The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-05


put that way. She had made plair
fool of herself, but at least she
would be honest about it.
And what did he say?"
"He said he wouldn't do 1t. He
was too proud to elope without any
money of his own"
ST perceive that the young mar
is not without sense"
ST hate hirn!" she f1ared.
"Oh, come, Diana! If he had
agreed you'd be preparing to elope
with him right now"
"I don't believe I would. If he
had agreed, probably would not
have gone"
st wish to God I were sure Of
that" Arthur Vane said, bluntly
Because as the thing stands don't
know that I want you to marry me
now"
Color swept to the roots Of the
girls hair.
mo one is asking YOU to marry
me. Our engagement is OFF,"
Don't be such a kid" the man
returned, YEARLY. Marriage is moi
a light affair. I am trying to get
to the root of this thing as best
can. To see why you are so quick
to change your mind" He added
"You see, I imagined you really
cared for me. Even after your out
burst this afternoon"
81 do"
Arthur frowned.
"You have queer way of show
ing it."
"It isn't" he insisted, "your send
ing for this boy or even the fact
that you kissed him. But to sug-
gest that you run away :"
Diana, now really repentant, slid
one hand down his arm.
"Oh, Arthur" she walled, at
sounds terrible when you put 1t that
way. I don't blame you for being
disguised. If T were you I'd go
right away and not waste any more
time with girl as silly as I am Is
He looked at her, keen1y.
Making fun OF me?"
"No! I'm sorry. But of course
being sorry doesn't change what
have DONE"
They had reached her door. Ar
thur, perplexed and dubious; Diana
in her most wistful mood.
"Will you come in and get your
ring?"
mol"
"But if we aren't going to be en-
gagged any more :"
'You said you didn't want to be-"
II know. Sometimes I'm afraid
I don't know my own mind"
Better to find it out now than
after we are married"
"But Arthur, I do love you. Truly
I do. I don't know why I've been
so foolish"
But he shock his head.
I'm afraid you've been playing
with me, Diana. I don't want you
to marry me unless you really care
he turned away.
"Are you going back to San Fran
cisco?"
mo, I am on my way East"
And you aren't going to see me
any more?"
II think not!"
She held out a cold, little hand
"Well,good-by- -
Inside the house she crept to her
room to lock her door and medi-
tate on the mistake she had made.
II only she had waited and not
rushed to Marion's in the afternoon.
Arthur would have come and ex-
planned and everything would have
been forgiven on both sides. She
took out the painting of her father
and gazed at it through tears OF
regret.
Were there wild impulses, like
little devils, which drove one to
hasty action? Which had, perhaps,
influenced Vivian? She knew now
that the last thing in the world she
wanted was to run away with Louis.
Yet why shouldn't Arthur distrust
her? She had admitted planning it.
Far the first time in her life she had
asserted herself and had immedi-
ately gotten in bad.
Was 1t not a warning to retreat
to the familiar direction of her
mother? Or to Arthur's arms? But
he did not want her now.
Elizabeth was shut in her room.
Lucy was preparing dinner to the
accompaniment of her mournful
songs. Diana slipped to the tele-
phone in the lower hall and, eau
tiously, called the hotel.
ARTHUR" she said, when he had
answered, won't you please come
back?"
"Are you sure you want me to,
Diana?"
eyes"
She replaced the receiver with