Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-21

question
the hedchamber, though her grandfather
had subsequently seen that a footmsn
performed that office.
Lady Diana had not inquired as to the
woman visitor anything more than her
name. The Mrs. D'Aquila" she had re-
ceived told her nothing and She did not
ask other information as to the dark
foreign appearing woman who seemed to
take Brancaster's injury so deeply to
heart
There was within Lady Diana a deep
spiritual sense. She felt that the stricken
earl might die indeed, she had heard
1t so whispered though the marquis tried
to spare her such thoughts as these She
felt in her pure consciousness of small
sin that if he died without receiving the
benefit of the Church of England. or OF
any clergyman, there would be a cloud
upon both his chances in a world which
might understand him better and upon
her own conscience. She could not for
get those murmured words as the car
shot by her, and that waving of the hand.
Surely that within us which makes for
righteousness" could not ignore such
spirit. His was a rare soul. which must
have its change in that void into which ii
hourly seemed about to escape.
So she had dispatched a note TO the
vicar, innocently unmindful of the fact
that Sporting Jack" Thorpe rode far
better TO hounds than he did to grace,
and that even then he was taking the
cure for govt far from the village the
great name of which was Beverley.
Lady Dl and ssrtorIs.
Today, just as the sun was about to
set, she was waiting on the terrace of
the Italian garden for the appearance of
Thorpe in answer to her summons. AS
she walked to and fro along the terrace,
with many glances down the little path
known to her friends who did not wish
to drive three miles along the road
through the acres of the marquis before
they reached the castle, she was Joined
by her cousin, Captain Greville Sartoris.
The captain was, as usual, "devilshly
hard up" and he was trying TO evolve
a way to make "a killing"
To him Lady Diana expressed her fear
that Brancaster might die before cler-
gynlan could see him.
MY dear d." exclaimed Sartoris, "he S
just as likely to come to himself and wake
up as he is to kick off, and when he
does wake up, mind YOU, Di, he won
ask for any parson. He'll ask for the
lady who is sitting by him now"
The birth of what may have been jeal-
ousy began in Lady Diana. 1t was not
strong, and merely manifested itself at
this moment by curiosity not usual
with this gentle, though self contained,
English girl.
"Greville, who is Mrs. DAquila ?" she
asked suddenly.
,fcI,,
sins face, as he realized that the ordi-
narily self-sufficient Diana. who usually
was content with the personal knowledge
that her own senses conveyed to her, had
asked him a question on a plane with
those asked by the ordinary members of
her sex, Nevertheless, he did not pause
in his answer
"Oh, you know, Di, she was staying at
Rievers when the smash came-staying
there with a very tame chaperone-oh,
she does everything very correctly"
But who is she, Greville?"
She was a married woman moving in
good society" said Sartoris. "She is-er
still received in some society. She is
exactly the sort of woman who suits the
Brancaster sort Of man. She is not the
sort Of woman Beverley would wish me
to discuss with you"
He stopped and looked into her face.
She seemed abstracted, musing upon
something very far away. He thought
that there was a look of tenderness on
her face. Perhaps this wasn't the right
moment-but he was rather hard up, you
know, and they were alone. Who could
tell when they would be so again, and
the girl was heir to much. 1t was worth
trying. Sartoris cut in on her thoughts
with:
1.-The more ! see Of women like Mrs
D'Aquila. the sweeter, the fresher. the
dearer seem the natural real, true girls
the girls like you, Di You've been an
awfuly good pal to me- and | want to
see you I've never talked nonsense and
love to you. Di. and all that bally rot
But I've learned to love you for your
self, and because I've seen the world and
know your worth in IT. I'm not a saint
but every hour with you makes a man
better, makes him try to be more worthy
Is it quite impossible Think, Di. I am
the heir to the title, and, with you as my
wife. the Beverley fortune and the Bever-
ley title would be brought together"
Proposal Declined.
Not all Of this speech Lady Diana heard
Now she slightly smiled and made a com
monplace gesture. She refused to be
moved by what she unconsctously felt to
be another Of the constant attempts Of
her cousin to reduce lies odds more in
his favor.
"Grevile, it's quite impossible" She
said, "and for the sake of friendship and
cousinship. let's hear nothing further
about fever
To the relief of Lazy Diana. this dis
tasteful conversation with her cousin was
ended by the appearance upon a lower
slope of a youngish man in clerical dress
She went to greet him, and he explained
that he. the Rev. Werner Haslam, was
taking the place of the vicar during the
latter's absence During this eXplana-
ton Of the stranger who had received
Lady Diana's note, Sartoris, who appar
entity had recognized Hasam, smiled
slightly.
Lady Diana was about TO lead the
stranger to Brancaster's apartment. after
her explanation OF the accident and the
Inconsistencies Of the earl, when she saw
that the clergyman and Sartoris were
exchanging strange looks. Sartorls broke
the silence as he said with a snecr:
81 feel that the poor sufferer will be
benefited by the ministrations Of so good
IA, a divine as the Rev. Werner Has