Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-08-26
TWO OF THEM
BY MILDRED WHITE.
IA ~ 80 % "a ~ "a % - 3,


* BY MILDRED WHITE. XXI
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Copyright. 1920 Western Newspaper Union)
The girl sat gazing across the hills
to where blue lake rippled in the
sunlight, but the beauty of the scene
was not reflected in her brooding eyes.
1t was to this solitude she had come
to heal her broken heart. At least,
Diana was sure her heart must be
broken, after all it had endured dur.
ing the past three months.
For three months ago Diana had
been q radiant creature, knowing the
joy of love new-fou~d, and weaving
dreams of happier future. Then,
like the blacklist cloud, from out of
the bluest sky, had come the quar-
rel. 1t was rather difficult now to
remember what that quarrel was
about; but tragedy had been lts
ending.
Diana recalled certain sharp and
cutting remarks of Dickie's concern
ing matinee idol, sort of man who
had during the last few weeks haunt
ed Diana's presence. Though she had
not in the least been interested in
that handsome person, it was rather
gratifying to flaunt his devotion III the
eyes of other maids loss favored, and
as her engagement to Dickie had not
vet been made known, where was the
harm, she reflected, In consoling her
self with the mans amusing compan-
ionship during Dickie's absence?
Dickie had been away great deal,
in business capacity, and at these
times Diana's loneliness grew depress-
ing. The real charm" In her mind
was that Diclie, the heretofore i'm
pregnable, should retaliate by devot-
ing himself after his return, to Dollie
Madden. Dolly of all girls. with her
saucy assurance and captivating ways.
The quarrel had been as brief as it
was painful.
And after weeks of silent waiting
for Dickie to come back, and more
weeks of disappointment when he did
not, Diana packed her suitcase and
went away from the madness of 1t all.
What enchanted walks they had
taken together through the hills.
Diana sighed. and flicked two bright
tears from still brighter eyes. Then,
all at once, she saw young man be-
fore her
"Beg pardon" said the young man,
"for intruding, but I've been sitting
here in this deadly silence so long
that I've set to speak to some one.
or"
He left his desperate threat unfin-
ished and sat down on the grass at
Diana's side For a time she waited,
undecided whether to ignore his out
burst or make reply The man an
swered for her.
give been up here since six o'clock
this morning" he said.
"Why, I didn't see you when
came" she replied.
you almost walked over me as I
lay on the grass" he told her, "ab-
sorbed in your own pleasant reveries.
Say, do you enjoy this 'ossified'
placer"
"1f you do not enjoy It," Diana an
swered evenly "why are you here?"
The young mans reply came with
unexpected eagerness:
'I'll tell YOU" he said IT came to
try to forget-a girl. Thought that
1t might he done in the calnness and
quiet, and farawayn ass-wlere a fell
low could get himself in hand Put
1t can't" he added lneubriously "This
is my fourth day up, and Pm getting
worse"
Diana stared; II might be herself
speaking. for the exact stating of the
case. She leaned forward in her new
interest.
"wer,! you" she asked family, sin
love?"
'Wns, were-am!" the young man
emphatically and confusingly replied.
"She happened to take some one
else better. Thought could get away,
after awhile, from the aching memory
of her. 1t can't be done. Her black
eyes haunt me everywhere. Obi" he
finished YEARLY, "there never was an
other girl so sweet and perfect in all
the world!"
Perhaps" Diana suggested, "you
just sort of idealized this girl. Men
do, sometimes. Maybe she was all
right to look at. and all that; but no
doubt she had lots of faults. We ali
do Now, think back. Wasn't this
girl stubborn, or unreasonable, or ex-
acting, or JEALOUSY"
The young man flushed guiltily.
Whatever she was" he retorted
I'D have her just that way-her way
She was my girl; there will never be
another for me-"
Diana smiled, and long-hldden
dimple popped merrily into her cheek
II am going to return your confidence"
she said. That's what came out
here for, too--to forget the man love-
As you say, it can't be DONE The re
membering' grows worse, until the
very things you considered faults seem
virtues, because they were a part Of
him."
The girls eyes grew soft and misty.
Look here" cried the man. He
caught at her hands. "Are you speak
ing of that fool matinee idol now, or
Di- Oh! Di-darling; could you
possibly mean-just me?"