The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-06-16
His Own People

"@OOD BYE-and is this
I Il the end?' He spoke in
toneess whisper
his fingers frightened the
slight hand that lay within his n
own. With the fantest trace
of effort he Strengthened him
self throwing back his head a
in manner grown famii- n
!
lar to the white-capped nurse. n 4N2M
1t all over-the four M ESM
weeks of racking pain and rk0fx
agonized delirium, the three
OF tedious convalescence-and II. "
now with his coat buttoned -
tightly sensitive throat Sx2sa
his hat in hand, Noel Adams LM@xSkF
awaited the cab that was to iSH I NJ
bear him back to world OF w
renewed action. "a
The girl shuddered she
glanced from window of the &421W ~ssss
ward where in the company M4
of this man, she had spent the
fullest, happiest weeks OF her
hospital work. Within these ~
: !: !: !: ] !: !.
bare walls she had fought gr Ed
with higher powers, deter - x
minded, resoute, lost to all @M
save the magnitude OF her task. M%2
She had out, had made A@s#asS II6
good, and this was the end. E@Sx@Mksg Ass*ss r
The day OF his release had
come to him the signal for S9g
BATTLE to her the muffled req sxd
uiem of dead dreams Before
her stretched an endless vista
of gray days. of work lacking
in motive, of passionate desire
and lonely desoation.
She turned from the window
in the dim twilight and faced
him with the fnality of des
pair upon her white face. His
serious eyes were upon her.
and the usual happy smile was gone from his lips.
"Diana!" His arms opened to her; without
word she surrendered herself to him in an aban-
don CT gladness.
ut doesn't seem right hadn't intended to
speak yet, DEAR" he whispered. you know moth
ing of me but what have told you-my life as a
struggling newspaper man, my hopes as climber.
i know that my people not OF your kind, and
l can't take your until you have seen
thenl-have their way OF living. 1t wouldn't
be fair"
"Thy people shall be my peope'-you know
the rest, Noel. l am marrying you, not your lam
lily, but / know that they must be everything that
is best or-they wouldn't be your people
He kissed her, reverently as she chung to him
with words of frenZied assurance. Slowly the
shadows deepened. gentle tap sounded upon
the door.
M, dear-how lovely! Just in time for dessert.
u Thomson-a chair for Miss Saunders
Agnes Osborne drew her sister to her side,
caressng OF her ungloved hands. Five people
waved bowed their greeting to the unexpected
guest as, without ceremony, Diana took her place
at the table, whose gories softly shaded
candles diffused mellow glow. The merry badin-
age the hum OF conversation, changed into a vol
ley of questonings regarding Diana and her work.
Living outside OF the social whirl. she was still
part OF their world, interested in the round OIL am
ners, the hands at bridge, much as in the
broader interests of her work She would
drop into her old place among them as naturally
as if she had passed from out the daily
reckoning OF the little set in which she had moved
"Wel dear, and how is everything? Did the
poor wee coored baby die? What OF your special
you freed at ast?"
Yes, and-no Lean and I'll tell you my
secret"
A gasp of ncredulity broke from Mrs. Osbornes
lips One of Dianas hands rested lightly upor
her sisters cleaning shoulder and her fingers
nervously tapped the jewels that blazed in a neck
lace OF barbaric spendor
Diana DEAR Engaged! My esteemed friends
with comprehensive glance about the table y
is my pleasant duty to announce the engagement
of my sister, Miss Diana Saunders to-to-m.
dear you've not even told me his name!'
"Adams-Noel Adams She spoke the words
with a tmidity born of tender unfamarty.