Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-03-25
THIRD INSTALMENT
upon my word, Linda"
She laughed in cool unconcern

My dear boy, please dom pretend.
You forget that this isn't the first
TIME I've had to stand by and watch
you muddle your way out of an affair
like this. I don't-really care, except
for Diana's sake-she looks i'll, terri
bly, i'll"
Are you going to blame me for
that? Really, this is beyond a joke. l
suppose you're annoyed because l
brought her here to dinner. Perhaps
hat was stupid of me, but"
She came a step forward, her bright
eyes meeting his very directly.
eff you, want me to divorce you,
Dennis-I WILL" she said.
There was a moment of absolute 81
lence; then she went on, still in the
same Unconditional way:
II think I've grown a little tired of
this sort of life. We're neither married
nor unmarried, and after all, I'm still
young, and there are other men in the
world"
Other men-you mean $50.
slNever, mind what l mean. I'm
making you a fair offer. If you want
to marry Diana I'm willing to divorce
you. You'd better think it well over
before you refuse" she added with a
little ironical smile, because I baay
never be so generous again"
Dennis stuffed an oath. He looked
hot and angry as he went out of the
room.
Linda sighed and turned with a
smile as Diana returned. She had col
CURED her lips and her cheeks, and she
looked less worn, but there was a lit
tie defiant light in her eyes as she
came towards Linda.
II really feel terribly Apologize"
she said rather unsteadily.
Linda went with them to the door.
Don't keep her out too late, Den
MIS-" she said lightly. -"And ] hope
you'll have a good time," she added, a
hint of laughter IN her voice. Behind
Diana's back Dennis gave bis wife a
furious look; he felt that he was be-
ing made a fool Of, and the sensation
was not pleasant.
They rode in silence till h cab
stopped at the Savoy.
They went to the ballroom, which
was not at all crowded, and Dennis
ordered champagne.
He almost wished he had insisted
upon staying at the flat with Linda.
He reused himself with an effort and
touched Diana's hand.
DO you care to dance?"
AS you like"
She rose alphabetically, and they
joined the dancers.
The brilliant lights of the ballroom
blinded her, and the noise of the band
suddenly became d~eafening, driving her
half mad.
She gave a little foolish laugh.
"'Man made the town." she said
"the horrible, horrible town ...."
Then, with a little moaning cry, she
slipped to the floor at Dennis Water
mans feet.
CHAPTER w
Everything was so very quiet, as
if one had slipped out of life into the
infinite space where only the stars
hung against their dark background
and the cool winds blew.
She opened her eyes and looked
round the ROOM. Drawn blinds yelled
most of it from her, but she could
family pick out a flowered wall pa
per and the shadowy shape Of a dress
ing .table-an misunderstanding
dressing table in a chintz-and-muslln
~petpicoat.
That was queer, for she had never
seen a dressing table Like that since
she was quite a little girl, poking about
in a wooden workbox on her grand
mothers dressing table.
She was dreaming, of course
dreaming backwards into a past which
she had almost forgotten.
Such a queer world-different,
somehow -.
Diana tried to raise her head from
the pillow, but the effort was too
great, and she lay still for a Little, eyes
closed again, breathing heavily.
A hand on her wrist now-not
Aunt Gladwyn's hand-but n that
was firm and strong; a hand that
seemed to put new life and strength
into one . not like Dennis Water
mans hand, that only made ones
pulses jerk su~ffocatingly and filled
ones heart with unrest.
Diana gave a 6otle stifled cry. She
remembered row.: he was the doctor
from Harley Street whose eyes had
seemed to pierce through all the BRAY