Newspapers / The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, … / May 12, 1932, edition 1 / Page 2
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MAN MADEnsTOWN NINTH INSTAiXJMLKNT Donald Rathbone had dined alone that night. He had heard Diana's car drive up but had merely thought it was on* of his own returning from the vil lage to which he had sent his chauf feur with a message. The dining room was on the far side of the house, and the heavy oak door was shut, so be heard nothing more till Diana'B terrified scream rent the silence, followed by that piteous cry upon his name. "Donald . . . !" Rathbone was out iu the hall al most before it had died away, but even then, for an instant, in the dim light he could hardly understand what was happening- Servants were rushing from other parts of the house, but it was Rath bone who dragged Nero away, al most throttling him in his iron grip, Rathbone who, throwing the dx>g aside into someone else's custody, lifted Diana in his arms. "Oh, my—God!" She looked up at him, her eyes half mad with terror, then with a little convulsive gesture she put her lacerated arms around his neck, clinging to him desperately for one heartbreaking moment before she fainted. He carried her into the study and laid her on the couch; his face was gray, and his breath came teariug from him as if it were he whp was suffering and not she. The chauffeur was in the room now, and the housekeeper, a middle aged woman with a quiet, capable fac6; and seeing that for a moment at least Rathbone was utterly un nerved, she fetched water and bran dy and gently bathed Diana's face and bleeding arms. It seemed an eternity to those around before she stirred a little and then opened her eyes; eyes still so terrified and wild that it was al most unbearable when she started up, crying and moaning afresh; "Donald . . . Donald . . . Save me!" He went on his knees beside her. "It's all right . . . I'm her e . don't be frightened . . • you're quite safe . . . it's all right ... I'm here . . . you're quite safe with me." He put his hand over her eyes for an instant as if to wipe the last terrible moments from he r memory, but she pushed him away, crying out like a frightened child — "He tried to kill me . ...he tried to kill me . . . oh, why didn't you come? . . . He tried t 0 kill me And then, with a shuddering sob: , "Oh, my arms . . . look at my arms!" It was a relief to them all when she slipped back into unconscious ness, but when Mrs. Farmer tried,to force brandy between her lips .Rath bone prevented her. . , "No, leave her alone." He dressed and bandaged her arms while she lay unconscious; he was as gentle as a woman, thorough and capable, but the sweat was standing in great beads on JWs fpre head. and his curious hard, breath ing alone broke the silence. When at last he had finished, Mrs. Farmer gave a little sob.,! > "Thank God her face isn't touched sir." Rathbone said nothing. H e stood looking down at Diana with a queer blank look in his eyes. Mrs. Farmer spok e again, hesitat ingly: "Shall we put her to bed, sir?" "Here?—in this house?—No, I'll take her home. When they brought the rug he wrapped Diana in it and lifted her in his arms, carrying her out to tbe car himself. He laid Her on the seat wWh a cushion beneath her head a!rid let down the windows to the cool night air. "Drive carefully," he said. The car moved slowly away. Rathbone sat opposite Diana, leaning a little forward, his hands gripped between his knees, staring at her. It was like some monstrous night mare from which he could not! free himself. How had it happened? Why had she come? Why, in God's name,'had she come, alone and at this time of night? The car stopped at Miss Starling's Expert Kodak Finishing: Leave films at following places: Turner Drag Co., Inc. Aberaethy's Choate & Browne Graham & Click Co. W. F. BURGISS Phone 70 cottage, and the chauffeur came to the door. Rathbone got out. -"Don't touch her," he said briefly. Rathbone went back into the pas sage and called the Creature's name, but there was no reply, and with a muttered imprecation he returned to the car. "The place seems deserted. I'll carry her in. G'o in the kitchen and get some hot water —and bring it upstairs to me," He laid Diana on her bed, clumsily pulling the quilt aside and then gently covering her with it, before he pulled the curtains back and opened the window wide. She stared up at him piteously for a moment before she whispered: "Am I going to die?" "No, my dear —no!" He went' on carefully, as if real izing the importance of every word. "You've got to be brave and try never t 0 think about it again. You've got to be very brave and trust me to look after you. Can you do that?" She nodded, slow tears falling down her face. "It —hurts so," she said. "Yes." She made a little move ment to wipe the tears from her face, but the pain in her arm was too great, and Rathbone took his own handkerchief and gently wiped them for her before he drew hfs arm from beneath her head and laid her back on the pillows. Her eyes sought his with fear. "I suppose, when I'm well —you'll go again?" "Go?— Where? 1 " "Not see me any more, I mean." He put his hand on hers for a moment: it was lik e her to touch his tenderness when he had been trying harshly to condemn her. "No. not if you still want me," he said. She said suddenly, with a ghost of he r old childish impertinence, "Poor Dr. Rathbone —you can't quite escape me can you?" "Have you thought I wished to?" She sighed. "I have thought so— yes." Away in the distance the church clock struck eleven. He asked, "Does that mean that I am still—a wall for you to lean against? Wasn't that what you called me?—a safe harbour, Diana?" She pressed his, hand in assent, the old sweet smile crossing her face as she looked up at him. The garden gate creaked, and Rathbone went over to the window, "That is Miss Starling," he said. "I'll just go down and see her; you don't mind being left now for a moment?" Downstairs she could hear him talking t 0 Miss Starling, and pres ently they came up together. Diana wondered if the creature could pos sibly have been crying, or if it was 'nst the night air had reddened her lids. She bent over Diana and rear ranged her pillows and the bed clothes with capable hands. "I'll make you nic e and comfy presently," she promised. She asked no questions, and Diana liked her better at that moment than ever before. "I'll just run away and take off my cloak and bonnet," she said practically, and went away. Rathbone stood at the foot of the bed. "Do you mind if I go now?" Rath bone asked. "I'll come in the morn ing—quite early." "You've been very kind." "And you won't worry?" "No." She looked up at him with such trustful eyes that moved by a sud den impulse which he could not control, Rathbone bent down and kissed her." A very gentle kiss on the fore head, just between her brows, and he turned away at once, but not be fore he had seen the look of hap piness that flashed Into her eyes. "Good-night," he said again, but when he reached the door she called him back to say: "I'm glad it wasn't 'good-bye' this time." He looked at her gravely % "I hope you'll always be glad," he said. CHAPTER XIV The day Dennis Waterman was due to arrive at Southampton Rath bone took the bandages from Diana's right arm. "And now there's something I want to say to you," Rathbone said brl«lfly Diana turned round, the old Beared look creeping into her eyes. "Something nasty?" "Nothing in the least nasty," he assured her. "Quite tb e contrary, in fact. It's just this —I want you to start going about again, to take an interest in your old life." She said slowly, her eyes on his face; 'When I went to see you that first THE ELKIN TRIBUNE. ELKIN. NORTH CAROLINA day in Harley Street, you told me that if I went on as I was going then, I should kill myself, and. now you are telling me to go back to it all." "But not at the same breakneck pace. Besides, you are so much better in every way than you were then, in spite of this last. "You cannot go on living here indefinitely, you know that. Diana, so the sooner you make a start the better. She took a step towards him. "Do you want to get rid of me?" she asked very directly. "Is that a fair question, do you think?" he asked. "Besides, it won't LYRIC THEATRE MML tt I |B" NEXT WEDNESDAY FCF FIKW IE J FAMILY SHOW SPECIAL GAB LE 'Single Handed Sanders' 1 r\ Admission 10c-15c g Sy Thursday and Friday, May 19th-20th — **AmM&EL twit JACKIE COOPER AND "CHIC" SALE IN LIf "WHEN A FELLLOW NEEDS A FRIEND" Ure kiddies! Admission K 10c-30c A Ypxxcsokiuyn-\tyct ncruu I WILLIAM HAINES MAY 23RD 24TH * Robert Montgomery - — IN MONDAY" >TI "LOVERS TUESDAY UL/UL&WC' COURAGEOUS" XWfli/l/l WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST! ; ,>H y° " \ be 'getting rid of you,' as you put it. I shall see you In London some times." "Only —sometimes?" He smiled rather constrainedly. "I know what is best for me," she said wilfully. He checked a smile. "And what is best for you?" he asked. rt To be where I am happiest," Diana said with troubled eyes. "And I am happiest where I know I shall see you most often." And then there followed a pro found silence which seemed as though it could never be broken, till rathbone said with an effort: "We must be very frank with each other this once, Diana, and then we'll never talk about it again. I know you won't misunderstand me when I say that my life was settled for me—or perhaps I settled it myself, whichever way you prefer •—many years ago, when you must have been only a schoolgirl. I can't go back on it. even if I wanted to. I've always felt that when a man takes certain responsibilities upon himself he should stand by them, whatever his inclinations, whatever conies between. I can't explain more definitely.' I haven't the right to. I can only hope you will under stand." He broke off, as if for a moment he had lost himself in the wistful beauty of her face. "She stood helplessly silent for a moment before she broke out with something of her old Impetuosity. "I wish I knew what it really is I feel about you; I wish I could ex plain, but I can't, and if I did, you wouldn't understand. Nobody would. But if I go back to London, as you say you want me to, there'll be other men again. I know that. You see—" she submitted rather pathetically—"l must do something —go about with someone. Aunt Gladwyn is kind, but we're not real ly friends. I know lots of girls like myself, but we don't any of us really care about each other. Then there's Eyes Examined Office: Glasses Fitted • Elkin National Bank Bid*. DRS. GREEN and DEANS OPTOMETRISTS Specializing in straightening cross eyes and correictlng errors of vision Examinations on Tuesdays and Fridays 1 to 5, 7 to 8:30 P. M. Thursday. May 12, 1932 Denies ... he arrives ID England today you know. I didn't tell you before, but he does." There was a sharp silence which Rathbone broke. "Are you glad, Diana?" "I don't know," she said almost in a whisper, and then, as he said nothing, she went on: "Everything is so different since I came here, I don't understand why. I've never had one single cocktail since I came here—no wonder my skin looks so nice." CONTINUED NEXT WEEK C. G. ARMFIELD Notary Public W. M. ALLEN LAW BUILDING
The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, N.C.)
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May 12, 1932, edition 1
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