Tombstone epitaph., 1918-06-09
CHAPTER xxIV.
Diane Changes Her Mind.

Diane Changes Her Mind. The news of Sheba's safety had
 been telephoned to Diane from thu roadhouse. % that all the family from Peter down were on the porch to vel
 come her with mingled tears and
 kisses. Since Gordon had to push or
 to the hospital to have Holt taken care
 of, 1t was Macdonald who brought the
 girl home. The mine-owner declined
 rather brusquely an invitation to stay
 to dinner on the plea that he had busi-
 ness at the once which would not walt
 Impulsively Sheba held out both her hands to him. Believe me. I am thank. ing you with the whole of my heart, my friend And I'm praying for you the old Irish blessing. God save you kindly"
 The deep-set. rapacious eyes of the Scotsman burned into hers for an in- stant. Without . word he released her hands and turned away.
 Her eyes followed him, . vital, dyna- mic American who would do biz, law less things to the day of his death. She sighed. He had been . great fig- ure in her life. and now he had passed out of 1t.
 As soon as she was alone with Di- ane. her Irish cousin dropped the little bomb she had up her sleeve.
 I'm going to be married Thursday,
 Mrs. Paget embraced her for the tenth time within an hour. She was very fond of Sheba, and she had been on great strain concerning her safety. That out of her danger had resulted the engagement Diane had hoped for was surplusage of good luck.
 You lucky. sensible girl"
 Sheba assented demurely. T do think I'm sensible as we'll as lucky. It Isn't every girl that knows the right man for her even when he wants her. But I know at last. He's the man for me out of ten million.v
 I'm sure of 1t. dear. Oh, I am 70 glad Diane husged her again. She couldn't help 1t.
 "One gets to know . man pretty well on . trip like that. wouldn't .hange mine for any one that was ever made. like everything about him, Dd. am the happiest girl"
 I'm % glad you zee 1t that way at | ast" Diane passed to the practical l lspect of the situation. But Thur lay. Will that give us time, my dearf | Ind who are you going to have hereT |
 Just the family. I've invited two | nests. but neither of them can come. )ne has . broken leg and the other ays he doesn't want to see mo mar. jed to another man." Sheba explained nth . smile.
 So Gordon won't come"
 "Yes. He1l have to be here. We ant get along without the bride room It wouldn't be . leul mar. iage. would itr'
 Diane looked at her, for the moment umb. You little wretch [" she eot Ut at last. go it's Gordon, is itf Ire you quite sure this timef Not Ikely to change your mind beScrs 
 T suppose. to an outsider, I do seen ckle," HiB O,Neill admitted smfline. 7. But Gordon and I both under. kand that." "And Colby Macdonald -does he unr esstand 1t toor IL ~Oh, yea" Her smile grew broader, He told me that he d1dn't thiuk I 'Ou1d quite suit him, after all. Not nough experieoce for the placs." Ii Diane nashed . suspicious look of lQuiry. "Of eourse thatis nonsense. 7hat did he ten your h Something Ike that. He win marry | 1 Irs. Mallory, I think, thoush he doeumf | 1 now 1t yet" Ia You mean she VII ret him oo tAe { said Diane bluntiy. s That Isn't . nice way to put it. He ls always liked her very much. Re
 fond of her for what shs ia What ltraeted him in nc wsss ths thiuu ( s imasinatioa gnve to nc" Ia .And 0ordou Mkes you, ! supooea h ' what you arer s Sheba dld not reoeat tAe utfIa -, | frieudly sarcasA T s1pposo hoI ls his fancies about me, too, but by . tiDe hs Ands out What an hsH i've to put up WitA ma."
 Ihe arrival 0f Elliot intsrrupes6 cun, | leness. Hs had come. hs ssla to W. Ih avo csa0atulat1eas. IG