The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-13
By Mildred X. Barbour

Of two. on her arst pony! ~ her
debutants ball; motoring down .
Long Island Highway. and doing
various other Irrelevant things-
But though she could dismiss
Alex 10 easily from her conscience.
Diana was mildly troubled about
Lynn Johnston. She was almost
AFRAID to ask Doctor Borden about
Dominguezs reputation. lest she
hear that he was an out-and-out
lawless character. He might al
ready have wreaked his vengeance
upon Johnston for her own escape.
OF course II was barely possible
that foiied In his intent to marry
her, he would shrug his shoulders
like q good sport and release John
ston- In, that case It might be ex-
pected that Johnston would have
secured the neighborhood to, fnd
her, but when she recalled that
Johnston hadn't proved himself any
too much OF q hero at the outset of
their getting lost together. she
wouldn't have been at all surprised
IL he had taken the frst train which
would hsar him away from the
scene Of his adventure.
oy.SAias VIA.
Meanwhile. it was rather fun. BE-
ing lost Particularly when she had
fallen into such kindly hands, not to
mention the fact that the situation
she had unwittingly stumbled on.
was vastly intriguing.
Diana felt that she had known
Doctor Borden and his sister all
her life. Next to Stephen Dale. she
frankly admitted 70 herself that
Maxwell Borden was the most in
teresting and attractive man she
knsw.
She wondered II he had really
told her the truth about his reason
for abandoning his own world and
coming to live In the desert coun-
try. Or had Il only been q half
truth and had there been some
more tragic motive.
IL the latter were the case, she
felt confident. woman-like, that Il
must be connected with Cynthia
Borden and not the doctor.
Cynthia herself. coming across
the garden with a basket on her
gray-clad arm. reused Diana from
her reverie.
Il believe you are playing q lit
tie sister to the desert people" she
called. as soon as Miss Borden. was
within earshot. DO you spend all
your life doing nice things Or
peop1e?'
The older woman came up on the
veranda and set down her basket
wfping her warm face with her
handkerchief.
Il am trying to atone for q great
many thoughtless acts" she said.
It's a sort OF voluntary penance."
Diana made a little move.
II that's true. I dare say I ought
to stay here and dedicate the whole
remainder Of my life to the task"
Il wish you would" said Cynthia
Borden In a low voice.
She did not look at Diana
You mean-T suggested the
latter. puzzled
After q minute. Mss Borden said
slowly.
Surely you understand that Max
-
Diana flushed rosily At the un-
finished suggestion.
Ie was obvious that Cynthia
Borden meant that she wanted her
to marry De. Borden.
Copyright. 1871. BY the Bell Syndicate, Inc,)
INsTALLMENT NO. q.
Deepening Mystery.
Diana. being still an invalid. had
her supper on a tray on the We
randa and was pu: to bed at dusk.
Il feel like a naughty child being
sent to bed directly after nersery
tea" she pouted as Cynthia Borden
took away the tray and the doctor
came out to carry her indoors.
Good night" she offered her lips
TO the older woman. 'T feel much
stronger tonight and I won't let Won
do anything more for me-"
Our patient Is almost recovered,
Cynthia" laughed DR.. Borden. she
is getting fractions. Pretty soon
won't have the pleasure Of carrying
her around. She'll be taking hikes
across the desert"
Never" Diana, remembering
the terrible night she had spent
wandering about after her escape
from Dominguez. shuddered in the
doctors arms.
He held her close for a moment
before laying her gently on her
bed and through the mirror over
the bureau she could see that his
lips brushed her hair.
She was weary after her first day
in the open air and fen asleep al
most instantly. only TO awake
again, as though some mysterious
hand had touched her. The room
was in darkness but a narrow slit
90 "~Nt showed rnder her door. in
dicating that the Bordens were
still up.
She lay there in the warm fra
grant darkness feeling a sense OF
utmost peace and well-being. For
the first time since her world had
reeled at Stephen Dale's refusal of
her love, she felt almost happy.
Dimly at first she became aware
@. low voices in the garden and
recognized them as Cynthia's and
the doctors. without meaning to
listen she could not avoid hearing
what they were saying. They were
sitting out by a rude little sundiaI
that DIR. Borden had fashioned.
you think she couldn't possibly
know anything about it," Cynthia
WAS asking