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 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…for