The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
TIE EVENING STORY
Diana of Dobson.
BY Molly McBaster.)


son and Diana would have to alight and
begin her life in the old routine
Yet not the same" thought Diana,
because Tom was part of the old
life" She sighed and leaned her head
back on the cushions, closing her eyes.
In another second the train had
deIved into the blackness of the tunnel
Suddenly the man in the seat behind
Diana leaned over and kissed her.
Dear guesser,'' he said in a muf-
fled, though tender tone, who did 1t!
After that there was quick movement
and the man sank into a seat at the
rear of the train. Not a moment too
soon had he been for the coach swung
out of the tunn and into the sunlight.
Diana gasped and the hot blood
stained her cheeks. She was far too
angry, too incensed to indicate by a
turn of the head even, the insult she
had received. She pressed a scented
handkerchief to her lips as if to brush
a stain therefrom. Her head had shot
into the air and remained poised like
a thoroughbred's at bay, but tears were
suspended from her heavy lashes. Per-
haps had she been less sensitively con-
structed she and Tom might never have
parted Diana had always lacked the
power to express her anger or to handy
words in quarrel; when she received a
hurt she only bit her lips and let the
hurt sink deeper.
In the case of Tom she had let him
go about with another woman and had
not asked the why or wherefore of it
all. Diana had merely broken her en-
gagement in a little note of farewell
and had left Dobson for years travel
Tom Granger, she later learned, had
gone down into Honduras with a
mining company.
The blood was still coursing angrily
through Piana's veins as she remem-
bered the caress of the strange man.
She arose, however, with apparent self
possession and drew down her hand
bag from the rack overhead, put on her
veil and slipped into her long coat. At
ter that she resumed her seat to wait
until the train pulled into Dobson.
The train was sliding along the
familiar platform when Diana stood up.
AS she did so, she found her way
blocked. man so large as to fill the
aisle sank into the outer side of her
seat
Diana gasped and The color famed
into her cheeks. The man was blond
eyes was determined. When Diana met
the look her heart beat rapidly and a
little feeling of exultation leaped into
her quickly yelled eyes.
Nevertheless her nose tilted ekyward
and the look she turned full upon him
was Storm-laden.
Diana realized that without creating
an unpleasant scene she would not be
permitted to leave the train at Dob
SON. She knew also that Dobson was
the last stop before Ely and that she
could not get a train back before to-
morrow.
do you mind letting me pass?' she
said, and tried to keep her voice from
trembling. It was useless to attempt
to get out with those long legs COM
pletely blocking the way. Diana bit
her lips.
IT most assuredly do mind re-
torted the man. 81 am going on to
EIy and [ desire that you should go
with me- He sank back in his seat
comfortably although Diana knew
that underneath the level voice there
lay an almost feminine tremor.
The train was rapidly emptying of
Dobson passengers. Diana watched
them go with a sense of aloofness
a feeling that seemed strangely de-
tached from everything save the de-
termined man at her side.
DO you realize?'' she asked with
heat. that I cannot return to Dob
son tonight and that 1 know not a
single soul in Ely"
The man turned squarely toward
her and Diana b1ushed wildly.
"I realize everything he said.
"An of my people are in Ely, and
you can come to my home and spend
week or so-you know them"
Diana gasped. She knew not
whether to laugh or cry.
Meantime the train had crept out
of the station and gathering speed
left Dobson far behind in the back
ground.
In the mind of the girl there was
nothing so much as a feeling of safe
ty. From under her lashes she
glanced at the big man. In her heart
She was singing. Aloud she said:
''It was rather mean of you to put
me in this position. Either 1 had to
create a scene and have newspaper
nortoriety-or go with you. She
leaned her chin on her hand and
gazed out of the window. Diana did
not want the man to see into her
ewes. Eyes tell so much,'' she con-
fided to the passing scenery
IF my presence is distasteful to
you 1 will take my original seat,
the man said quietly.
Your movements are perfectly
immaterial to me-" Diana PIT IN
quickly. and resumed her study of
the landscape.
"Diana!" the man said suddenly
and with deep tenderness, that is not
SOS it? Tell me it isn't" He put
his hand over the slim fingers beside
him and held them close. L have
come back from Honduras to tell you
again that L love you-I cannot STAND
my life without you"
Diana smiled and the light that
had left her eyes when she broke her
engagement with Tom Granger sud
denly returned
1T was you who kissed me, Tom
tell me it was." Diana questioned
eagerly.
Il would like to see any one else
attempt it, dear" Tom told her and
slipped his hand into his pocket.
You will wear this again." he said,
and put the solitaire on her finger.