what diantha did-第36部分

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me！not　just　put　up　with　it；　and　bear　it！　　I　want　him　to　_feel_　with
meto　care。　　It　is　awful　to　know　that　all　this　big　life　of　mine　is　just
a　mistake　to　himthat　he　condemns　it　in　his　heart。〃

〃But　you　knew　this　from　the　beginning；　my　dear；　didn't　you？〃

〃YesI　knew　itbut　it　is　different　now。　　You　know　when　you　are
_married_〃

Mrs。　Weatherstone　looked　far　away　through　the　wide　window。　　〃I　do　know；〃
she　said。

Diantha　reached　a　strong　hand　to　clasp　her　friend's。　　〃I　wish　I　could
give　it　to　you；〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　done　so　much　for　me！　　So　much！　
You　have　poured　out　your　money　like　water！〃

〃My　money！　　Well　I　like　that！〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　〃I　have　taken　my
money　out　of　five　and　seven　per　cent　investments；　and　put　it　into　ten
per　cent　ones；　that's　all。　　Shall　I　never　make　you　realize　that　I　am　a
richer　woman　because　of　you；　Diantha　Bell　Warden！　　So　don't　try　to　be
gratefulI　won't　have　it！　　Your　work　has　_paid_　rememberpaid　me　as
well　as　you；　and　lots　of　other　folks　beside。　　You　know　there　are
eighteen　good　imitations　of　Union　House　running　now；　in　different
cities；　and　three　'Las　Casas！'　all　succeedingand　the　papers　are
talking　about　the　dangers　of　a　Cooked　Food　Trust！〃

They　were　friends　old　and　tried；　and　happy　in　mutual　affection。　　Diantha
had　many　now；　though　none　quite　so　dear。　　Her　parents　were
contentedher　brother　and　sister　doing　wellher　children　throve　and
grew　and　found　Mama　a　joy　they　never　had　enough　of。

Yet　still　in　her　heart　of　hearts　she　was　not　wholly　happy。

*

Then　one　night　came　by　the　last　mail；　a　thick　letter　from　Rossthicker
than　usual。　　She　opened　it　in　her　room　alone；　their　roomto　which　they
had　come　so　joyously　five　years　ago。

He　told　her　of　his　journeying；　his　lectures；　his　controversies　and
triumphs；　rather　brieflyand　then：

〃My　darling；　I　have　learned　something　at　last；　on　my　travels；　which　will
interest　you；　I　fancy；　more　than　the　potential　speed　of　all　the
guinea…pigs　in　the　world；　and　its　transmissability。

〃From　what　I　hear　about　you　in　foreign　lands；　from　what　I　read　about　you
wherever　I　go；　and；　even　more；　from　what　I　see；　as　a　visitor；　in　many
families；　I　have　at　last　begun　to　grasp　the　nature　and　importance　of
your　work。

〃As　a　man　of　science　I　must　accept　any　truth　when　it　is　once　clearly
seen；　and；　though　I've　been　a　long　time　about　it；　I　do　see　at　last　what
brave；　strong；　valuable　work　you　have　been　doing　for　the　world。　　Doing
it　scientifically；　too。　　Your　figures　are　quoted；　your　records　studied；
your　example　followed。　　You　have　established　certain　truths　in　the
business　of　living　which　are　of　importance　to　the　race。　　As　a　student　I
recognize　and　appreciate　your　work。　　As　man　to　man　I'm　proud　of
youtremendously　proud　of　you。　　As　your　husband！　　Ah！　my　love！　　I　am
coming　back　to　youcoming　soon；　coming　with　my　Whole　Heart；　Yours！　
Just　wait；　My　Darling；　till　I　get　back　to　you！

〃Your　Lover　and　Husband。〃

Diantha　held　the　letter　close；　with　hands　that　shook　a　little。　　She
kissed　itkissed　it　hard；　over　and　overnot　improving　its　appearance
as　a　piece　of　polite　correspondence。

Then　she　gave　way　to　an　overmastering　burst　of　feeling；　and　knelt　down
by　the　wide　bed；　burying　her　face　there；　the　letter　still　held　fast。　　It
was　a　funny　prayer；　if　any　human　ear　had　heard　it。

〃Thank　you！〃　was　all　she　said；　with　long；　deep　sobbing　sighs　between。　
〃Thank　you！Othank　you！〃






End