MAKING UP DAPHNE'S MIND.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 4, 19 June 1930, Page 12

MAKING UP DAPHNE'S MIND.

By FLOBENCE WINTEB

Therd are minds like a punctured rubber ball. The slightest touch makes an impression which is removed only by a firmer impression in another place. Daphne's mind is like that. I get furious wßen Archie, my seven-year-old, sticks (Hat for his own. opinions (especially when he turns out to be right), but I comfort myself with the reflection. that at any rate, he won't be like Daphne. Daphne Bussel, Hilda Coombs and I went light "through school together, from juniors to fifth class; but Daphne missed her compulsory certificate (as it used to be called), and perhaps the favlt "WEs ours as much as hers. You see, she could never be sure of anything, especially if something else was somewhere near the same. I.'hope I make myself clear/ Pot instance, she could never be quite certain whether nine . sixes or seven eights made fifty-four, and it was the greatest fun to Hilda* and me to hide our mouths behind an upraised arm at the question and whisper the "wrong answer —and when the old .catch *' receive was . given out in spelling,, to whisper warriingly " 'I' " before 'c' " Not tihen did we invariably tell the wrong answer, and poor Daphne would knit her brows and try to decide jwh.eth.er we were helping or teasing. •But she never gave us away; she is likC that. . ••;:■-; .1 had married at eighteen, and my baby was six weeks old when -Daphue came to tell me that Basil Dean had asked hex to marry him. "Daphne! How lovely!" I cried. "Basil is such a dear" '.'Oh, I haven't accepted him," she interrupted. .'.? He was,,.awfully nice about it and gave me a week to think it over. I—l don't know what to do, Plo." *-■■ -■■' ■ ■-■:.;"Why? Don't tell me you're not in Jove with him!' I know you, my girl." She flushed rather prettily. "Oh> .at.'c pot that," she said, and was silent. Presently she burst out, "I don't believe his mother likes me. In fact, I heard her say she can't bear modern , jgixis." ■ r, ■ "Well, you don't think you're what is called a modern girl, do you, fool? in fact, I heard her say that she wish-' ; ed Bas. would settle down and marry „,you1,, because you are so different to the general run of girls." /."Did she truly? Oh, Flo, did she?" '""'Yds, honestly; so I think you might eafely say yes. But for goodness sake, Daphne, don't be*.'such a weak sister! Pull up your socks! 'I'm-as-good-as-you-if-you're-as-good-as-me.' That's the way to tackle, life!." .: •■„ "I'm not good enough for Easily,really," she said. "That worries me, too;" , ,;-. \ ..'.'■.. ■■ .::.■■■■;,. ' ■~/. '-: ■. ■ ■'.. "Well r don't. You'll wprry the other way round after you're married." . • Hilda came the next day. She could hardly wait to get inside before she.. sio'ld-her news. • "Flo, what do you think' Daphne's got Basil on appro, for a week! Isn't j it a joke.

"Who told you?" I asked, a little nettled, because Daphne had sworn me to secrecy. "Bas. himself. He's so jiggley he can't keep it to himself. And he says he's smoking a tin of tobacco a day, and at the rate he was lighting cigarettes and throwing them away I don't doubt it. Wouldn't it be fun to tell Daphne they are not suited to each other?" "I 'm afraid I can't see any fun in making two of my nicest friends unhappy," I said in a tone of gentle reproof. "•Saint Florence!" she jeered, and we laughed chummily. Hilda is really I very good for me. "Yes, it was smug," I agreed, "but I don '.t say anything to put her off, Hilda I'm xeally rather worried about Daphne She's so unsuited to,battle for herself, and site '11 have nothing when her father dies. Besides, Bas. is such a splendid fellow." "Yes, between ourselves he deserves someone a little more strong-minded Daphne. It wouldn't be very stimulating to be married to a mouse, do you. •think? Even a nice, dear, lovable mouse like she.is." "Don't you; sometimes feel a bit guilty wihen you think of <our school-' days? I d 0,".1 said. r " <I' "before 'c'!" laughed Hilda.:"Wasn't it fun?" she went on in her unrepenting way. Hilda was very sweet to Daphne; about her engagement, and Mrs Dean; was charming, as she well know how -to be, and things went along smoothly" for ten months . _ Daphne was abjectly-worshipping, but Basil had enough sense of humour not to be complacent. He though they: could very well live in the old home,/; but his mother said wisely that young married people should have their home; to themselves so Basil built his home' far enough away to be private and nearenough, as his motheT said, to be handy. The date of the wedding had not been fixed when my children took scarlatina and we were quarantined for two months. On the day the quarantine, was lifted I took the youngsters into ihe town in the caT. At the post-offi.ee I was given a letter from Hilda, and was surprised to see a city post-mark. The wins! had changed and it looked like rain, so I decided to do my shopping and hurry home. "Is Hilda in town?" I asked Mrs, Long at the shop. '' Yes, she's gone away for six weeks. A tin of -golden syrup, did you say? And a packet of cornflour. Yes. Weren't you surprised to hear that Daphne hatl given' Basil up?" "I didn't hear it," I said, amazed. "But it isn't true,, surfejly! Why~ ever?" "Found she didn't love him after all," said-Mrs Long with relish. "Mrs Dean was telling me. She's a bit upset j but she's not going to interfere, and she hopes it will come right."Basil's drowning his sorrows." "JSTever! Why, I've never known him "to drink." - "He is now, anyway, *I saw him at the hotel a while ago looking quite staggery," (To be continued),