The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-03
CHAPTER VII

lie BTOdIlCO do 41O 0e'" AASA --o~~o
ment ring.
II see it's true, all right! Well,
I wish you JOY"
Tears rose to Diana's eyes as ne
turned to leave the porch.
Don't be angry with me, LOUISE!
What do you care? It's nothing
to you what I think" =,
- suppose it shouldn't be :.
He swung about, seizing her hands.
eos, darling, do you mean it is?''
HIS fierce grasp hurt yet COM
forted her.
"Of course, care for your good
opinion
He muttered, st don't see why you
should when you're engaged to
HIM"
Diana, reminded of that fact,
withdrew her hands.
"Now, let's be sensible" she said,
more calmly. tits true that I am
going to marry Arthur. But have
no desire to quarrel with you, Louis,
dear. We couldn't have even been
engaged for years and years"
'Why remind me of it?"
$50 that you'd understand. I
wouldn't wait that long for any
man"
"Why not? You're not so old"
Diana sighed. How was she ever
to make him understand? Why was
it so necessary that she should?
"I want to be married." she said,
dafiantly. "It's the only way can
ever get away and see anything.
If I lived to be a hundred and was
not married, mother would never let
me out of her sight"
Louis was watching her face,
curiously.
That's fine reason" he said,
when she had finished. 81 shouldn't
thank any girl to marry me like
that"
The girl flushed as he continued,
scornfully. "Of course, that's for
Arthur Vane to worry over"
What do you mean? I didn't
say anything against Arthur"
He seized her again, forcing her
down into the porch swing.
you didn't say anythin g
AGAINST him. No! But neither
did you say you loved him. That's
supposed to be the reason a girl
marries, isn't it?"
Again doubt was surging in Di-
ana's heart. But she answered,
% I1|- T
of that to you"
why not?"
Suddenly she began to cry.
Darling. you're crying because
you don't love him."
I'm not"
you are" he insisted, wildly.
"And I wont let you go on with it."
But must. I want to-
Then you're a fool" he cried,
cruelty, and pushed her away. Both
rose.
IF you insist on being hateful to
Il insist on being frank. You're
a cold-blooded little huntress, Di-
ana, deadly sure of your aim. But
some day you'll regret It'll"
Don't, Louis!"
Il suppose" he added, bitterly,
that you think I am a damned
poor loser. Perhaps I am, but at
least I wouldn't play the rotten
game you're playing"
He f1ounced down the steps and
Diana, f1nging herself into the
porch swing, sobbed violently.
1t was terrible the way Louis
talked to her. How dared he in
Sinuate such things? She was sweet
to the boys. She liked attention.
Why not? Could she help it if the
evening often enGed in a scene? She
loved to dance and ride and play
with them. 1t was exciting even to
have them BEGIN to make love. But
no nice girl liked to be paved. q
She hated Louis. He had implied
that she didn't love Arthur. She did
love him. Of course, she loved
Elizabeth, returning at 10 o'clock,
found the daughter whose engage
ment she had just announced
drenched with tears.
I'm not going to marry ANY
ONE" Diana asserted, stormily.
Don't be temperamental, daugh-
ter. What in the world has hap
pened?"
Diana, refusing to answer, stalked
like tragedy queen to bed. She
had decided definitely to break her
engagement in the morning.
But with daylight came sanity.
Why had she been so upset over
the things Louis had said? He
knew he could hurt her and he had
done so, deliberately. AS only Louis
could. She was amazed that she
had taken him so seriously. After
all, her reason for marrying Arthur
did not concern him.
BY the time she was dressed she
felt more certainty than she had
since accepting Arthur's ring. She
greeted her mother, cheerfully
Elizabeth looked as if she had not
slept.
"Are you feeling better this morn
ing, daughter?"
Diana leaned over to kiss the
plump cheek.
Absolutely, mother. I don't know
what was the matter with me last
night"
Her mother perked up.
Girls are apt to feel that way
before they are married." she said
wisely. tits only natural. >
From that time Diana threw her.
self into her engagement i.eart and
soul Louir would have said she
worked at it." Dramatizing her
self as only a young girl can, she
played up to her idea of a f1ancee