Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
"You have made me love you so that I cannot bear to think of the
future," she replied. "It was not wise of us to take this trip
together, Enoch."
Enoch's arms tightened about her. "We'll be thankful all our lives for
it, Diana. And you haven't really answered my question, darling!"
Diana drew herself away from him. "Enoch, let's never mention the
subject again. The things you understand by weakness--why, I don't
care if you have a thousand of them! But, dear, I want the diary.
When you leave El Tovar, leave that much of yourself with me."
Enoch's voice was troubled. "I have been so curiously lonely! You can
have no idea of what the diary has meant to me."
"I won't ask you for it, Enoch!" exclaimed Diana. Suddenly she leaned
forward in the moonlight and kissed him softly on the lips.
Enoch drew her to him and kissed her fiercely. "The diary! It is
yours, Diana, yours in a thousand ways. When you read it, you will
understand why I hesitated to give it to you."
"I'll find some way to thank you," breathed Diana.
"I know a way. Give me some of your desert photographs. Choose those
that you think tell the most. And don't forget Death and the Navajo."
"Oh, Enoch! What a splendid suggestion! You've no idea how I shall
enjoy making the collection for you. It will take several months to
complete it, you know."
"Don't wait to complete the collection. Send the prints one at a time,
as you finish them. Send them to my house, not my office."
Soft voices sounded from the camping place. "We must go back," said
Diana.
"Another evening gone, forever," said Enoch. "How many more have we,
Diana?"
"Three or four. One never knows, in the Canyon country."
They moved slowly, hand in hand, toward the firelight. Just before
they came within its zone, Enoch lifted Diana's hand to his lips.
"Good night, Diana!"
"Good night, Enoch!"
Jonas and Na-che, standing by the fire like two brown genii of the
desert, looked up smiling as the two appeared.
"Ain't they a handsome pair, Na-che?" asked Jonas, softly. "Ain't he a
grand looking man?"
Na-che assented. "I wish I could get each of 'em to wear a love ring.
I could get two the best medicine man in the desert country made."
"Where are they?" demanded Jonas eagerly.
"Up near Bright Angel."
"You get 'em and I'll pay for 'em," urged Jonas.
"We can't buy 'em! They got to be taken."
"Well, how come you to think I couldn't take 'em, woman? You show me
where they are. I'll do the rest."
"All right," said Na-che. "Diana, don't you feel tired?"
"Tired enough to go to bed, anyway," replied Diana. "It's going to be
a very cold night. Be sure that you and the Judge have plenty of
blankets, Jonas. Good night!" and she disappeared into the tent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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