Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-12
CHAPTER XII
Ninette CLinqs to N0thdrd.

What would Potter say when he knew
Ninette stood stiH halfway down the
stairs. catching her breath with a little
stirling sound.
Peter was an honorable man! how
could he now-esen supposfng be wished
Il more than anything else In the world
break off his engagement?
For some seconds Ninette stood with
out moving, her face quite coloriess'
her heart beating with dull misery. Then
che went on, and down to the library
where a light shone through The nan
closed door.
peter stood there alone by the fire,
his elbow resting on the mantelshen' ms
eyes fixed on the glowing fire, an unlt
cigarette hanging dejectedly from MS
lips.
He did not hear Ninette enter aud
only turned when she spoke.
"Mrs. Crawford sent me to see where
YOU were. She says-she says she
thinks you ought to stay In the mouse
tonight in case you are wanted"
She did not look at him as she spoke;
hnt he flung the cigarette away at once,
and came towards her.
"In case l am wanted? What do you
meant" ~
His voice was constrained, and his
ewes we're hot as he looked at the girl
white face.
Ninette answered tonelessly
Mrs. Crawford says that Dorothy Is not
conscious vet. She says" She put her
hand to her throat, as II she could hard
ly breath. "She says that the doctor
thinks she is very III"
There was little silence; then Peter
Nothard said with an efforts
81 am sorry for that / had hoped
she was all right. 1 Will go up and see
II there Is anything more / can do.
But he stiil waited moment, only turn
Ing away when Ninstte gave no sign OF
his presence.
She knelt down by the fire and held
her hand out to its warmth.
Dorothy was going 10 be dishgured Tor
life, There seemed no room for any
other thought in all the world. 1t meant
that her slender claim on Peters regard
and affection was fettered for au>time
with bonds that nothing could ever
break
"Not that I knew he really wanted to
break them" Ninette told herself hur-
y
she had known it-did know It.
Peter loved her as she loved him. All
along. although she had been too blind
to see it. her happiness had lain with
him, and now that she had awakened to
the truth 1t was too late. The tragedy
of the evening had raised an impassioned
barrier between them.
1t seemed a long time before she heard
Nothard descend the stairs again. He
came into the room quietly, and shut the
door behind him.
Ninette did not turn or raise her head
and he came over to where she knelt
stopped, and raised her to her feet
He was very white, but mis- voice was
steady when he spoke.
"You know what the doctor says?"
"They told your"
"That Dorothy may be dlshgured for
lifef"
Yes"
There was a long silence She felt
as If her lids were weighted. and as If
she could never raise them again. Then
Nothard said hoarsely:
"You know what that means for me
that l cannot break my engagement, il
Dorothy wishes to hold me to it?"
Ninette found her voice then, the hot
SOloI rushing AL waves over ueI "HAto luce
"Why dosyou tell mo this 2" she asked
stormily. what has your gagement
got to do with me, and why should you
wish to break It'll"
She tried to free herself from him
but he held her fast by her arm, so that
she could not run away.
ITS not a time for US to pretend to
one another" be said. TITS a time for
the truth to be spoken. ] love you-you
know that love you with every beat of
my heart, and believe you love me.
Ninette, do you love me?"
She tried to deny 1t. but somehow the
words refused to form themselves on her
lips.
Il saw 1t in your eyes tonight, before
this happened" he went on roughly. "And
you see, you cannot deny it. 1 care moth