Nan Ryan by Kathleens Surrender

and eager for her handsome fiancé to arrive, Kathleen left her room and skipped down the stairs still humming. She hurried into the drawing room to join her parents, but found only her mother there. Abigail looked up when her daughter entered the room and smiled to her.
    “How lovely you look, dear,” Abigail said sweetly.
    “You, too, Mother.” Kathleen went to Abigail’s chair and kissed her cheek. “Where’s Father? Isn’t he dressed yet?”
    “Your father isn’t home. I don’t know what could be keeping him. I told him we would be having dinner around eight, shortly after Dawson arrives.”
    “You mean, Father hasn’t been at home this afternoon?” Kathleen was puzzled.
    The words were hardly out of her mouth when the front doors opened and Louis came in. Kathleen ran to the hall to meet him. Daniel was helping him take off his heavy cashmere overcoat.
    “Daddy,” Kathleen threw her arms around her father’s neck, smiling. “Did you see Dawson?”
    “Sweetheart,” he disengaged himself from her arms, “can’t I go in and get warm before you bombard me with questions?” He walked to the fireplace in the drawing room, nodding to Abigail, “Good evening, dear.” His wife smiled and watched him stretch his hands to the fire.
    Kathleen followed him to the fireplace. “Father, did you see Dawson? Did he have the talk with you today?” Louis stared into the roaring fire, reluctant to meet his daughter’s eyes. “Father, answer me! Where’s Dawson? He was to come over here today at two o’clock, remember? Didn’t he come? Something’s wrong, tell me.”
    Slowly, Louis lifted his eyes to Kathleen’s. “Dear, I haven’t seen Dawson today; he never showed up. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. I was in town and heard that Blakely is leaving Natchez tonight. I’m sorry.”
    Kathleen stared at her father, then laughed nervously. “Father, you have lost your mind! Dawson will be over here any minute for dinner. He was to meet with you today and tell you we are getting married.”
    “Oh, darling, I don’t know what happened, but I do know Dawson’s leaving.”
    “This can’t be. Dawson promised, he …”
    “Sweetheart,” Louis put his arm around Kathleen’s shoulders. “I waited and waited for Dawson, but he never arrived. I’m as puzzled as you are. I’m so sorry, Kathleen.”
    Kathleen pushed her father away and shouted, “You’re lying, you’ve got to be lying. Dawson loves me, he wants to marry me, I know he does. It’s a mistake, it’s all a mistake.”
    “Kathleen,” her mother rose to comfort her. “Your father wouldn’t lie to you. Dawson fooled us, too. Please, don’t be so upset, there will be other young men.”
    “Stop it, both of you. He loves me, do you hear me! He’s going to marry me!”
    Abigail looked helplessly to her husband and his face had grown stern as he looked at Kathleen. “Now, I want you to stop all this foolishness right now. Dawson Blakely is leaving tonight and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
    “No,” Kathleen was screaming now, “he can’t go. I won’t let him!”
    “Kathleen, please let me …” her father began.
    “Don’t touch me! You’re lying! I’m going to him.” Kathleen ran into the hall, jerked the closet door open, and swept a long blue wool cape around her shoulders. Her parents rushed after her, her mother now wringing her hands, saying, “Louis, do something, you must stop her.”
    “Kathleen Beauregard,” Louis shouted, “you’re not going anywhere. You’re making a fool of yourself. He’s probably already gone, he was going to his boat and …”
    “The boat, the “Diana Mine”! I’ll go there and stop him. It’s a misunderstanding, I’ll talk …” Kathleen was near hysterics.
    “Young lady, you are not leaving this house!” Louis Beauregard took her arm.”
    Kathleen pulled her arm free and ran to the door, whirled around and shouted, “I’m going to Dawson! No one is stopping