Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-24
Another Confession


divorce hanging heavily or their hands
after they had been separated tor
Jeto months. Sometimes II Is the thing
zoe have that De vdlue least, ana az
though these tuo young people IeTo
loUe With each other, a short scpdrd-
ton proved them both iprong. Dfdnd
realised this first. and lest JuItdn sus-
pect the truth, she engaged herseD 70
another man. leaving julian 70 aus.
cover the truth for himself, tchfch ne
does through Alice Trtoin,. n,utudI
friend. Diana. tpho since her divorce
has been making good as chfeJ de-
si9ner III the shop OF Madame Ndidt,
friends, discovers that II Is harder
than she thought to give up her cork.
She dnds, too. that a collness has
sprung up between herself and Ritd,
THE two women stooe looking at each
= other.
I'm disappointed in you, DIANA" said
but why what have done?' Diana
was plainly bewildered.
don't love and God knows why, don't y
Diana flushed at the accusation;
What makes you say that! she
why do Say 1t? Because it's true.
Don't you think I would know " you
were in love with Gleaves Maltby? Don't
you credit me with any powers OF dis
cernment?"
RItas voice rang with passion. and
Diana bowed her head. ~
You don't deny that you don't love
him." Rita said after moment.
IT like him. 1 respect him" Diana
began. ,,.
you don't love him. and he worships
you. Do you think you can make him
happy when you feel as you do?"
YES, l think I can." Diana raised
her eyes and looked straight into RITA s.
She drew back at what she saw there
Rita" she began, falteringly, you
Rita Interrupted. Yes. it's quite true
care for him. I'm an old fool, know
| but there IL is"
Diana put out her hand and laid !,
| impulsively over Rita's. "Oh, my dear.
| she said. I'm so sorry"
Nothing could matter if you cared,
| Rita went on. IT'S that that's worry
| ing me. OF course, he couldn't care for
you are all fire and romance. But you
don't love him, Diana. Why are YOU
! marrying him."
| Diana was silent.
| You're doing so well here: there's
no reason why you should marry unles;
you are in love. was going to pro
| pose a partnership to you this fall. anc
I thought l would send you abroad"
| "Oh, Rita. really?" Diana's eyes were
shining. but there was no answering
light in Rita's.
"Of course, all this is beside the sub
ject," she said coldy. You haven
| answered my question"
Because I like him, respect him
I can do a great deal for Gladys ant
her future"
"Ali Of which is very laudable ant
fine. but there must be a reason 70
this sacrifice you are making. know
you, Diana. and love you. I love yo
enough to see you marry Gleaves Maltb
and be happy about 1t, II you love
him"
II can't tell you anything more. Pleas
don't ask me to-" Diana said implortng
ly. Believe me, Rita wouldn't hav
had this happen for anything. fo
have been such a dear to me. / ca
never repay. you for what you hav
done for me-"
"Of course Il can't force your conf
dence." Rita said coldly. shea got u
abruptly and left Diana sitting there
sick at heart What mess she ha
made Of everything. She had ruined he
own life, and in order to make amend
she had promised to marry man sh
did not love. There was Alice, too. {
be considered. Diana had not seen Alic
since the day they had lunched together
She had no assurance that her engage
ment to Gleaves had made any impres
sion on Alice. And now here was Rita