Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-04-29

Paris you promised to come and see
me directly you got back You
never came-you never would have
come if l hadn't met you in the woods
this morning l don't know why
you We come now. I stayed out pur-
posely because l thought you shouldn't
have to see me against your will. You
don't think l want to see you if you
don't want to see me, do you?"
Neither of them was aware that
the moment was not without its hum
orous side. He looked so much older
than she, and ther relationship had
been almost one of formality, she a
sick child, not knowing what she
wanted of life-perhaps wanting no
thing-and he a world-weary man
who had merely done his duty by heal
ing her against her wish or desire.
Diana went on, her voice raised a
little:
We'll, why don't you go? l don't
want you to stay. As you say, you've
done everything l can possibly wish
you to do for me-you've done what
your job is-more than you are paid
to do, l SUPPOSE.
He let the childish insult pass, and
she broke off for an instant, biting
her lip hard to hide its trembling, on
ly to rush on again: "Why didn't you
let me die? I didn't want to get well
-. I'm no good to anyone-there's
no place in the world where l seem
to be really wanted"
And then, as if suddenly realizing
how far she had lost her s~elf-control,
she hid her face in her hands.
Rathbone walked over to the win
dow, standing with his back to her, as
he said:
"You seem very determined to rake
up all my sins of omission, but don't
you think you are a little to blame
too? If you had had any-any real
regard for me would you have gone
prying into my private life-hoping
to discover some wretched secret
which you could triumphantly broad
cast among your friends when you got
back to town? If that is your idea of
friendship, it is not mine"
And then for some moments neither
of them spoke, till at last Rathbone
turned again.
"Forgive me for that, Diana. l have
no earthly right to talk to you like
this. It's absurd for me to be angry
with you-or with anyone. My life is
as l have made it; yours will be as
you make it; so try and build it out
of something solid that will stand
firmly through the bad days as well
as the good. Goodbye"
She felt him come close to her, felt
his hand for a moment on her Shout
der, heard him say again, Goodbye
-. Be happy" And then he was gone.
CHAPTER XIII
During the next week quite a lot
happened.
In the first place Diana's car ar
rived, and there was the renewed ex-
citement of driving it once more; driv-
ing it at terrific speed with the Crea-
ture silent and terrified beside her.
you'll break your neck" she gasp
ed once, and Diana laughed reckless
ly.
"That would save a lot of trouble
she said flippantly.
Then a second cable came from
Dennis Waterman to say that his de-
parture from America had been I'M
avoidably postponed for another fort
night.
LINDA, of course" Diana told her
self, but she did not care much; moth
ing seemed of great moment just then.
Miss Startling was going up to Lon
don< that evening to a lecture Oh some
thing or other. She had told Diana all
about it, but the girl had only listen
ed alf-heartedly wondering why peo-
pie should trouble to waste a railway
fare On anything SO dull.
She had offered to drive the Crea-
ture up to own in the car but her
refusal had been quick and decided.
"No, thank you; besides, I shall
have to come back by train
So it meant an evening alone.
Diana leaned on the gate and de-
cided that after all she hated the coun-
try. 1t would be fun to get into an
evening frock once more and dance
at the Savoy or Ciro's; fun to drive
home in the early hours of the morn
ing through brilliantly lit and almost
deserted streets: London was a wonder
city at night.
Did Rathbone ever take Resale
Something-or-other to London? Or was
it his idea of happiness always to keep