The Washington times., 1922-05-22

with her fingers on the table.
Don't quibbie. You know per-
tectly well that you are good look
ing-too good looking to carry
through this preposterous affair"
"Wir you please tell me what
you are driving ar" she asked
quietly. But the dark blue eyes
fixcd on her brothers face were
growing darker as she looked at
him.
i've been doing some hard
thinking today. Diana. This tour.
you propose is impossible.
Isn't Il rather late in the dsy
to find that out7" she interrupted
sarcastically: but he ignored the
interruption.
You must see for yourself. now
that you are face to face with the
thing. that It's impossible. It's
quite unthinkakle that you can
wander for the next month all
alone in the desert With those
damned nisgsrs. Though my legal
guardianship over you terminated
last September I still have some
moral obligations towards you.
Though It has been convenient for
me to bring you up as a boy and
to regard you in the light OF a
younger brother instead Of a sister.
we cannot set away from the fact
that you are a woman, and a very
young woman. There are certain
things q young woman cannot do.
II you had been the boy always
wished you were II would have
BEEN a different matter. but you
are not a boy. and the whole thing
Is mpossiblo-utterly impossible"
There was q fretful impatience In
his voice.
Diana lit a cigarette slowly, and
swung around on her chair with
a hard laugh. III I had not lived
with you all my life, Aubrey.
should really be impressed with
your brotherly solicitude: 1 should
think you really meant 1t. But
knowing you as ] do, ! know that
1t 10 not anxiety oil my behalf that
10 prompting you, but the disin.
clination that you have to travel
alone without me. You have como
to depend on me to save you Ger.
tain annoyances and inconvenience
that always occur in travelling.
You were more honest in Biskra
when you only objected to my
trip without giving reasons.
Why have you waited until to.
night to give me those reasons7"
Because I thought that here,
at least. you would have sense
enough to see them. In Biskra
It was impossible to argue with
you. You made your own
arrangements against my wishes.
1 left 1t, feeling convinced that
the impossibility OF It would be
brought home to you here, and
that you would see for yourself
that II was out Of the question.
Diana. give up this insane trip"
II will not"
I've a laundering good mind
to make you"
You can't. I'm my own mis-.
tress. You have no right over
me at all. You have no claim on
me. You haven't even that of
ordinary brotherly effection. for
you have never given me any,
30 you cannot expect IL from me.
We needn't make any pretense
about II. am not going to
argue any more. will not 20
back to Biskra"
"It you are afraid Of being
laughed at" he sneered; but she
took him up swiftly.
IT am not afraid of being
laughed at. Only towards are
afraid Of that. and l am not a
coward"
Diana, listen to reason"
Aubrey have said my last
word. Nothing will alter my
determination to go on this trip.
Your arguments do not convince
me, who know you. 1t is your
own considerations and not mine
that are at the bottom of your
'remonstrances. You do not deny
It. because you can't, because II
10 true
They were facing each other
across the little table. An angry
flush rose in Sir Aubrey's face.
and his eyeslass fell with a little
sharp tinkle against a waistcoat
button.
You're a damned obstinate lit
tie devil !" he said furiously.
She looked at him steadily. her
scornful mouth firm as his won.
II am what you have made me
she said slowly. why quarrel
with the result? You have
brought me up to ignore the re.
strictions attached to my sex; you
now round on me and throw
"a.