The Washington herald., 1921-12-21
The
Involuntary
Va1np

Marjorie asked DULY.
Diana shook her head.
"why?"
Steve can never marry. why he
can't-is his AFFAIR. no business of
ours. I'm going to marry DR.. Bor-
den!'
With this parting shot. she left
tho room
After she had gonA leaving Mar
jorie sitting in the wreck OF her
air castles. Diana was almost sorry
that she had confessed her love
for Dale and his for her.
IL had been cruel to tell Mar
jorie that, when she had learned
70 count or his answering de-
votion as the one unalterable fact
IN life. And yet Marjorie had
Forced the confession. Besides it
had lifted from Diana's heart a
heavy burden. She had hated de-
ceiving Marjorie. Every time she
had seen Dale in Marjorie's pres
ence, 1t had been necessary to
guard eyes and voice. It seemed
SO underhand not to make a clean
breast of Il, painful as 1t might be
to Marjorie.
But deep in her heart Diana
could not believe that Marjorie
really loved Dale. The memory
OF her aunt as she had left her,
tear stained. with disarrayed Golf
fure. looking. in that of-guard
moment. every day of her years.
convinced Diana that she had been
correct in her surmise that Mar
jorie had accepted Dale's pro-
pOsal made fifteen years before.
not through the promptings of
love but through an increasing
fear OF age.
Marjorie's youthful wardrobe,
her constant demand OF excite
ment, her nightly dancing, her
flirtations. bespoke a persistence
for the onward and visible signs
of youth which could only be in
terpreted as an inward realization
OF Times approach.
Diana wondered IL Marjorie really
contemplated marrying Admiral
Armstrong, or IL she had only been
using him to fan Dale's ardor. She
hoped Marjorie would not persist
in making her explain why she
was not going to marry Dale.
Perhaps that remark would be
overshadowed by the startling an
nouncement OF her contemplated
marriage to DR.. Borden.
She had not seen Borden or
Cynthia for several days. Cynthia
had come down Immediately on
hearing of Alexis tragic death. but
the Doctor. with nice delicscy, had
contended himself with a kind lit
tie note Of sympathy tucked into
a box of roses. Perhaps he felt
the irony Of personally proffered
condolences.
II was difficult for a man to be
properly sympathetic over another
mans death when he expects to
marry his widow as soon as the
conventions permit
Therese came into the room
where Diana sat staring idly out
of the window. She murmured an
apology and began dragging a
steamer trunk and travelling bags
out of the closet.
Diana looked up in surprise.
"Mees Langley, she go away to
Pasadena at once. l must pack
tres vIte."
So. Marjorie was running away
to hide her disappointment In
sOlitudeI
Diana went into the sitting room.
Marjorie was sitting at the desk
scribbling furiously. She looked
emotion was gone. She was her
cool unrufned self. Her face was
once more pink and white by the
aid of cosmetics. A narrow line of
blue pencil under the eyes sue
cessfully hid the ravages of her
recent tears.
Pm dropping down to Pasadena
for a few days. Think / need a
change. The Morelands are there
and I'm keen to see Maude. i
suppose / can trust you to con-
duct yourself with deoorum. par
ticularly IL 1 leave Therese here as
dueuna?" she added with a trace
Of severity.
Indeed yes. I'll be a model of
virtue" promised Diana meekly.
No mention was made OF Stephen
Dale or DR.. Borden.
They parted affectionately at
the train gate that afternoon.
Diana had gone TO see her of.
When Marjorie had gone down
the long line of Pullman coaches.
followed by the inevitable porter
looking after her for a moment,
a slender. detached little figure
in her somber mourning. Her
black gloved hands were demurely
folded and the violets pinned to
her corsage were no more modest
than she. But her eyes danced.
She was freq of Marjorie's per-
sistent chaperonage for a few
days. She would be able to come
and go. to talk and act, without
her aunt's constant frown of dis
approval. She wondered IL ap-
preaching age made people such
crabs
She decided to have tea all by
herself in some cheerful place
where there was music and smart
people. Her young mind craved
diversion after the depression of
the past few days.
Recalling the name OF a restau-
-ant Of nationwide fame, she went
out TO the taxi stand and signalled
a machine. Just as she was get
ting into cab she heard her name
called.
Turning. she found herself face
to face with Dale and another man
wrapped in a heavy ulster who
feebleness.
He removed his hat. 1t was
Lynn Johnston. But a PATE, worn,
Incredibly thin Johnstonl
Diana gave a cry of Amusement
Lynn Oh, I'm SO gladl But
you're i'll! oh Lynn, what has
happened"
He smiled and took both her
outstretched hands in his clasp.
I'm all right. little girl. Don't
you worry.
Johnston has just got in on
the Chicago train" put in Dale.
..rt,s heen a tiresome Journey and