what diantha did-第29章

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Diantha　sighed　in　absolute　appreciation。

〃Fine；　isn't　it？〃　said　Mr。　Porne。

〃How　do　you　like　the　architecture？〃　asked　Mrs。　Porne。

〃What　do　you　think　of　my　investment？〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　Diantha
stopped　in　her　tracks　and　looked　from　one　to　the　other　of　them。

〃Fact。　　I　control　the　stockI'm　president　of　the　Hotel　del　las　Casas
Company。　　Our　friends　here　have　stock　in　it；　too；　and　more　that　you
don't　know。　　We　think　it's　going　to　be　a　paying　concern。　　But　if　you　can
make　it　go；　my　dear；　as　I　think　you　will；　you　can　buy　us　all　out　and　own
the　whole　outfit！〃

It　took　some　time　to　explain　all　this；　but　the　facts　were　visible
enough。

〃Nothing　remarkable　at　all；〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　〃Here's　Astor　with
three　big　hotels　on　his　handswhy　shouldn't　I　have　one　to　play　with？　
And　I've　got　to　employ　_somebody_　to　manage　it！〃

*

Within　a　year　of　her　marriage　Diantha　was　at　the　head　of　this　pleasing
Centre　of　Housekeeping。　　She　kept　the　hotel　itself　so　that　it　was　a　joy
to　all　its　patrons；　she　kept　the　little　houses　homes　of　pure　delight　for
those　who　were　so　fortunate　as　to　hold　them；　and　she　kept　up　her　〃c。　f。
d。〃　business　till　it　grew　so　large　she　had　to　have　quite　a　fleet　of
delivery　wagons。

Orchardina　basked　and　prospered；　its　citizens　found　their　homes　happier
and　less　expensive　than　ever　before；　and　its　citizenesses　began　to　wake
up　and　to　do　things　worth　while。

*

Two　years；　and　there　was　a　small　Ross　Warden　born。

She　loved　it；　nursed　it；　and　ran　her　business　at　long　range　for　some　six
months。　　But　then　she　brought　nurse　and　child　to　the　hotel　with　her；
placed　them　in　the　cool；　airy　nursery　in　the　garden；　and　varied　her　busy
day　with　still　hours　by　herselfthe　baby　in　her　arms。

Back　they　came　together　before　supper；　and　found　unbroken　joy　and　peace
in　the　quiet　of　home；　but　always　in　the　background　was　the　current　of
Ross'　unspoken　disapproval。

Three　years；　four　years。

There　were　three　babies　now；　Diantha　was　a　splendid　woman　of　thirty；
handsome　and　strong；　pre…eminently　successfuland　yet；　there　were　times
when　she　found　it　in　her　heart　to　envy　the　most　ordinary　people　who
loved　and　quarreled　and　made　up　in　the　little　outlying　ranch　houses
along　the　road；　they　had　nothing　between　them；　at　least。

Meantime　in　the　friendly　opportunities　of　Orchardina　society；　added　to
by　the　unexampled　possibilities　of　Las　Casas　（and　they　did　not　scorn
this　hotel　nor　Diantha's　position　in　it）；　the　three　older　Miss　Wardens
had　married。　　Two　of　them　preferred　〃the　good　old　way；〃　but　one　tried
the　〃d。　s。〃　　and　the　〃c。　f。　d。〃　and　liked　them　well。

Dora　amazed　and　displeased　her　family；　as　soon　as　she　was　of　age；　by
frankly　going　over　to　Diantha's　side　and　learning　bookkeeping。　　She
became　an　excellent　accountant　and　bade　fair　to　become　an　expert　manager
soon。

Ross　had　prospered　in　his　work。　　It　may　be　that　the　element　of
dissatisfaction　in　his　married　life　spurred　him　on；　while　the　unusual
opportunities　of　his　ranch　allowed　free　effort。　　He　had　always　held　that
the　〃non…transmissability　of　acquired　traits〃　was　not　established　by　any
number　of　curtailed　mice　or　crop…eared　rats。　　〃A　mutilation　is　not　an
acquired　trait；〃　he　protested。　　〃An　acquired　trait　is　one　gained　by
exercise；　it　modifies　the　whole　organism。　　It　must　have　an　effect　on　the
race。　　We　expect　the　sons　of　a　line　of　soldiers　to　inherit　their
fathers'　courageperhaps　his　habit　of　obediencebut　not　his　wooden
leg。〃

To　establish　his　views　he　selected　from　a　fine　family　of　guinea…pigs　two
pair；　set　the　one；　Pair　A；　in　conditions　of　ordinary　guinea…pig　bliss；
and　subjected　the　other；　Pair　B；　to　a　course　of　discipline。　　They　were
trained　to　run。　　They；　and　their　descendants　after　them；　pair　following
on　pair；　first　with　slow…turning　wheels　as　in　squirrel　cages；　the　wheel
inexorably　going；　machine…driven；　and　the　luckless　little　gluttons
having　to　move　on；　for　gradually　increasing　periods　of　time；　at
gradually　increasing　speeds。　　Pair　A　and　their　progeny　were　sheltered
and　fed；　but　the　rod　was　spared；　Pair　B　were　as　the　guests　at
〃Muldoon's〃they　had　to　exercise。　　With　scientific　patience　and
ingenuity；　he　devised　mechanical　surroundings　which　made　them　jump
increasing　spaces；　which　made　them　run　always　a　little　faster　and　a
little　farther；　and　he　kept　a　record　as　carefully　as　if　these　little
sheds　were　racing　stables　for　a　king。

Several　centuries　of　guinea…pig　time　went　by；　generation　after
generation　of　healthy　guinea…pigs　passed　under　his　modifying　hands；　and
after　some　five　years　he　had　in　one　small　yard　a　fine　group　of　the
descendants　of　his　gall…fed　pair；　and　in　another　the　offspring　of　the
trained　ones；　nimble；　swift；　as　different　from　the　first　as　the
razor…backed　pig　of　the　forest　from　the　fatted　porkers　in　the　sty。　　He
set　them　to　racethe　young　untrained　specimens　of　these　distant
cousinsand　the　hare　ran　away　from　the　tortoise　completely。

Great　zoologists　and　biologists　came　to　see　him；　studied；　fingered；
poked；　and　examined　the　records；　argued　and　disbelievedand　saw　them
run。

〃It　is　natural　selection；〃　they　said。　　〃It　profited　them　to　run。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　he。　　〃They　were　fed　and　cared　for　alike；　with　no　gain
from　running。〃

〃It　was　artificial　selection；〃　they　said。　　〃You　picked　out　the　speediest
for　your　training。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　he。　　〃I　took　always　any　healthy　pair　from　the　trained
parents　and　from　the　untrained　onesquite　late　in　life；　you　understand；
as　guinea…pigs　go。〃

Anyhow；　there　were　the　pigs；　and　he　took　little　specialized　piglets
scarce　weaned；　and　pitted　them　against　piglets　of　the　untrained　lotand
they　outran　them　in　a　race　for　〃Mama。〃　　Wherefore　Mr。　Ross　Warden　found
himself　famous　of　a　sudden；　and　all　over　the　scientific　world　the
Wiesmanian　controversy　raged　anew。　　He　was　invited　to　deliver　a　lecture
before　some　most　learned　societies　abroad；　and　in　several　important
centers　at　home；　and　went；　rejoicing。

Diantha　was　glad　for　him　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart；　and　proud　of　him
through　and　through。　　She　thoroughly　appreciated　his　sturdy　opposition
to　such　a　weight　of　authority；　his　long　patience；　his　careful；　steady
work。　　She　was　left　in　full　swing　with　her　big　business；　busy　and
successful；　honored　and　liked　by　all　the　townpracticallyand　quite
independent　of　the　small　fraction　which　still　disapproved。　　Some　people
always　will。　　She　was　happy；　too；　in　her　babiesvery　happy。

The　Hotel　del　las　Casas　was　a　triumph。

Diantha　owned　it　now；　and　Mrs。　Weatherstone　built　others；　in　other
places；　at　a　large　profit。

Mrs。　Warden　went　to　live　with　Cora　in　the　town。　　Cora　had　more　time　to
entertain　heras　she　was　the　one　who　profited　by　her　sister…in…law's
general　services。

Diantha　sat　in　friendly　talk　with　Mrs。　Weatherstone　one　quiet　day；　and
admitted　that　she　had　no　cause　for　complaint。

〃And　yet？〃　said　her　friend。

Young　Mrs。　Warden　smiled。　　〃There's　no　keeping　anything　from　you；　is
there？　　Yesyou're　right。　　I'm　not　quite　satisfied。　　I　suppose　I　ought
not　to　carebut　you　see；　I　love　him　so！　　I　want　him　to　_approve_　of
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