The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-06-29

| two curtains OF ripping eold- Sh'
saw a new Nina. a subdued. thought
, ! mi. serious woman in the old conn
dent Sina's place.
But first 7 ought 10 tell you thai
wasn't with Amy today Nina said
ooh. Nina Must we begin that sort
Of thingf" Harriet reprhached her
But she was puzzled by Nina's man
, ner. Back to schoolgirl tricks - she
said.
Never back 70 schoolgirl" Nina
said. paSsionately. "I'll neEer be that
again. Harriet she went on. ave
, written Royal three times. since my
birthday. ami I'VE seen him twice"
"You saw hfn today" Harriet ven
tured
Il went there this afternoon" Nina
admitted heavily. Then suddenly.
Harriet did NJ father pay him-did
ne take money-to break our engage
mentT'
"Nina, what horrible thought OF
course not - Harriet could fortunate
ly answer in perfect honesty.
ooh. Harriet" the girl caught her
/ hands, turning sick ana imploring eyes
toward her. are YOU suref'
"Niua. dear, your father would have
told me-"
"He might not--he might not!' Nina
| said. feveriShly. But il he did"
I she whispered. half 10 herself That's
/ Pilgrim I rang for her" she said. Of
! a knock on her own door. ASK my
! father 10 come up viii you?" she said
/ TO the maid. when Pilgrim appeared
I Wen settle IL now ?"
"Mr Carter Is Just coming up," Pil-
I grim said. And moment later Rich
ard. with an Interested face. came
through Niua's room. and joined them.
Harriet had had time only to knot her
hair back careleSsly. and slip into the
most formal Of her big Chinese coats.
Father" Nina said. when they three
We're alone together. did Royal Blon-
din take a check from you ten days
ago."
Richard. taken unaware, glanced
sharply at Harriet. who shook her
head. with an anxious look. He sat
down beside Nina on the bed. and put
. fatherly arm about her.
"Ah. Father. don't put me or" the
girl begged II wrote him. after my
birthday" she said. "and told him
that money made no difference 20 me.
He didn't answer Then I got Bruce
Hopper 10 ask his mother 10 have
RIondin meet her NJ the club for tea.
and I saw him then. Bruce" Nina
cast I'm. stll IN the new. self-cOntalned
tone "hnS been wonderful about -
I know ~ only seems silent sort OF
boy. but I'll never forget what he's |
done for me, Royal" she resumed. |
"didn't want 20 see me. and said he |
had promised Father that II was over |
He-but I needn't tell you all he said. |
II sounded" Nina chung to her IA |
theirs hands and shut her eyes at /
sounded 500 false" she whispered. |
bitterly. $50 I went 10 his studio to-
day" she presently continued. And |
there were two or three women /
there. but II wasn't that They were
well. perhaps they were Just having |
fun. But And Nina looked pitt |
fully from Harriet's sympathetic face
70 her fathers troubled eyes But
I've not been having much fun - she
faltered. with a suddenly trembling /
mouth. 1--WE been planning-pray-
Ing that somehow n would come out i
right. He told me today that he had 1
promised not 20 see or speak 10 me
FOR two years" she said. slowly. 81
Father. / knew that he had a reason
He was changed. 7 never saw him sol
And two hours ago. she pointed 10
the door that led into her fathers
room. "two hours ago went I'm there"
Sha
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" ne said. simply
'I told him you should not know, from
met I would have spared you that"
For few minutes there was silence
In the room. Then Nina said bravely,
through tears:
81 don't know why you should he
sorry for what will save me months
of slow worry. all at one blowI You
and Harriet needn't worry any more.
I'm cured I've been a fool, let him
fiatter me and lie 20 me-" said this
new Nina. with bitter courage. but
I'm over II now. Tn sorry gave you
much trouble. Father"
MY darling girl" her father said.
tenderly. II only wish I could spare
you all this!''
Better now than two or three years !
after we were married." Nina said.
PLENTY OF girls find IL out then Fa-
Their. / want you to get that check,
through the clearing house. for me-"
she said. heroically. land I want TO
keep II. If ever I'm fool about man
again, I'll take II out and look at IT."
II have II; told Fox to get IT to-
day" Richard said. you shall have
IT.
Nina had turned suddenly white; II
was as II last little hope had been
killed.
"You have itr' she whispered. He
cashed II, them"
"He cashed II the next morning."