MAKING UP DAPHNE'S MIND.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 5, 26 June 1930, Page 12

MAKING UP DAPHNE'S MIND.

(By FLOBENCE WINTER.)

(Continued).

As I left the shop Basil came out of the bar and along the footpath towards me. He was stepping higih and carefully. "Hullo, Flossie!" he said beerily. <I hate being called Flossie!) "How's Flossie? Got rid of the measles, Flossie?" : "It was scarlatina, you: know. Yes, the nips are better, t-hank you.?' < i "A bit uppish, aren't, you Flossie? "Fancy! I wouldn't have guessed it!" . . "Wouldn't ybu?" he said, a little dashed. Like all naturally sober men, he felt a very devil of a fellow to be drinking and wished to- appear worse than he was. "Yes, I'm drunk. Jolly drunk. And I've lost my girl," "Eeallyl I must congratulate her," I said; ■ "Well, I thought an old friend would show a little sympathy," he said. "My, heart's broken if you know it." "Oh, Johnny Walker or Thrubble X will soon mena that," I said. "Just Oert me get in the car, Bas; I've got to get these nips borne out of the cold." He stood aside, btrt as I entered the car he laid a hand on my arm. "Flo—■ put in a good word for me with. Daphne" 'he said. There was real feeling in his voice and hint of teaTS, but t&e last was probably beer. I answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "Of course—but you must cut out the booze, Basil." "I will," he said earnestly; "there's my hand on it-" "Bighto. Gome to tea to-morrow night, and don't bring your mothler." The children were in bed and Syd had settled down to a. book before I Temembered Hilda's letter. This was it: The Grosvenor, Wednesday. Beverend Saint Florence, ■ Dear Madam, —-Is that how you aldress a saint? Look, Flo, I'm a pig, and a beast &nd a thoughtless hound, b»t I'll Jiave to write in future because I've cut my tongue out. Wouid yoo believe I'm trying to write seriously* I'am true.. juai heard/that Daphne's broken her 'engagement because she doesn't love Bas. You've probably guessed I gave her the idea.. B«t not meaningly. Be enough of a saint to give me credit for that! It was at Donnelly's t&e other Sunday, and Bay said that Basil kept the rain off his mother's best hat with his nose. Y<ra know, ihow funny Bay makes everything sound;- and Daphne laughed as much as any of us and I said, "Oh, Daphne, you're not in love with Basil at fill. No girl ever laughs at a man's nose if she's in love witsh him." Bajt went on acting t&e goat, and I never thought another word; about it until I heard about the broken engagement. Oh, Flo, do do something about; it! After all, you used to say " 'I' " before •c' " too! » Love to Syd. and tjhe dear-kids. Your

worried and really sorry HILDA At last it was something to work'on, and I could follow the workings of I Daphne's mind .with the greatest ease.' I rang her «p next morning aftd ask(ed her to come over and stay to tea. She arrived early in the afternoon, looking very much as usual. But I had my plans cut and dried. "Aren't you well?" I asked. "Youare looking^ off colour. " \ "Do you tbink so?" she said, surprise in her tone. "Why I thought I was looking wonderfully well—quite my usual or betteT." I smiled inwardly. "You look as though you are not sleeping. A bit haggard. Why, where's your ring? I've never known you leave it off before." She told me then she had discovered that she didn't love Basil and had decided that it was better to break it off at once. ! "A bit hard on Bas," I remarked, "and he's such a dear." "Yes, I used to think so," she said calmly, "but now, although of course Ij like and respect him I simply can't work up any thrills. And his nose is awful!" "It's a very fine nose, a scholastic nose, a pleasant-tempered nose, a do-as-you-wbuld-be-done-by nose!" "A nose isn't a sign of character, though," she objected. "What's the matter with you?" I demanded. "Why, a noso is the most important sign. And as for thrills, love' is something more than thrills, Daphne." "Yes, and I have none left for Basil. There is nothing so hard to rekindle as the asihes of a dead love. I'm only thankful I found it out in time. What would I have done if I'd Been married and"then found out?" "What every other woman does, I suppose. Made up your mind to Do your Duty [Note the capitals!'], and tlhen found out that Duty was pleasure and pleasure was love, and not without thrills, either. But it's no use your telling me that you are not any more in love with Basil, Daphne., If he walked into the room at this instant your eyes would s-hine as they,, always do fox him, but your heatt would almost break when you saw what, your careless cruelty had done to him." Two~ihours later Basil, looking drawn about the eyes from sleeplessness, came into the room, #nd when, I saw Daphne's eyes light up with surprised delight, then darken with pain, I knew my work was well and truly doneBasil took Daphne home that night, and I was just drifting off to sleep when the telephone-bell rang. We are on a party line with the Bussels, and I was not surprised to hear Dapime's voice. "I hope you weren't asleep," she said, "I just wanted to tell you I've made it up with Bas.; darling old sweet thing he is," "Oh, shut up," I said rudely. "I didn't get out of bed to listen to that wit. "W&en are you going to be married'?"^ "Well, Bus said three weeks, but I've just remembered Hilda won't be home, and I want her foT bridesmaid, «jo we'll have to wait." ,

"No," I said firmly. "It's moat frightfully unlucky to change your mind twice." "Oh, it it?" Woll, I won'.t then. Good-night dear.'' Syd. came in just now. "I'll knock t-hat little brute's head off yet." he . said ' stofmily. "Ho stand? up» to me .and argues black and blue. 'I linto a kid to do that / . "You ought to be jolly thankful," I said. But he didn't sec the point. 'Menare very dense. (Concluded). .