What Diantha Did

Here comes

he crest-ru

th water in be

old your breath! D

eight and the wash

for the

over a too-sordid presentation of the parental cla

done it!" but the space and time covered are generally as far beyond our pl

scussed, the daring offender might reconsider. Well-aired it certainly was, and widely discussed by the parents of the little town be

st as she opened the subject, by a man on a wheel-some wretched business about the store of course-and sent word that night that he could not come up

t right with him; she knew well what a blow it was. Now it was

for some years, felt it her duty to make a special appeal-or attack rather; and brought with

pitcher of lemonade for them-and having entered there was no escape. They harried her with questions, were increas

Delafield," she said with repressed intensity. "I am of age and live

oin' into-if one may inquire? Nothin you're as

it because she's ashamed of it?" the girl

her elders," said Mrs. Schlosster. "In my cou

d of her child by others; but she agreed to

ticism, inquiry and condemnation, and finally rose

e said with set lips. "I hav

none of their business! Not a shadow! Why should Mother sit there and let them ta

a pleasanter frame of mind. "With all their miserable little conventions and idiocies! A

rom her mother now and then, a growing quiet as their steps receded toward the

held the arms tight. "Now I'll have to take it again I su

re's Dr. Major;" and the girl was

all this I hear about you, young lady?" he demanded, holding her hand and looking h

tory, and as she faced him she cau

said, "Only I thought the Prodigal Son ju

in. "I'm going to ask you to excuse me, and go and lie down for

own her daughter for over fifteen years would have a restrain

tection, the father's instinct, the man's objection to a girl's adventure. But it was courteous, kind, and rationally put

alled

have to do. That's the way we learn my dear, that's the way we learn! Well-you've been a good child ever since I've known you. A remarka

ll tell them as soon as I'm settled. Then they can

then. And-yes, I guess I can furnish

n and he wrote, with a gr

mosphere. "Thank you!" she said earnestly. "Tha

me know," he said rising. "This Prod

first!" s

rom the window, "Don't go! We wan

way, his big hands clasped behind him; his head ben

d him. She would miss Dr. Major. But who was this approachi

d not seen very much of, but they had the sweet Southern manner, were always polite. Ross's mother she

I know just how you feel! You want to help my boy!

Madeline. "Mrs. Delafield dropped in just

deline put in. "And he wouldn't say

ed to bring him-but he said he'd got to g

hough!" said

rom one to the o

tably. "Have this rocker, Mrs. Warden-wo

ear supper time. No, we can't think of staying, of course not, no indeed!-But we had t

yes-and her mother's sad ones-all kind

nothing dreadful, Mrs. Warden. Plenty of girls go away

hy go

ere earning your

ing earning

protested variously, and Mrs. Warden

r wanting to leave Ross,

rying to keep her voice steady. "It is simply that

et patience, which reduced Diantha to the ba

ursued the gentle inquisitor; while the girls tried, "What do you wa

way. She could not make them see in a few moments that her plan was to do far more for her mother than she would otherwise ever be able to.

rembling lips. "I am extremel

little. "Cannot explain to me?

-anyone," said Mrs. Bell proudly, "But she does no

gratitude, but the words "made publi

rstand. I'm sure I should always wish my girls to feel so. Madeline-just show Mrs

r fall dressmaking done yet-and whether she found wash ribbon satisfactory. And present

d cried. "How splendid of you, Mother!" she sobbed. "How simply sp

er, "I'd rather not know i

enough, goodness knows-as it is! Its nothing wicked, or ev

ere's no stopping you. And I hate to argue with you-even for your own sake, bec

her!" sobbe

ime. But you are so young yet-and-well, I had hoped

sat up s

And those mortgages! I could wait and teach and save a little even with Father always losin

not surprised that her own plea was so

-what becomes of you, I'd like to know? What I can't stand is to have y

d had offered to get her a rainbow, "I know you mean it all for the best. But, O my deare

ion, and followed it up with heart-breaking sincerity. She caught the girl to her breast and

t uncertain, and they both looked

orgotten t

asked Mr. Bell,

cried Diantha springing to her f

," said Mrs. Henderson softly

plied her husband. "Moreov

imself in obvious patience: yet somehow this patience seemed to fi

s made of the change: but the tension in the atmosphere was sharply felt by the two women

hen the meal was over, and departed; and Mrs. Bell, after trying in

out under the moon. In that broad tender mellow light she drew a deep

red to herself, "That is I knew the

s, walked restlessly up and down the path outside, the dry pepper berries crush

lf, over and over, but at the botto

tood holding them, looking at her questioningly. Then he held her face between his palms and

rl! You haven't had a chance yet to really tell me about this thing, and I want you to right

cious after this day's trials-and before those further ones she could so well anticipate. She didn't wish to cry

er for-well, for a trip to the moon!" he added. "There isn't any agreement as to what you're goi

was too bad! your having to go off at that exact moment. Then I had to tell mother-bec

arling. I trust

ear. I have two, three, yes four, things to consider:-My

d, with a faint shade

your own," s

ttle Girl," he said. "I'

t if you don't want me to.

t isn't the first one-your own personal problem-a good dea

can't talk straight wh

But I'll be just as clear as I can. There are some years before us before we can be together. In that time I intend to go away and under

" he said. "Don't you propose t

ot yet dear! Let me try to s

otion of helping me-in my business? Helping me to take care of my family? Helping me to-

ly that?" she asked, holding her own head a little

he answered. "I cannot believe that the wom

w where there was a gold mine-knew it-and by going away for

I should,

ose cigar stores-or-some patent amusement specialty-or anything-that you k

but what has that to

, something worth while to do-and not only for us but for everybody-a real piece of progress-an

ld!" he said. "I don't for one moment doubt your noble purposes. But you don't get

er point of view th

ll have an easier one! And I'm having a hard time too-I don't deny it. But you are the greatest joy and comfort I have, dear-you know that. If you go away-it will be harder and slower and lon

w back. "Dear," she said. "If I deliberately do what

here-I can't go after you. I've nothing to pull you out of a scr

you-suffer-would you-would you rather be free?" Her voic

He caught her and held her a

f to me! You cannot leave me. Neither of us is f

if you thought it was your duty to go to the North Pole!" She held him a little way off.

ou-I see that. If you think this thing is your 'duty' you'll do it if it kills us all-and you too! If you have to go-I shall do nothing-ca

omised her the love she had almost feared to lose-and her whole carefully constructed pl

, surely, with tenderest happiness. She was leaning toward him-her hand was seeking his, when she heard through the fragrant silence a sound from her moth

e and ambition into a gray waste of ineffectual submissive labor-not only of her life, but o

ding out his arms to her. "You

esday on the 7.1