Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-04-08

| Ooou evening he S0tu.
Good EVENING"" Blondin, with his
light, lettering step, crossed the thresh.
old, and Richard closed the door. lie
took his chair again and reached
toward the bell that would have
brought Bottomley to summon Nina
In turn. But halfway to the bell his
resolution wavered, disappeared. In
stead. he rested his elbows on the
table and his head In his hands, and
there sounded from his chest a great
sigh that was almost a groan.
| Oh, he was tlred-he was tired--he
was tired II was all mess-the boy
he girl, their mother, his own ar
rangements for their protection and
safety. All mess.
She had been beautiful, that girl
with her golden hair in the lamplight,
| and her white arms a little raised to
| rest her locked hands on the chair.
Like some superb actress of tragedy,
some splendid and sullen prisoner at
thebar. The slender figure In the dull
wrapping Of satin. and the white bos-
ON, had looked so young, so virginia..
the blue eyes were so honestly fright
ened and ashamed. And she had been
that bounders wife-in his arms! Di.
vorced! Harriet Field? Poor girl,
cornered by this INSCRIPTIONS scoun-
drel, this bully, with all the ugly past
dragged up like the muddy bottom of
river, staining and clouding the
clear waters. And what look she
had given him. there under the lamp!
ITS funny code" he unused. Bar
barians, that's what we are, when 1t
comes to women. Nina, Ida. Isabelle,
Harriet-all of them pay for the man.
made rule | shouldn't have forced
her hand In this business marriage
II was taking an advantage of her. No
woman wants to marry for anything
but love, and II she had married for
love, she would have made clean
breast of this old affair, of course.
didn't exact that. We've made a nice
mess of 1t, oil around!
Il mustn't let her work herself into
fever over all thisv he found him
self thinking.
But Nina must be the first consider |
alton. He must plan for Nina. He
brought his thoughts back resolutely--
his daughter must break her engage |
ment now, there was that much gained.
And for the journey to Rio
but why didn't she tell me" he
interrupted himself, suddenly. The
reference was not to Nina. Again he
saw the superb white shoulders In the
soft food of lamplght, and the fash
of the blue eyes that turned toward
She could have killed hint" Rich
ard said. MY God how she will love
when she does lovel"
Meanwhile to Harriet had come the
bltterest hour of her life. She had
reached crossroads, and with steady
fingers and an anguished heart she
for the only step that to her
brain and shamed soul
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
She had harmed them ALL they could
)nly think of her now as an unscrupu-
Gus and mlschlevous woman who had
by chance entered their lives when
hey were all In desperate need Of wis
ION and guidance, who had played
her own contemplate game and added
me more hurt to the hurt reputation
II the house Of Carter.
Harriet got out Of her evening gown
md into loose wrapper. She went
bout somewhat atmlessly, yet the {
iuitcases, spread open on the bed, 8
we're gradually filed, and her per c
onal possessions gradually dlsap-
feared from tables and walls. Now {
nd then she stopped short, heartslck !
md trembling; once her lips qulvered |
md her eyes filled. but for the most |
art she did not pause. s
Nina, AZ about eleven, had come to |
he door between their rooms, and b
pened 1t. The girl was undressed, O
nd for few moments she watched I
Harriet scowlingly, with narrowed Z
yes. c
ARE YOU going away?" she said,
resently. Harriet brought heavy n
yes to meet hers, and stood consider
ny a minute, as II bringing her "
a
houghts back long distance. n
1-going eTryf Yes she said. u
lowly. "Yes. may o
Nina stood watching, which seemed |,
aEuely to trouble H,~riet, who gave Il
err restless glance now and then IA h
he went to and fro. Presently she n
poke to Nina again.
Goodnight, Nlna!' k
Goodnight r. snapped Nina, and I,
ne door slammed G
Harriet continued to move about for b
erhaps half an hour before Ninas +
id manner required to her, on wave Il
memory and she seemed to hear t,
gain Nina's ungraclous tone.
HE told herr she said, suddenly. | Il
She saw Royal, and he told her Poor 81
hid" 9,
And she went to Nina's room, with a
vague idea that she would sit beside n,
he weeping girl for awhile. one heavy el
cart close to the other, even If no 81
ords could pass between them. a,
Elt Nina lay sleeping peacefully.