Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-04-15
SIXTH INSTALMENT

He only wishes she would, but she
won't, and So" She stopped sud-
denly, feeling rather foolish.
"And so-what?" Rathbone asked.
And so," Diana rushed on reck-
lessly, "as soon as he comes home and
Pm we'll enough, Pm going away with
him."
81 see. Well, if he's a decent fell
She gave a little strangled cry.
II thought you would lecture me |
thought you would try to prevent me
from going.
The ghost Of a smile lit his eyes.
II prevent you? Why should l? Do
you think l flatter myself that I could
prevent you from doing anything you
wish-once you are well?"
She looked a little sullen.
"No, but l thought you might try"
she said ingeniously.
He went back to his old position of
leaning on the bed rail, his hands loose
ly clasped together before him.
"No lecturing in the world has ever
yet stopped a woman who is in love
from doing what may seem foolish to
other people," he said quietly.
"You think it would be foolish?' she
insisted.
ITO go away and live with a man
who is already married and who can
not get his freedom?" he queried.
"Well, it all depends. In your place
should be afraid that if he had already
wearied of one woman it would not be
difficult for him to weary of another
"He never loved his wife"
"That is what he tells you. That is
what all men tell all women in the
circumstances you describe"
"You seem to know a great deal
about it,.
Rathbone stood up. He looked in
finitely weary all at once.
"Then you must be prepared for
him to grow tired of what, after all,
can never be anything more than an
ordinary ~liaison. I've seen so many OF
chem, and they all end badly. 1t seems
a pity-you are too good to be vast
ed on that sort of thing as you call
it. l wonder you don't think SO too"
She said sullenly, but with flushing
cheeks ,"Only the other day you told
me you doubted if I was worth trying
to keep alive.
did l? Perhaps I've changed my
mind. Is there anything else you want
to say t me before l go?"
"You're not going already?'
ri think I'd better-before | make
you too angry.
"I'm not angry" she said. II like
you, though nobody has ever been so
so brutal to me as you have"
isn't frank a truer word?"
"Perhaps-but sometimes frankness
can be brutal"
She was sitting up in bed, her chin
resting on her hunched-up knees, her
big eyes fixed on his face. "But l like
you," she said again seriously. when
ever you come into the room it's like a
breath of country air..
He laughed, though he looked a lit
tie embarrassed, and took his leave.
CHAPTER TX
Diana grew we'll with much greater
rapidity than either Rathbone or the
Creature had expected.
In a weeks time she was getting up
after her breakfast, dressing herself,
and spending long hours in the tiny
garden of the little house.
Mrs. Gladwyn sent some stocks OF
books and enough illustrated papers to
keep the entire village occupied a
month.
She also sent large boxes Of cboco-
lates and expensive fruit which Diana
gave to the village children who came
to stare at her shyly through the gate.
There was no back garden to the cot
tage, only the long straight plot in
front, with a high clipped hedge that
shut it out from the narrow lane.
One day Miss Startling said. II don't
think it is altogether nice Of you to
encourage hat boy SO much. He al
ready has ideas far above his station"
What boy?" Diana asked, though
she knew perfectly we'll to whom the
Creature referred.
1.-THE boy from the Meadow Farm"
Miss Startling explained. "Jonas, don't
they call him? He is only a pupil to
Mr.. Shurey, learning farming like any
labourer."
Diana laughed in frank amusement.
"But he's only seventeen, at the
most" she objected. "Just a lad-and
he amuses me-goodness knows there
are not many amusing people in the