The Washington times., 1922-05-23

mering haze rising from the hot.
dry ground. the feathery outline
OF some clustering palm trees in
a tiny distant oasis were like re.
memberances that she watched
again with a feeling Of gladness
that was fuller and deeper than
anything that she had been con-
scious of before. She was radiantly
happy-happy in the sense OF her
youth and strength. her perfect
physical fitness, happy in the ca
pacity OF her power of enjoyment.
happy with the touch OF the keen,
nervous horse between her knees,
exhilarated with her new authority.
She had looked forward so eagerly.
and realization was proving in.
finitely greater than anticipation.
And for a whole month this perfect
happiness was to be hers. She
thought Of her promise to Aubrey
with impatience. To give up the
Joyous freedom of the desert for
the commonplace round OF Ameri-
can social life seemed preposterous.
The thought Of the weeks in New
York were frankly tedious: New.
port would be little less bad. for
there were alleviations. The only
hope was that Aubrey would find
the wife he was looking for quickly
and release her from an obligation
that was going to be very weari-
some. Aubrey was counting on
her, and It would be unsporting to
let him down: she would have to
keep her promise, but she would
be glad when II was over. Aubrey
married would settle definitely the
possibility Of any further disagree
ments between them. She wonder
ed vaguely what the future Lady
Mayo would be like, but she did
not expend much pity on her.
American girls as a rule Were well
able to care for themselves. She
stroked her horse with little
smile. Aubrey and his possible
wife seemed singularly unin.
teresting beside the VIVID interest
of the moment. A caravan that
had been visible for long time
coming toward them drew nearer.
and Diana refined in to watch The
long line OF slow. lurching camels
their disdainful tread ana long.
swaying necks, never failed to In.
terest her. II was a !srg. caravan;
the bales on the cameIs' backs
looked heavy. and beside tire mer.
chants on riding camels and n mot.
ley crowd OF followcrs-some on
lean little donkeys and others on
foot-there was an armed guard
OF mounted men. q took some
time to pass. One OF two OF the
camels carried huddled figures.
swathed and sha peless with a mul.
titude OF coverings. that Diana
knew must be women. The con.
trast between them and herself
was almost ridiculous. Il made
her feel stifled even to look a.
them. She wondered what their
lives were like, II thev ever T"hell.
ed against the drudRery and re.
strictions that were imposed upon
them. II they ever longed for the
freedom that she was reyelling in.
or II custom and usage were so
strong that they had no thoughts
beyond the narrow HE they led
The thought OF those lives filled
her with aversion. The idea OF
maria ge--even in its highest
form. based on mutual considera.
ton and mutual forbearance-was
repugnant to her. She thought OF
II with a shiver OF absolute repul-
sion. To Aubrey II was distaste-
full, but TO her cold, reserved tenn.
perament II was a thing OF hor.
ror and disgust Thas women
could submit TO the degrading in
timacy and fettered existence OF
married life filled her with scorn.
full wonder. To be bound irre-
vocably to the will and pleasure of
a man who would have the right
10 demand obedience in all that
constituted marriage and the
strength to enforce those claims
revolted her. For a Western WON.
an it was bad enough, but for the
women OF the East, mere slaves of
the passions OF the men who own
ed them, unconsidered, disregard.
ed, reduced to the leVal OF ami
mails, the bare idea made her
CULVER and bring her hand down
heavily on her horses neck. The
nervous creature started sharply
and she let him go, ealing 10 Mus
tafa Ali as she cantered past him.
He had ridden to meet the caravan
and was dismounted, deep in con.
versation with the chief Of the