The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-03-02

more socially adept than Nina, and
with Amy Innocently diyertlng Saun.
ders' bashful attentions, Nina re-
turned to thoughts Of Royal He was
coming down with Madame Carter and
Mrs. Tabor IN her car. Richard was
bringing two men down for golf this
weekend, and with Saunders and
Amy, Royal and Madame Carter and
Mrs Tabor. the house would be filled.
She had plentynfo do with the man
aging. the endless details that were
brought her mercllessiy, hour after
hour. by maids and housekeeper. And
vet under her quiet BUSINESS and her
happy hours with the young people
there iurked necessarily frctted
sense OF danger approaching.
Something OF this was in her mind
as she and Nina Basked on the gently
heaying float, ip tie Sunshine. Nina
talked necessarily OF Blondln. Har-
riet fancled she saw On opening for a
little talk she felt extremely timely.
"Air. Blondin likes you, Nina, Just
because you nrenit fiirtatious and silly.
like the other girls. But he isn't the
sort Of man to get very deeply inter-
ested In any woman. dear"
mo, know he's notr Nina sRid
quickly, turning suddenly red. and
looking attentiveIy at the print Of her
wet hand on the dry. hot boards.
"And / would be sorry IL he WERE
Harriet pursued, not too seriously,
"for ] want you 10 marry man Of
your own age. when you do marry
and not man who has bad--well,
other AFFAIRS, who has that confden-
tial, fiattering mnnner with all women !
You will be rich, Nina"
''Why don't you say that Royal Is
after my money!" Nina burst nut, with
symptoms of tears The ready name
frightened Harriet afresh; she knew
that they correspondent. that grass was
not growing Under Royals feet "The
first man ever really liked" Nina
said, with IL henvIng breast. the first
man who ever understood me-"
':NIna." Harriet said. ''yon don't
want 10 have 10 write your husband
Pa check on your honeymoon"
She felt 1t n cruel cut bur seven.
teen years Of Aatfery and smOOthness
had armed MINI In impregnable cont
plaeencc. She gave Il sncerimg laugh
that trembled OF the brink of tears
and tried to control mouth that was
shaking with anger One lnos Of utter
scorn she did manage. then she
shrugged not so much her shoulders
as her whole body. and flung herself
| furiously into the wafer. Ilarriet
called "Nlnn." first impatiently and
then conxlngly. But Jhe younger girl
SWIM steadily TO the shore. and IIar-
riet saw her a minute later. shaking
herself outside the shower. before she
disappeared into the big bathhouse.
Harriet had entirely forgotten Ward.
until he swan under the float, and
with a characteristic yell. rose stream
ing like seal under her very feet
Genuinely startled, she gratitied him
4 with scream. and they both laughed
like children as he flung himself drip
ping on the hot boards, and proceeded
to bake luxuriOusly In the sun.
Its the most gorgeous thing I ever
saw. do you know that?" lie asked.
with one hand touching the river OF
sparkling gold that blazed and tumbled
on her shoulders. Listen. Harriet,
do you remember the little talk we
had some weeks agof"
Perfectly" she said. little unwIl-
llngiy.
"well. how about ity" the boy said,
after a pause.
ut wouldn't be fair to You. Ward"
the girl said. slowly, after a pause,
II love you, but I don't love you the
way your wife viii"
Il wnnt you I" he said. sulieniy. I'm
crazy about you'll My Cod"
"ward, please don't touch me |" she
said sharply. getting to her feet with O
spring, as he put his arm about her.
"Don't--! | shall tell your father II
you dow
"You didn't talk that way at Crown
lands last June" the man said, sulkily.
II don't see what has made such q
difference now ~
II think perhaps I'm different. Ward
The summer" Harrlets voice died
into silence. Her eyes were fixed upon
the figure OF q man who came down
the little pier. and dove into the shin.
ing water. Two minutes later. with a
great gasp OF satisfaction. Richard
Carter drew himself up beside them
Il "Hal That Is something like Ny
Lord. the water is beautiful today
How about the buoy7 Who swIml