what diantha did-第37章
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unseen。 The big； shabby； neglected estate began to turn into such a
fairyland as only southern lands can know。 The old live…oaks were
untouched； the towering eucalyptus trees remained in ragged majesty； but
an army of workmen was busy under guidance of a master of beauty。
One large and lovely building rose； promptly dubbed a hotel by the
unwilling neighbors； others； smaller； showed here and there among the
trees； and then a rose…gray wall of concrete ran around the whole； high；
tantalizing； with green boughs and sweet odors coming over it。 Those
who went in reported many buildings； and much activity。 But； when the
wall was done； and each gate said 〃No admittance except on business；〃
then the work of genii was imagined； and there was none to contradict。
It was a School of Theosophy； it was a Christian Science College； it was
a Free…Love Colony； it was a Secret Society； it was a thousand wonders。
〃Lot of little houses and one big one；〃 the employees said when
questioned。
〃Hotel and cottages；〃 the employers said when questioned。
They made no secret of it； they were too busy； but the town was
unsatisfied。 Why a wall？ What did any honest person want of a wall？
Yet the wall cast a pleasant shadow； there were seats here and there
between buttresses； and； as the swift California season advanced； roses
and oleanders nodded over the top； and gave hints of beauty and richness
more subtly stimulating than all the open glory of the low…hedged
gardens near。
Diantha's soul was stirred with secret envy。 Some big concern was about
to carry out her dream； or part of itperhaps to be a huge and
overflowing rival。 Her own work grew meantime； and flourished as well
as she could wish。
The food…delivery service was running to its full capacity； the girls
got on very well under Mrs。 Jessup； and were delighted to have a house
of their own with the parlors and piazzas all to themselves； and a
garden to sit in as well。 If this depleted their ranks by marriage； it
did not matter now； for there was a waiting list in training all the
time。
Union House kept on evenly and profitably； and Diantha was beginning to
feel safe and successful； but the years looked long before her。
She was always cheered by Mrs。 Weatherstone's letters； and Mrs。 Porne
came to see her； and to compare notes over their friend's success。 For
Mrs。 Weatherstone had been presented at Courtat more than one court；
in fact； and Mrs。 Weatherstone had been proposed to by a Dukeand had
refused him！ Orchardina well…nigh swooned when this was known。
She had been studying； investigating； had become known in scientific as
well as social circles； and on her way back the strenuous upper layer of
New York Society had also made much of her。 Rumors grew of her
exquisite costumes； of her unusual jewels； of her unique entertainments；
of her popularity everywhere she went。
Other proposals； of a magnificent nature； were reported； with more
magnificent refusals； and Orchardina began to be very proud of young
Mrs。 Weatherstone and to wish she would come back。
She did at last； bringing an Italian Prince with her； and a Hoch
Geborene German Count also； who alleged they were travelling to study
the country； but who were reputed to have had a duel already on the
beautiful widow's account。
All this was long…drawn gossip but bore some faint resemblance to the
facts。 Viva Weatherstone at thirty was a very different woman front the
pale； sad…eyed girl of four years earlier。 And when the great house on
the avenue was arrayed in new magnificence； and all Orchardinathat
daredhad paid its respects to her； she opened the season； as it were；
with a brilliant dinner； followed by a reception and ball。
All Orchardina cameso far as it had been invited。 There was the
Prince； sure enougha pleasant； blue…eyed young man。 And there was the
Count； bearing visible evidence of duels a…plenty in earlier days。 And
there was Diantha Bellreceiving； with Mrs。 Porne and Mrs。
Weatherstone。 All Orchardina stared。 Diantha had been at the
dinnerthat was clear。 And now she stood there in her soft； dark
evening dress； the knot of golden acacias nestling against the black
lace at her bosom； looking as fair and sweet as if she had never had a
care in her life。
Her mother thought her the most beautiful thing she had ever seen； and
her father； though somewhat critical； secretly thought so； too。
Mrs。 Weatherstone cast many a loving look at the tall girl beside her in
the intervals of 〃Delighted to see you's；〃 and saw that her double
burden had had no worse effect than to soften the lines of the mouth and
give a hint of pathos to the clear depths of her eyes。
The foreign visitors were much interested in the young Amazon of
Industry； as the Prince insisted on calling her； and even the German
Count for a moment forgot his ancestors in her pleasant practical talk。
Mrs。 Weatherstone had taken pains to call upon the Wardensclaiming a
connection； if not a relationship； and to invite them all。 And as the
crowd grew bigger and bigger； Diantha saw Mrs。 Warden at last
approaching with her four daughtersand no one else。 She greeted them
politely and warmly； but Mrs。 Weatherstone did more。
Holding them all in a little group beside her； she introduced her noble
visitors to them； imparted the further information that their brother
was _fiance_ to Miss Bell。 〃I don't see him；〃 she said； looking about。
〃He will come later； of course。 Ah； Miss Madeline！ How proud you all
must feel of your sister…in…law to be！〃
Madeline blushed and tried to say she was。
〃Such a remarkable young lady！〃 said the Count to Adeline。 〃You will
admire； envy； and imitate！ Is it not so？〃
〃Your ladies of America have all things in your hands；〃 said the Prince
to Miss Cora。 〃To think that she has done so much； and is yet so
youngand so beautiful！〃
〃I know you're all as proud as you can be；〃 Mrs。 Weatherstone continued
to Dora。 〃You see； Diantha has been heard of abroad。〃
They all passed on presently； as others came； but Mrs。 Warden's head was
reeling。 She wished she could by any means get at Ross； and _make_ him
come； which he had refused to do。
〃I can't； mother；〃 he had said。 〃You goall of you。 Take the girls。
I'll call for you at twelvebut I won't go in。〃
Mr。 and Mrs。 Thaddler were therebut not happy。 She was not； at least；
and showed it； he was not until an idea struck him。 He dodged softly
out； and was soon flying off； at dangerous speed over the moon…white
country roads。
He found Ross； dressed and ready； sulking blackly on his shadowy porch。
〃Come and take a spin while you wait；〃 said Mr。 Thaddler。
〃Thanks； I have to go in town later。〃
〃I'll take you in town。〃
〃Thank you； but I have to take the horses in and bring out my mother and
the girls。〃
〃I'll bring you all out in the car。 Come onit's a great night。〃
So Ross rather reluctantly came。
He sat back on the luxurious cushions； his arms folded sternly； his
brows knit； and the stout gentleman at his side watched him shrewdly。
〃How does the ranch go？〃 he asked。
〃Very well； thank you； Mr。 Thaddler。〃
〃Them Chinks pay up promptly？〃
〃As prompt as the month comes round。 Their rent is a very valuable part
of the estate。〃
〃Yes；〃 Mr。 Thaddler pursued。 〃They have a good steady market for their
stuff。 And the chicken man； too。 Do you know who buys 'em？〃
Ross did not。 Did not greatly care； he intimated。
〃I should think you'd be interestedyou ought toit's Diantha Bell。〃
Ross started； but said nothing。
〃You see； I've taken a great interest in her proposition ever since she
sprung it on us；〃 Mr。 Thaddler confided。 〃She's got the goods all
right。 But there was plenty against her hereyou know what women are！
And I made up my mind the supplies should be good and steady； anyhow。
She had no trouble with her grocery orders； that was easy。 Meat I
couldn't handleexcept indirectlya little pressure； maybe； here and
there。〃 And he chuckled softly。 〃But this ranch I bought on purpose。〃
Ross turned as if he had been stung。
〃You！〃 he said。
〃Yes； me。 Why not？ It's a good property。 I got it all fixed right；
and
