Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-08
CHAPTER XXXVI-Continued

"Deadr' she said again; and there was
hysterical note of fear in her voice
But there was no need for him to
answer; she saw it in his eyes, and knew
that once more she was alone in the
world
| A tragic moment followed Ninette's
gasping word, and the silence Of the
room was broken only by Mrs. Gran
ford's sobbing. Then the girl said again
/ tonelessly:
But yesterday he was quite well
There was nothing the matter with him
/ People don't die like that-without any
thing being the matter with them"
She raised her stunned eyes TO Not
hard's face.
You're keeping something back" she
! said shrilly. You're hiding something
from me. You're afraid to tell me the
truth"
It was Mrs. Crawford who again an
swered.
Peter. she is bound to know this
evening, when the papers are out; it's
kinder to tell her now She took
/ Ninett'e hand and broke the news as
gently to her as she possibly could that
Cavanagh had taken his own life.
He must have been in trouble-in
some great trouble that hole of us knew
anything about" she said tenderly.
Something that he could not even tel
you, my dear. We must not judge him
100 harshly until we know all that there
is to know"
Ninette did not move; she looked like
frozen statue. only her eyes were
dark Swallowed and Mortified.
Dead--and by his own hand! Peter
Nothard's condemnation OF the mar
HON she had known as her father for
so short time came back to her win
sad eloQuence-"The mans a black
guard his name stinks in the city,
She shlvered at the thought Of them
Until now she had no belief in what he
had said: she had thought II just the
I outcome of an exaggerated dislike. But
now, for the first time. she understood
that there had been justice in them.
! She looked again at Nothsrds dis
/ tressed face.
81 suppose you know why he did itY
/ she said family.
He turned away Without answering
/ and Ninette sat down by the fire, hold
/ ing her hands to. tho comforting
/ warmth and for the moment nobody
/ spoke. Then she said mechanically
( 81 wish I'd been nicer to him wish
+ Il loNeu nun iAnLe- Auu nHt hlu mex
face.
/ Mrs. Crawford motioned to Peter e
/ leave them and he went quietly away
shutting the door behind him.
/ Then Mrs. Crawford went over e
( Ninette. and, sitting down beside her
/ put a kindly arm around the girls quiv-
ering figure.
] Let US thDk the best until We know
+ everything. she said gently. And Olt
thing ! do know already-that he loved
you. He spoke to me OF you in term'
of the grea, 81 affection and concern
she's got to be happy, whatever hap
pens he said again and again. tt
impressed Upon me that all he cared fol
in life was that you should have I
/ happy life"
Ninette laughed drearily
And so he did-thisy she said duly
"As If / can ever be happy, knowing
how he diedY'
tor a moment neither Of them spoke
and then she said again:
tAnd now what is to become Of me
Oh, it's always the same! AS soon a,
I think I have found a home, and some
one to belong to me, 1t all goes and
am left alone"
You will have home with me al
ways" Mrs. Crawford said quickly
"And there IS Peter He is your FRIEND
you know that"
My friend? He is going to be mar
RED" Ninette said.
But he can be your friend all tn,
same" Peters aunt urged gently.