what diantha did-第35章

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noisy　one；　and　late　that　evening；　when　all　was　still　again；　Diantha　came
to　the　dim　piazza　corner　once　more　and　sat　there　quite　alone。

Full　of　hope；　full　of　courage；　sure　of　her　progressand　aching　with
loneliness。

She　sat　with　her　head　in　her　hands；　and　to　her　ears　came　suddenly　the
sound　of　a　familiar　stepa　well…known　voicethe　hands　and　the　lips　of
her　lover。

〃Diantha！〃　　He　held　her　close。

〃Oh；　Ross！　　Ross！　　Darling！　　Is　it　true？　　When　did　you　come？　　Oh；　I'm　so
glad！　　So　_glad_　to　see　you！〃

She　was　so　glad　that　she　had　to　cry　a　little　on　his　shoulder；　which　he
seemed　to　thoroughly　enjoy。

〃I've　good　news　for　you；　little　girl；〃　he　said。　　〃Good　news　at　last！　
Listen；　dear；　don't　cry。　　There's　an　end　in　sight。　　A　man　has　bought　out
my　shop。　　The　incubus　is　offI　can　_live_　now！〃

He　held　his　head　up　in　a　fine　triumph；　and　she　watched　him　adoringly。

〃Did　youwas　it　profitable？〃　she　asked。

〃It's　all　exchange；　and　some　cash　to　boot。　　Just　think！　　You　know　what
I've　wanted　so　longa　ranch。　　A　big　one　that　would　keep　us　all；　and　let
me　go　on　with　my　work。　　And；　dearI've　got　it！　　It's　a　big　fruit　ranch；
with　its　own　waterthink　of　that！　　And　a　vegetable　garden；　too；　and
small　fruit；　and　everything。　　And；　what's　better；　it's　all　in　good
running　order；　with　a　competent　ranchman；　and　two　Chinese　who　rent　the
vegetable　part。　　And　there　are　two　houses　on　it_two_。　　One　for　mother
and　the　girls；　and　one　for　us！〃

Diantha's　heart　stirred　suddenly。

〃Where　is　it；　dear？〃　she　whispered。

He　laughed　joyfully。　　〃It's　_here！〃_　he　said。　　〃About　eight　miles　or　so
out；　up　by　the　mountains；　has　a　little　canyon　of　its　ownits　own　little
stream　and　reservoir。　　Oh；　my　darling！　　My　darling！〃

They　sat　in　happy　silence　in　the　perfumed　night。　　The　strong　arms　were
around　her；　the　big　shoulder　to　lean　on；　the　dear　voice　to　call　her
〃little　girl。〃

The　year　of　separation　vanished　from　their　thoughts；　and　the　long　years
of　companionship　opened　bright　and　glorious　before　them。

〃I　came　this　afternoon；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃but　I　saw　another　man
coming。　　He　got　here　first。　　I　thought〃

〃Ross！　　You　didn't！　　And　you've　left　me　to　go　without　you　all　these
hours！〃

〃He　looked　so　confident　when　he　went　away　that　I　was　jealous；〃　Ross
admitted；　〃furiously　jealous。　　And　then　your　mother　was　here；　and　then
those　cackling　girls。　　I　wanted　youalone。〃

And　then　he　had　her；　alone；　for　other　quiet；　happy　moments。　　She　was　so
glad　of　him。　　Her　hold　upon　his　hand；　upon　his　coat；　was　tight。

〃I　don't　know　how　I've　lived　without　you；〃　she　said　softly。

〃Nor　I；〃　said　he。　　〃I　haven't　lived。　　It　isn't　lifewithout　you。　　Well；
dearest；　it　needn't　be　much　longer。　　We　closed　the　deal　this　afternoon。　
I　came　down　here　to　see　the　place；　andincidentallyto　see　you！〃

More　silence。

〃I　shall　turn　over　the　store　at　once。　　It　won't　take　long　to　move　and
settle；　there's　enough　money　over　to　do　that。　　And　the　ranch　pays；
Diantha！　　It　really　_pays；_　and　will　carry　us　all。　　How　long　will　it
take　you　to　get　out　of　this？〃

〃Get　out　ofwhat？〃　she　faltered。

〃Why；　the　whole　abominable　business　you're　so　deep　in　here。　　Thank　God；
there's　no　shadow　of　need　for　it　any　more！〃

The　girl's　face　went　white；　but　he　could　not　see　it。　　She　would　not
believe　him。

〃Why；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃if　your　ranch　is　as　near　as　that　it　would　be
perfectly　easy　for　me　to　come　in　to　the　businesswith　a　car。　　I　can
afford　a　car　soon。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　there's　no　need　any　more；〃　said　he。　　〃Don't　you
understand？　　This　is　a　paying　fruit　ranch；　with　land　rented　to
advantage；　and　a　competent　manager　right　there　running　it。　　It's　simply
changed　owners。　　I'm　the　owner　now！　　There's　two　or　three　thousand　a
year　to　be　made　on　ithas　been　made　on　it！　　There　is　a　home　for　my
peoplea　home　for　us！　　Oh；　my　beloved　girl！　　My　darling！　　My　own
sweetheart！　　Surely　you　won't　refuse　me　now！〃

Diantha's　head　swam　dizzily。

〃Ross；〃　she　urged；　〃you　don't　understand！　　I've　built　up　a　good　business
herea　real　successful　business。　　Mother　is　in　it；　father's　to　come
down；　there　is　a　big　patronage；　it　grows。　　I　can't　give　it　up！〃

〃Not　for　me？　　Not　when　I　can　offer　you　a　home　at　last？　　Not　when　I　show
you　that　there　is　no　longer　any　need　of　your　earning　money？〃　he　said
hotly。

〃But；　deardear！〃　she　protested。　　〃It　isn't　for　the　money；　it　is　the
work　I　want　to　doit　is　my　work！　　You　are　so　happy　now　that　you　can　do
your　workat　last！　　This　is　mine！〃

When　he　spoke　again　his　voice　was　low　and　stern。

〃Do　you　mean　that　you　loveyour　workbetter　than　you　love　me？〃

〃No！　　It　isn't　that！　　That's　not　fair！〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃Do　you　love
your　work　better　than　you　love　me？　　Of　course　not！　　You　love　both。　　So
do　I。　　Can't　you　see？　　Why　should　I　have　to　give　up　anything？〃

〃You　do　not　have　to；〃　he　said　patiently。　　〃I　cannot　compel　you　to　marry
me。　　But　now；　when　at　lastafter　these　awful　yearsI　can　really　offer
you　a　homeyou　refuse！〃

〃I　have　not　refused；〃　she　said　slowly。

His　voice　lightened　again。

〃Ah；　dearest！　　And　you　will　not！　　You　will　marry　me？〃

〃I　will　marry　you；　Ross！〃

〃And　when？　　When；　dearest？〃

〃As　soon　as　you　are　ready。〃

〃Butcan　you　drop　this　at　once？〃

〃I　shall　not　drop　it。〃

Her　voice　was　low；　very　low；　but　clear　and　steady。

He　rose　to　his　feet　with　a　muffled　exclamation；　and　walked　the　length　of
the　piazza　and　back。

〃Do　you　realize　that　you　are　saying　no　to　me；　Diantha？〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　dear。　　I　have　said　that　I　will　marry　you　whenever　you
choose。　　But　it　is　you　who　are　saying；　'I　will　not　marry　a　woman　with　a
business。'〃

〃This　is　foolishness！〃　he　said　sharply。　　〃No　manthat　is　a　manwould
marry　a　woman　and　let　her　run　a　business。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；〃　she　answered。　　〃One　of　the　finest　men　I　ever　knew
has　asked　me　to　marry　himand　keep　on　with　my　work！〃

〃Why　didn't　you　take　him　up？〃

〃Because　I　didn't　love　him。〃　　She　stopped；　a　sob　in　her　voice；　and　he
caught　her　in　his　arms　again。

It　was　late　indeed　when　he　went　away；　walking　swiftly；　with　a　black
rebellion　in　his　heart；　and　Diantha　dragged　herself　to　bed。

She　was　stunned；　deadened；　exhausted；　torn　with　a　desire　to　run　after
him　and　give　upgive　up　anything　to　hold　his　love。　　But　something；
partly　reason　and　partly　pride；　kept　saying　within　her：　〃I　have　not
refused　him；　he　has　refused　me！〃



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　XIII。

ALL　THIS。


They　laid　before　her　conquering　feet
　The　spoils　of　many　lands；
Their　crowns　shone　red　upon　her　head
　Their　scepters　in　her　hands。

She　heard　two　murmuring　at　night；
　Where　rose…sweet　shadows　rest；
And　coveted　the　blossom　red
　He　laid　upon　her　breast。


When　Madam　Weatherstone　shook　the　plentiful　dust　of　Orchardina　from　her
expensive　shoes；　and　returned　to　adorn　the　more　classic　groves　of
Philadelphia；　Mrs。　Thaddler　assumed　to　hold　undisputed　sway　as　a　social
leader。

The　Social　Leader　she　meant　to　be；　and　marshalled　her　forces　to　that
end。　　She　Patronized　here；　and　Donated　there；　revised　her　visiting　list
with　rigid　exclusiveness；　secured　an　Eminent　Professor　and　a　Noted
Writer　as　visitors；　and　gave　entertainments　of　almost　Roman
magnificence。

Her　husband　grew　more　and　more　restive　under　the　rising　tide　of　social
exactions　in　dress　and　deportment；　and　spent　more　and　more　time　behind
his　fast　horses；　or　on　the　stock…ranch　where　he　raised　them。　　As　a
neighbor　and　fellow　ranchman；　he　scraped　acquaintance　with　Ross　Warden；
and　was　able　to　render　him　many　small　services　in　the　process　of
settling。

Mrs。　Warden　remembered　his　visit　to　Jopalez；　and　it　took　her　some　time
to　rearrange　him　in　her　mind　as　a　person　of　wealth　and　standing。　　Having
so　rearranged　him；　on　sufficient　evidence；　she　and　her　daughters　became
most　friendly；　and　had　hopes　of　establishing　valuable　acquaintance　in
the　town。　　〃It's　not　for　myself　I　care；〃　she　would　explain　to　Ross；
every　day　in　the　week　and　more　on　Sundays；　〃but　for　the　girls。　　In　that
dreadful　Jopalez　there　was　absolutely　_no_　opportunity　for　them；　but
here；　with　horses；　there　is　no　reason　we　should　not　have　friends。　　You
must　consider　your　sisters；　Ross！　　Do　be　more　cordial　to　Mr。　Thaddler。〃

But　Ross　could　not　at　present　be　cordi