot
your mother? Afraid. I'm not
swell enough for the McKevitts.
Well, let me tell you"
"Mama! I'm so nervous now.
If you begin that I won't go!"
She threw her hat on the bed. "No
matter what I try to do, you take
all the Joy out of it. Nag, nag,
nag oh, I'm sick of It"
As the door closed behind Daph
ne the sound of voices, men's voi
ces, came up to the two in the
green room.. ... M
Listen!" Crystal i whispered,
training her '. i . .
i "Tea, my father was la the
wholesale butcher business. Old
Man Haines was saying, entertain
ing the young man from the city,
"and When ht" passed away my
mother kept the business going
just the same. A fine woman. Mr.
McKevitt. Done all her own work
with fifty thousand cold cash in
the bank, and not too proud to
cook for the hired men "
Bang! Crystal slammed the
door shut and leaned against IC,
her face working. "Did you hear
that?" she hissed through clench
ed teeth. "Did you hear that hu-
had, learned to take them the way
the orchardists take nnseasonal
rain and wind, calamity to be
borne with.
Tor God's sake shut the
door!" Mrs. Haines screamed in
her ear. "Fries coming in. I've
got enough to do without chasing
flies I " .
"But I've got the screen door
shut!" Daphne cried indignantly.
1
i",y,-, ' V' ''-' '
ramify v
r -
".-,y" -
4.
y
n. f
1
V 1
'IFhyyou're beattlifutP There was a queer catch in Ida voice.
"There aren't any coming In. You
you make me sick!"
. 'Ia that the way you talk to
you mother?" And there was
Father pompous and bristling
with a before-breakfast grouch.
"My mush, Daphne. And the mine.
And in the future, be a little more
considerate "
"Never mind." Mrs. Haines
broke in tearfully. "I'm used to
It, I don't expect anything dif
ferent. I can bear it. I'm only
a stepmother. It's only when she
turns on Crystal that it hurts.
Then " She clutched her side
dramatically, "then a knife turns
in me. To think that after all
these years so much love "
She sank in a chair and burled
her face in her hands.
Instantly father was bending
over her, his short, thick arms
around her fat neck. "Adellna
darling you aren't well. Last
night I knew you weren't-you
band of yours .bragging he kept
a butcher shop?"
"Well, he don't now." Mrs.
Haines returned reasonably. "He's
practically retired, he don't have
to work. And if you ask me prune
orchards are reffined enough for
anybody "
"Refined?" Crystal whispered
hysterically. "That old fool? I'm
sick of him, I tell you I'm sick
of having to kiss his ugly old bald
head and lick his boots for every
little thing I want "
"High strung," she murmured,
dabbling at her reddened nose with
Crystal's powder puff. ."Just like
me when I was a girl "
Downstairs Daphne rattled the
dishes. Presently she sang, keep
ing time softly with her feet. Old
Man Haines snored in the sun
room. It was peaceful in the house
again. Crystal had gone out.
Mrs. Haines hadn't intended to
go to sleep. She Just lay down on
Crystal's bed for a minute, to rest
her poor feet ....
When she opened her eyes it
was night. Crystal stood at . the
door switching on the pink shad
ed lamp. "I musta dropped off for
a minute," she yawned, struggling
to a sitting position, and reaching
for her shoes. "Did you have a
good time, pet?"
"Yes tell m a nva"." Crystal
mimicked bitterly. and a lot of
good it'll do you. You're a fine lit
tle old fixer, you are. Sleeping at
the switch. Letting Daphne "
"Daphne? You don't mean "
"Yes, I do mean your darling
husband's brat "
"But she -why, he wouldn't
look at her when you when
you"
"Wouldn't he?" Crystal laugh
ed wildly. "You never can tell
what a man will fall for. He did
nothing but talk about her all
day. Them eyes, those hair. I'm
about crazy listening to him. He
wants to bring another fellow and
have a foursome, you know what
that means. I'm through. I tell
you through! I knew she'd make
trouble. I told you to keep her out
of my way. I knew she'd spoil my
whole life. He says she's a beauty
and he means it!"
Down went the gold head on the
green coverlet. Her hiccoughing
soba shook the bed.
Mrs. Haines heart almost stop
ped beating. Daphne, a
beauty.
CHAPTER H
It was the mo3t heavenly morn-
in. Different from all the other
morning. Brighter, sweeter, more
freshly drenched ia aew. Tne very
birds praised It.
"Why you're beautiful!" He'd
said that to her Daphne whom
nobody had ever, found beautiful.
Crystal shouldn't care, sne naa
so many . . . 1 11 ask Fatner ror a
new dress and nl borrow a mue
nf r.rrtl' lin salve, and the next
time he comes I'll be worth look
ing at.
With a little deh of sheer hap
piness she reached under the pil-
w -a ma .1
low for the creased ana yeiiowea
bit of newspaper that was her best
nietnm of him. It wasn't very
clear. It might have been any boy
in football clothes, with broad
shoulders and fair, tousled hair.
But she knew it was Kaipn. bne
laid it lovingly against her cheek,
and sank back into tne piuows
. . Just for a minute. ...
wh aha onened her eyes
nin the brirht sun was nourinc
in the windows, water was roaring
in the bathroom at the end of the
hall it was late!
"Whr didn't von call me?" she
cried as she ran into the kitchen
five minutes later. I just wom
up!"
Mrs. Haines, frying bacon and
eggs at the range, didn't look up
but her. red face turned a shade
redder and she said in a nign,
quivering voice, "Because I m
tired calling you. i ve uone my
iwt Nohoflv can say. i. awm
do all I could. But I'm throughj
I'm through " Her voice brore.
"But Mama I aon under
stand V
-All right, rm not asking any
thing from jou. 1 don't want any
i.A1a anlltHnr and
Crystal's slk, but never mind
"She's been having ngut wun
CrvstaL' Daphne thought,! with
out much rancor. The mysterious
arguments which went on nenina
closed, doors between Mrs. Haines
it hv daughter always ended
In red eyes and tantrums and she
stat 'worry yon mustn't."
The eggs worn hurnln. Daphne
swept them off the fire, her young
mouth set In a hard, red line.
This was worse than the fighting,
listening to rather talk that way.
With that queer throb in his voice
and his eyes so bright and be
seeching as if he were going to
cry. ...
"I'll thank you to keep a civil
tongue in your head!" he roared
at her suddenly. "Your mother's
a sick woman.
"Didn't close her eyes all night.
You might at least have helped
get breakfast. Now pass me the
bread and the butter "
"You know I wanted to help!"
Daphne burst ont bitterly. "And
I dont know why you didn't let
me, I notice yon usually do. I
I don't know what's the matter
with everybody. Oh, I don't know
what's going to become of me
I don't I don't "
They let her rush out of the
kitchen, down the back stairs, into
the yard.
"Poor little woman." He patted
her hand fatuously. "You're too
sensitive. Let her alone, that's
all. You can't do anything with
that young one regular wild
cat. Got that from her mother."
He stood up with a little grunt
he felt his years in the morning
sixty-six getting old, getting
old ... .
"When I think of what you
must have suffered with her mo
ther. Well, I'm quick. I saw it
the first time I set eyes on her.
I said, 'There's a cold one,' I said
'and a hard one. She didn't un
derstand that man' "
"Bless you Adellna, bless you!"
Old Man Haines' eyes were misty.
"Well, no use crying over spilt
milk," his Adellna cut In hastily,
pulling away her hand and start
ing to stack the dishes briskly.
"By the way, Abner, I want to
give a few little parties for Crys
tal this summer. We ought to
let her hatve young folks, and you
enjoy them, too, and the way the
young girls take to you " She
laughed and poked him archly in
the ribs "Pou old sheik, you!"
"Well, you don't have to worry,
Adellna, I'll always be true to you
little woman always "
She drew away again, sharply.
"If you're going to San Jose you'll
have to hurry, you'll have to get
along "
"I know." He moved away re
luctantly. Reached for his hat.
hanging on the hook behind the
door.
"And I'll have to get a few
things for the house!" she called
after him. "And a few things for
Crystal she's gotta look as well
as the others, poor kid "
"Oh, that's all right," the old
man mumbled benevolently. "I
want you to be happy, Adelina.
Adelina, you are happy with me?
You don't think I'm just an old
man Adelina with money?"
For a moment his eyes seemed
to search hers, suspiciously, but
she kissed him soundly and
wagged a coquettish finger at
him.. "Silly boy!"
So he went away, content.
Daphne was washing the break
fast dishes, hsrrybig because It
.was almost scnooi time. The
sTeeres of her white middy blonst
wtro rolled p, disclosing her
sienaer. mux wnite arms.
"Not really scrawny at an."
Mrs. Haines thought bittery, sip.
ping her third cup of coffee at
the kitchen table.
Daphne's mouth was hard, bat
her eyes were dark and dreaming,
"Mooning over McKevitt," the
stepmother thought. "Planning
when she s going to see him again
and a lot of good that's going
to 4o you. Miss!" A spasm ot pain
passed over her Jarge red face.
What if she couldn't prevent Mc
Kevitt from choosing Daphne.
Clothes. And looks. On these
two things she had pinned her
faith. On them her life's ambi
tions had been built By them
she had achieved the place she
now occupied, in the sun.
Wasn't it her own looks, her
own generous curves, her care
fully "touched up" yellow hair
that had attracted Old Man
Haines in the first place, made
him desire her even before his
thin, dark-eyed wife was dead?
That had turned the stingiest
well-to-do orchardlst in Santa
Clara county into a doddering old
fool?
She stole another look at
Daphne at her flawless skin, her
dark satiny hair . ... oh, what a
fool not to see it before. . .
"That'll be, about enough from
you!" she cried suddenly, getting
to her feet.
(To Be Continued)
OLD IDEAS ME NOW
IB K 1H
SEATTLE. April 13. (AP)
Sportsmanship, educational val
ues and love of healthful beauty
have replaced dumbells and calis
thenics that were the horror of
blbomered co-eds of the past, the
100 delegates to the western sec
tional conference of American
college women agreed here Fri
day. "There is an idealism of health
and beauty in the women's physi
cal education work today that
never existed before," Majorie
Miller of the University of Ari
zona told the other delegates. "It
is true we strive for leadership.
But in place of too strenuous com
petition there ia an ideal of
sportsmanship which does not
seek to win but to play for the
game's sake alone.
"Modern women's athletics
gives the co-ed Ideal health which
creates social poise and vivacity
which Just can't be feigned."
Janet Blethen of Dominican
college, California, stressed the
educational values of the campus
athletics today.
GIVES TO LIBRARY
SILVERTON, April 13 Mrs. S.
E. Richardson has recently donat
ed to the Methodist churhc, her
grand piano. Mrs. Richardson has
and WWRiM1K
Guifwf&v HeaUh-a Dktcr ChildnervT
Ordinary Anemia,
R. While pernicious anemia Is
markedly benefitted by the Inclu
sion of liver or the extracts of
liver in the diet, and apparently
cured while it
is being taken,
it is not a spe
cific for ordin
ary anemia as It
is for pernicious
anemia. Howev
er, in some cas
es it seems to
help.
Your "too-too-
y thinness" can
A beremedled
imply ny m-
aslng your
and more
anil 1ati
UW lUMTPtfttiJU naiess it Is due
to some organic
disorder which must be cleared up
also. Your poor appetlt4"wlll event
ually become a good appetite if
you will force yourself to eat a
little rdore each meal than you
want, for it is true that the appe
tite grows by what it feeds on and
for what it feeds on.
You want to increase the high
caloric foods, especially egg yolks.
for they are high in iron and fat;
nuts, which are high in good pro
tein and fat; cream, high in vita
mins and good fat; and milk, high
in vitamins, perfect protein and
mineral elements. Also increase
the foods containing the appetite-
stimulating vitamin B.
It Is better to take five or six
small meals a day instead of try
ing to take too much at one meal,
so get some of these foods in be
tween your regular meala. The
instructions on gaining and reduc
ing will give you more details.
Ask also for our article on the
Anemias. A
'- . ! If ,.
For a counle of vears cast I
have beep troubled with cold feet
and legs, also cold hands. It trou
bles me a great deal In connection
with my work (ranching) and at
night also. I am not so old in
the early 70's and I have a long
life expectancy from inheritance.
Have a good appetite and general
ly sleep well. Wonld hot foot baths
help? MR. w."
also given nearly 10 boks to the
city library, as well as an original
drawing by Homar Davenport,
which will be placed in the Dav
enport Memorial corner of the library.
SILVERTON. Aorll 13 Frien
wHl be pleased to hear of the birth
of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley
Fry of Salem. Mrs. Fry Is well
known in Silverton, and win oe
remembered as Ethel Ives.
daughter ot Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Ives.
Read the Classified Ads.
Indeed you're not too old. Mr.
W. While chronologically you are
in the old-age group, physiologic
ally (mentally and physically) you
are twenty years younger. And it
is the physicologic age that counts.
Your letter, which I have excerpt
ed for the column, shows you are
alert mentally and your being
able to keep up your ranching
certainly testifies to the physical
side.
Ordinarily, those who suffer
from cold feet and hands are slug
gish physically from too little ex
ercise, so the advice is to take
some strengthening daily exer
cises; but with you, I don't think
I could advise that. Yes, you can
take the hot foot bath, followed
by a dip Into cold water, or take
alternate hot and cold dip3. You
can massage the legs nightly. This
will give you a little extra exer
cise which willAndude the hands.
Don't health ft to take a hot wa
ter hag to beoylith you if neces
sary. I know that many think tbs
Is coddling yourself, defeating the
purpose (even some doctors sub
scribe to this notion), but I can
not see that suffering with cold
feet and losing odij good sleep
will improve the circulation.
I congratulate you on- your gen
eral good condition, Mr. W.
Mrs. E. You are going to be
disappointed. You sent in for an
article and enclosed two cents,
but no self-addressed stamped en
velope; you didn't even sign your
name or give your address in your
letter!
I am sorry, but no material can
be sent unless the column rules
are followed carefully. Will you
try again, Mrs. E?
EditAT't Kot: Dr. TetPrs cannot
diagnose, nor give personal advice
Your questions, if of Keneral inters
est. will be answered in the col
umn, in turn. Requests for articles m
must be accompanied by a fully
re!f-addressod. rtamred enveloj
and 2 cents In coin for each article,
to cover cost of printing and hand
ling. For the pamphlet on reduc
ing and gaining. 10 cents in coin
with fully aelf-addressed. stamped
envelope, must be enclosed. Ad
dress Dr. Peters. In care of this
Der.
Peter's Adventures "ikr
AT Gander's question. Gobbler
grew very angry, his wattles
growing red as fire. "I ami
speaking of that very Turkey. Gan
der." replied he. "That t hat
that" Gobbler stammered and stut
tered, trying to think of something
had enough to call the Turkey who
had turned traitor. Peter spoke
soothingly:
"Thererthere! You are safe
now and you have learned a les
son, and, after all, that is worth
something. Gobbler! You have
found out it" doesn't pay to be too
tru3tin? you have said so your
self. We know all about your
being led with the flock to the
slaughter. Gander saw you and
told us, and we were just getting
ready to mourn your loss when
you turn up safe and sound. How
did j'ou ever manage to escape?"
Gobbler chuckled.
"I'll tell you what saved my
neck. It was a thought In time!"
cried he.
"Well, when that wicked lead
er invited me and some of my
wild friends to go for a walk I
fell in with the plan all right, but
soon I got into an argument with
my comrade on the right as to
whether we were traveling east
or west.
"The two of us Just couldn't
agree, and finally I thought of a
Way to prove I knew best. I
would walk the way I declared to
be west, and if, when night came,
the sun went to sleep in front of
me I would be right, but If he
sank to rest behind my back I
would be wrong.
"I remembered what you had
said, boy 'Once you make up
your mind you are going to do a
thing, do It,' and off I flew with
out saying another word and be
fore the leader saw me.
"A short way from the flock I
alighted on the ground and with
out looking back I walked end
walked, and here I am.
''On the way home I thought of
what a fool I had been looking
'or trouble and then falling Into
it as soon as it came along. For
when I gathered my wits together
I knew well enough where it was
that leader had been bound to
market, ot course!"
MUGGS McGlNNIS
By WALLY BISHOP
BQVT O'CLOCK
Tt CALL YOO AGAJU
Ster up I, j
r
6AiM;!j
Aw' A
JJM
alii
GET OP X'M GO(tOGT3
MAKE VoU STAV tV4 BED
ALL tY ! AKJD T60AV3
SATURDAY
7
Copyright, 1929, by Central Press Association, lac.
n 1 T 1
ye- X II 111 i i-i -i X
m a tit is iii er a r. r r sv -w sic - ss at w ssi
m w m m w r ii ii isa w .r?a . - ss at M mm
v ii m ii I'll sn i i -ftvtv .ami at m mm
" A 4 -LI A X WVyfP
. ' - " I
Pig Sister
By Les Forzravc
Set
AND
BUDDV
WAITED
UNTIL-
LEFT "THE
DEiERfED
BARN) ANO
fHEW
4LIPPEO
IN tO
SEARCH
FOR.TViB
BOX OF
MOM6YV
WmW' ROUUO DOtOM HE-RE mfflrfc MV 5MOKED CJLPM TO THAT BARW AfJ 6Gf 6M
UTl W& rO-rVeLOPT. LEX' ft (g 5 I T3ETCMA O. Q!-f3 u2Rj) mf: L,B23 V$
j I i X" "
-bsssu rare Lxjri 1 rm cm.i , t c. 1 p 1
Goofey Movies
By Neher
GOOPEY MOVIES l'Wk
FER CRYING
OUT LOUD.
EPISODE Niwe.
IS STIUL
SEAOCHiWG POQ MArf S
AAEOUJ.UJWO CUASV
KlOMAPPED ONEC A
LUEK GO
HE WAS JUST STOPPED
ATA SMAXL COTTAGE
THAT LOOKS SOSPClOUS.
Cffpi&k. US, br CssJBk! Prssi Aoeiio.
r ihtui vsi viva" 7 .-vi-vj.-sj -j
ME MO PAMiUV OXJUO WAVE AUL
ITHOSE DISEASES AT OMCE.
be.
fujyCz- Tr.5 IS UOAERE JAtfia IS HEtofl XU. TAKE A PEEK IN) Jj J
( A P.?.-CJ..-..ANJO HEC WOMAPPER.V I THE? UJtJsJOOCU -AMD PIWOJ M A
K CVT TV, Tr SlGNJ OM THE OX)R JOST E V WT. I j
LETT OS
TAKE A
PEEK.TOO.V
OW AAI5TEQ
PtEASE LET
.VCd TO MARRY WE U0OSE.
MC....SEE; r? riU-MACW
1. t&&', i-i'flr. ' est l
"A
WHAT
IS" MAMIE.
GOING "p
Bftore
9
3fcZei -!
SK. I
AMO SAUE
II t f LitS-O. I I
m o m m swi m
youm
HAVE TO UMIT j '
UMT1U oaV -
APTERTbAAOCROtJ. to see CO MAT
mappeks mextc
ASTOAOCODU
IS THE MEETING
jaooper