Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-06-03
NAN MADE
H8 64RuBYM N. AIRES [.:9T5

Of that sick, ashamed feeling that was
almost physical.
He wen on pleading, imploring, re-
minding her Of all they had been tt
one another-all they would yet be.
Diana put her hands over her ears.
She felt that it was more than she
could bear; she felt as if he were try
ing to strip her naked instead of try
ing to over and protect her, as Rath-
bone would have done.
She said at last, brokenly:
IF you only knew how you're
hurting me-"
He misunderstood that, eagerly
grasping it as a sign that he was to
be forgiven; he made the fatal mistake
of trying to take her in his arms.
Diana fled away from him, putting
the width of the little room between
them, staring at him with wild eyes.
Don't touch me-don't ever dare
to touch him again!" she stammered.
They stood looking at one another
as if they had been mortal enemies;
then Waterman said thickly:
IF l go away now, Diana -. |
! shall never come back"
Diana felt her lips twitching into
a smile, but she repressed it and an
swered gently:
"I'm sorry, Dennis-good-bye."
Waterman left the cottage with as
much dignity as he could command.
His conceit refused to allow him to
admit defeat; he and Diana had quar-
relied so often before, and she had
always been sorry. Soon-to-morrow
or the next day-there would come
a letter from her. He knew SO we'll
what its contents would be.
Her last night there, she received a
letter from DR.. Rathbone.
my dear Miss Gladwyn:
II saw Shurey this evening, and
he tells me you are returning to
London on Wednesday, so in case
we do not meet again before then,
|: and it is unlikely, seeing that dur
ing the next few days shall be
very busy, I want to impress upon
you to take great care of yourself
and not to overtax your strength
1 am afraid this will read rather
like a homily, but you must put it
down to my poor powers Of ex-
preston rather than to any other
cause. l want you always to look
on the bright side and believe that
life is very largely what we choose
to make it, in spite of disappoint-
ments and sacrifices. l am peach
ing to myself as much as to you,
seeing that we both have 10 learn
u lessons in the same hard school.
'If l were an eloquent man there
is so much l could say, bus 1 know
you will understand. Keep a brave
heart, and keep we'll. Goodnight
once again, Diana.
"Yours every,
DONALD RATHBONE.'
"P. S. l have added the post
script you spoke about on the Other
side"
Diana turned the page with a hand
that trembled; her heart seemed to be
turned to water, and there was a mist
before her eyes so that for a little
while she could hardly make out the
last words he had written.
They were:
"I lope once as l ive once.
What case is this to think or talk
about?
l love you."
CHAPTER Xxx
Diana's maid Anna drew the u
tains back with a sharp little rattle,
letting in the morning light.
She was still in London with Mrs
Gladwyn, as that lady had developed
a sciatic pain and at the same mo-
ment had discovered a wonderful Ger
man masseuse who, so she declared,
alone could cure it; so after all they
had not gone to Scotland.
Diana lay back on her pillows, let
ting the tea grow cold.
Six weeks-six months-six years
it was all the same.
Already she felt as if London sep
arated her SO completely from Miss
Startling and the cottage that it seem
ed as if she could never really have
been there, and at other times it SEEM
ed as if she were just in London mark
ing time for some miracle to happen
that would give her back the happi-
ness for which she longed.
She had heard nothing of Rathbone
since his letter: the letter to which
she had written a dozen-twenty re-
plies and destroyed them all.