Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-06-10
FOURTEENTH INSTALMENT

A4A A1NS1 ALMENl
Diana had been idly watching tn
scene before her, her thoughts IA
away, but at the sound of that nam
her slender body stiffened, and he
face went as white as her gown.
mo -. no no -" Her hear,
cried out in passionate protest <ver
as her dilated eyes met Rathbone,
across the long room.
And she had been afraid that sb,
was beginning to forget him!
Forget him! Forget his big, pow
erful body against which she had ono.
been held in such perfect Happiness.
and peacee His grave steady eyes, snc
the mouth that looked as if il rarely
smiled? ,
He did not smile now. though a
little flash passed across his sombre
eyes before he turned to greet hi,
hostess.
1t seemed an eternity to Diana be-
fore Rathbone began to make his wav
across to her. He seemed to know a
great many people, many of whom
stopped to engage him in converse
ton.
Rathbone was beside her now, but
he made no attempt to take her hand,
and she did not offer it.
'Good-evening, Miss Gladwyn."
Diana raised eyes that were ;nfin-
itely pathetic, because they fought so
hard for indifference.
"Good-evening, DR.. Rarhbone.~
"A great rock in a weary land.
How silly to think of that now, and
yet-oh, how wonderful to feel once
again the peace and safety of his pres
ence!
Il hope you are well?" he said for
mally.
Eyes, thank you"
"Quite well?"
She tried to answer, but now that
suffocating feeling had mastered her,
and she could only nod silently.
Then someone came and took him
away.
At dinner he was a long way from
her; he sat Or Mrs. Fosters left hand
with the great newspaper magnare on
her right; evidently Rathbone was the
second most important guest.
The dinner was endless; to Diana's
overweight Imagination, the long
table seemed to grow longer till Rath-
bone appeared to be separated from
her by miles,; course after course fel-
lowed one another in terrible monot-
ony. How could people go on eating
tr such-bonrs!
She almost said, Thank God," when
at last the ordeal was ended.
Rathbone would come and talk to
her now, she was sure; he would find
some way of shaking off all the other
people, and he would come to her, and
he would say something that would
stop this dreadful pain. He would
know what she was suffering; per-
haps he was suffering equally himself.
But though she watched the door
of the great unfriendly drawing room
with strained eyes till the men began
to appear, Rathbone was not among
them.
Then she learned that Rathbone had
been called away suddenly on an ur-
gent call.
He had gone without eve saying
goodbye to her.
CHAPTER XXI
Anna had been waiting up for her
She said with unusual kindliness In
her voice:
81 should go t bed and try ana get
some sleep"
II couldn't Sleep" Diana saiG.
LET me give you something to make
you sleep-some of that draught yor
used to take before you were i'll. 70,
must sleep, Miss Diana"
Anna came back with the sleeping
draught and Diana took it and allow
ed herself to be put to bed.
"Ill be close by, if you want me,
she said.
Something in her tone Of voice mad
Diana think suddenly Of Miss Star
ling, and an almost childish longing
for her and for the peace Of her ittl
room at the cottage awoke in he
heart.
How amazed the Creature would b
if she could know!
Diana sat up in bed, rocking hersel
to and fro.
She wished she could cry, but he
eyes felt too hot and burning to ALLOW
the relief of tears.
Were other girls made to suffer lk
H.. +La,y +oo wise to alloy