what diantha did-第38章
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〃You！〃 he said。
〃Yes； me。 Why not？ It's a good property。 I got it all fixed right；
and then I bought your little upstate shoplock； stock and barreland
gave you this for it。 A fair exchange is no robbery。 Though it would
be nice to have it all in the family； eh？〃
Ross was silent for a few turbulent moments； revolving this far from
pleasing information。
〃What'd I do it for？〃 continued the unasked benefactor。 〃What do you
_think_ I did it for？ So that brave； sweet little girl down here could
have her heart's desire。 She's established her businessshe's proved
her pointshe's won the townmost of it； and there's nothing on earth
to make her unhappy now but your pigheadedness！ Young man； I tell you
you're a plumb fool！〃
One cannot throw one's host out of his own swift…flying car； nor is it
wise to jump out one's self。
〃Nothing on earth between you but your cussed pride！〃 Mr。 Thaddler
remorselessly went on。 〃This ranch is honestly yoursby a square deal。
Your Jopalez business was worth the moneyyou ran it honestly and
extended the trade。 You'd have made a heap by it if you could have
unbent a little。 Gosh！ I limbered up that store some in twelve
months！〃 And the stout man smiled reminiscently。
Ross was still silent。
〃And now you've got what you wantedthanks to her； mind you； thanks to
her！and you ain't willing to let her have what she wants！〃
The young man moistened his lips to speak。
〃You ain't dependent on her in any senseI don't mean that。 You earned
the place all right； and I don't doubt you'll make good； both in a
business way and a scientific way； young man。 But why in Hades you
can't let her be happy； too； is more'n I can figure！ Guess you get your
notions from two generations backand some！〃
Ross began； stumblingly。 〃I did not know I was indebted to you； Mr。
Thaddler。〃
〃You're not； young man； you're not！ I ran that shop of yours a
yearbuilt up the business and sold it for more than I paid for this。
So you've no room for heroicsnone at all。 What I want you to realize
is that you're breaking the heart of the finest woman I ever saw。 You
can't bend that girlshe'll never give up。 A woman like that has got
more things to do than just marry！ But she's pining for you all the
same。
〃Here she is to…night； receiving with Mrs。 Weatherstonewith those
Bannerets； Dukes and Earls around herstanding up there like a Princess
herselfand her eyes on the door all the timeand tears in 'em； I
could swearbecause you don't come！〃
*
They drew up with a fine curve before the carriage gate。
〃I'll take 'em all homethey won't be ready for some time yet；〃 said
Mr。 Thaddler。 〃And if you two would like this car I'll send for the
other one。〃
Ross shook hands with him。 〃You are very kind； Mr。 Thaddler；〃 he said。
〃I am obliged to you。 But I think we will walk。〃
Tall and impressive； looking more distinguished in a six…year…old
evening suit than even the Hoch Geborene in his uniform； he came at
last； and Diantha saw him the moment he entered； saw； too； a new light
in his eyes。
He went straight to her。 And Mrs。 Weatherstone did not lay it up
against him that he had but the briefest of words for his hostess。
〃Will you come？〃 he said。 〃May I take you homenow？〃
She went with him； without a word； and they walked slowly home； by far
outlying paths； and long waits on rose…bowered seats they knew。
The moon filled all the world with tender light and the orange blossoms
flooded the still air with sweetness。
〃Dear；〃 said he； 〃I have been a proud foolI am yetbut I have come to
see a little clearer。 I do not approve of your workI cannot approve
of itbut will you forgive me for that and marry me？ I cannot live any
longer without you？〃
〃Of course I will；〃 said Diantha。
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER XIV。
AND HEAVEN BESIDE。
They were married while the flowers were knee…deep over the sunny slopes
and mesas； and the canyons gulfs of color and fragrance； and went for
their first moon together to a far high mountain valley hidden among
wooded peaks； with a clear lake for its central jewel。
A month of heaven； while wave on wave of perfect rest and
world…forgetting oblivion rolled over both their hearts。
They swam together in the dawn…flushed lake； seeing the morning mists
float up from the silver surface； breaking the still reflection of thick
trees and rosy clouds； rejoicing in the level shafts of forest filtered
sunlight。 They played and ran like children； rejoiced over their picnic
meals； lay flat among the crowding flowers and slept under the tender
starlight。
〃I don't see；〃 said her lover； 〃but that my strenuous Amazon is just as
much a woman asas any woman！〃
〃Who ever said I wasn't？〃 quoth Diantha demurely。
A month of perfect happiness。 It was so short it seemed but a moment；
so long in its rich perfection that they both agreed if life brought no
further joy this was Enough。
Then they came down from the mountains and began living。
*
Day service is not so easily arranged on a ranch some miles from town。
They tried it for a while； the new runabout car bringing out a girl in
the morning early； and taking Diantha in to her office。
But motor cars are not infallible； and if it met with any accident there
was delay at both ends； and more or less friction。
Then Diantha engaged a first…class Oriental gentleman； well recommended
by the 〃vegetable Chinaman；〃 on their own place。 This was extremely
satisfactory； he did the work well； and was in all ways reliable； but
there arose in the town a current of malicious criticism and
protestthat she 〃did not live up to her principles。〃
To this she paid no attention； her work was now too well planted； too
increasingly prosperous to be weakened by small sneers。
Her mother； growing plumper now； thriving continuously in her new lines
of work； kept the hotel under her immediate management； and did
bookkeeping for the whole concern。 New Union Home ran itself； and
articles were written about it in magazines； so that here and there in
other cities similar clubs were started； with varying success。 The
restaurant was increasingly popular； Diantha's cooks were highly skilled
and handsomely paid； and from the cheap lunch to the expensive banquet
they gave satisfaction。
But the 〃c。 f。 d。〃 was the darling of her heart； and it prospered
exceedingly。 〃There is no advertisement like a pleased customer；〃 and
her pleased customers grew in numbers and in enthusiasm。 Family after
family learned to prize the cleanliness and quiet； the odorlessness and
flylessness of a home without a kitchen； and their questioning guests
were converted by the excellent of the meals。
Critical women learned at last that a competent cook can really produce
better food than an incompetent one； albeit without the sanctity of the
home。
〃Sanctity of your bootstraps！〃 protested one irascible gentleman。 〃Such
talk is all nonsense！ I don't want _sacred_ mealsI want good
onesand I'm getting them； at last！〃
〃We don't brag about 'home brewing' any more；〃 said another； 〃or 'home
tailoring；' or 'home shoemaking。' Why all this talk about 'home
cooking'？〃
What pleased the men most was not only the good food； but its clock…work
regularity； and not only the reduced bills but the increased health and
happiness of their wives。 Domestic bliss increased in Orchardina； and
the doctors were more rigidly confined to the patronage of tourists。
Ross Warden did his best。 Under the merciless friendliness of Mr。
Thaddler he had been brought to see that Diantha had a right to do this
if she would； and that he had no right to prevent her； but he did not
like it any the better。
When she rolled away in her little car in the bright； sweet mornings； a
light went out of the day for him。 He wanted her there； in the
homehis homehis wifeeven when he was not in it himself。 And in
this particular case it was harder than for most men； because he was in
the house a good deal； in his study； with no better company than a
polite Chinaman some distance off。
It was by no means easy for Diantha； either。 To leave him tugged at her
heart…strings； as it did at his； and
