The Holbrook news., 1922-03-24

It sounded-" Nina clung to her fla ther's hands. and shut her eyes. "It sounded so-so falsep she whispered, bitterly. "So I went to his studio to- day," she presently continued. And there were two or three women there. but it wasn't that. They were well, perhaps they were just having fun. But" And Nina looked pitt fully from Harriet's sympathetic face to her fathers troubled eyes. But I've not been having much fun" she faltered. with a suddenly trembling mouth. i've been planning-pray- ing gi-that somehow 1t would come out |, right. He told me today that he had promised not to see ar speak to me | for two years" she said, slowly. 'T- Father. knew that he had a reason !, He was changed I never saw him so 1! And two hours ago. she pointed to the door that led into her fathers E room, two hours ago I went in there" :" she said. land I looked over your own check book. Father, did you write him a check? Was that the stub that had R. B. on IT!
 Richard looked at her sorrowfully. I'm sorry. Nina" he said, simply. "I told him you should not know. from me, would have spared you that"
 For few minutes there was silence in the room. Then Nina said bravely, through tears:
 'I don't know why you should be sorry for what will save me months of slow worry, all at one blow! You and Harriet needn't worry any more. I'm cured. I've been fool, let him flatter me and lie to me-" said this new Nina, with bitter courage, but I'm over it now. I'm sorry gave you much trouble, Father"
 My darling girl;'' her father said, tenderly. "I only wish could spare you all this!"
 Better now than two or three years after we were married" Nina said. 'Plenty of girls find it out then Fla ther, I want you to get that check, through the clearing-hou for me-" she said, heroically, "and 1 want to keep it. If ever I'm a fool about man again, I'll take 1t out and look at it '"
 "I have. 1t; I told Fox to get It to- day" Richard said. You shall have it."
 Nina had turned suddenly white; 1t was as If last little hope had been killed.
 "You have iti she whispered. He cashed it, then!"
 "He cashed it the next morning." Richard said Nina was silent for a moment.
 How yeu must laugh at me, Har- rietI" she said then.
 q? Laugh at you!" Harriet said, stricken. My darling girl, I am the last woman in the world who could do that. I was only your age. Nina. when i I met him-you know that story. Why, Nina, you're but eighteen, after all {; you'll have many and many an affair before the right man comes along" Harriet said. You'll look back on this some day, and say, It was an expert ence, and 1 learned from it. It is only going to make me happier and more sure when the man whom really love | comes to me?"
 Nina, sitting between Richard and Harriet on the bed. looked wistfully from one face to another.
 "Tll try to make it so, Harriet '" ebo e,ib And comauhot tim{5lv Sho added, 'Father-and Harriet-shall you feel dreadfully if say that don't want to go to Brazil? I'll tell you why. Ward is going out to the Gardi- ner ranch, and Bruce is going, too, and it seems to me that riding and camp ing and living in the open air will be well, will seem better to me than just being on the steamer! l dread seeing strange places and meeting people" said Nina. "The Gardiner girls were simply darling to me the term they were in school, and-dOnt you remem- her, Harriet I've were the only people who took them out for Christmas and Easter holidays, and they like me l Anc,~-if you wouldn't be too disap- | pointed. Harriet, I believe would like 1t better!"
 My darling girl" Harriet said, warmly, you must do what seems right to you. But you won't need meT' she added, tactfully.
 Well, you see Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Hopper are sisters" Nina ex- plained, readily, 'and they'll be with us. But if you'd like to come-we are going camping in the most glorious canyon that you ever saw." Nina in- terrupted herself with sudden enthusi- asm. And I am so glad 1 really can ride I'd feel so horrible if couldn't! !!
 q think you'll have wonderful two months of it," Harriet said, ''and then Grannyll be coming West, to spend the winter in Santa Barbara, too! And now, Nina love, it's after eleven o'clock" she ended with change of tone "and you have had q terrible dayl We will have to do some more shopping tomorrow afternoon, and try on the riding habits, and do thousand things. And, Nina," Richard heard hel add tenderly, when his daughter hat given him a rather sober goodnight kiss at the door of her room, when ever you feel sad and depressed about 1t, just remember to say to yourself This won't last In a few months the sting will all be gone!"
 Nina is in safe hands," Richard said to himself, thankfully, as Int closed the door. He carried memory of Harriet's earnest eyes, her low, ca ger voice, her encouraging arm abou