Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-05-20
ELEVENTH INSTALMENT

wanted my freedom. At first I did
not, but afterwards-well, he is not
the only man in the world, and l am
still fairly young and attractive. Any
way, Dennis refused. l suppose it did
not suit his plans. l assure you that
he refused with outraged dignity. 1t
was a most amusing performance"
"He-refnsed," Diana said again.
She raised her tragic eyes to Linda's
unconcerned face. rs that really the
TRUTH" she asked painfully.
"why should l trouble % lie about
it,"
No, Linda would not trouble to lie
about it, Diana knew.
Linda said with some feeling, "I'm
sorry if I've hurt you. I'd hate to do
that. I've been hurt myself so often
and 50 much"
She broke off, turning with swift
welcome to greet a middle-aged gray
haired mar who came through the
swing doors, and Diana saw him take
her hand, heard him say, "Well, my
DEAR" saw the look they exchanged,
and knew that she was quite forgotten.
CHAPTER XVI
They went on into the restaurant
and when they had gone Diana SEEM
ed to come to life. She must get away,
hat was her n panic-stricken
thought. She must get away before
Dennis came. She could never bear to
meet him any more.
She would go back to the Creature
she would be safe with her. She
thought of the little cottage and of
her own room with almost passionate
longing; not soon enough could she get
away firm London.
She sat far back in a corner Of the
cab, terrified still lest some freak of
Fate should bring her face to face
with Waterman. She only breathed
freely when she was safely at the rail
road station.
.sWhar time i, the next train,
p~lease?"
Zone due now, miss-first stop
Guiiford. II you run you will Just
catch it,.
Diana ran. Her long skirts ham
pered her, and she caught them up
anyhow, with impatient inelegance;
she would die rather than miss that
train.
The guard had already blown his
whistle, but a friendly porter dashed
forward and wrenched open a carriage
door for her, assisting her with clum-
sy willingness.
Someone shouted peremptorily,
Stand away there; stand away"
But Diana only laughed hysterical-
ly, as a man who was already seated
in the carriage sprang to his feet and
caught her firmly by her shoulders as
she tripped over her long frock and
almost fell.
He began to say, "That was a mar
row shave" then broke off to
speak her name in hoarse amazement.
"Diana!" 1t was Donald Rathbone.
Diana collapsed onto the seat oppo-
site him, breatless and exhausted.
She moved her head from side to
side with a dull feeling of suffocation,
and Rathbone. said quickly:
How far have you been running?
What is the matter, Diana?"
Nothing" She laughed harshly.
"Oh, nothing, except that once more
I've discovered hat life is only a rot
ten, beastly sham"
He let that pass, and she went on
in quick, excited tones:
Were always wrong about peo-
pie, no matter how we'll we think we
know them. I'll never believe in any.
one again as long as I live"
She had been wrong about Linda
too; somehow she had always respect
ed Dennis's wife and envied her her
poise and integrity even though she
had once so foolishly hated her, and
now she had discovered that Linda
was playing the same game as the
rest of the world, meeting another man
secretly, lying about it to her husband
(not that that mattered!) in a fugi-
tive chase after the elusive sham call
ed Love which, even if you caught up
with it, never gave you any real peace
or satisfaction, but only turned to
rend you.
''I'll never believe in anyone again
as long as 1 live" Diana cried, pas
sionately, and covering her face with
her hands she began to sob.
Rathbone sat very still, his head
averted. He could see that Diana was
utterly overweight and knew that
she must have received a severe shock,
but he saw it was o yet the mo-