The Jasper news., 1922-04-20

mot able TO act nathis inHtIer. air'
think she is glad Of It! | believe sue
would regret the-the ineNitho'e
estrangement rs much ms IT,
Richard had taken u small SIP
OF TIM paper. from his pocket, and was
studying. IT tboughtfully. Royal saw
1t, and his eyes narrowed.
Nov, Mr.. Blondih," Nina's fnther
said, simply, "rm n business man.
can't beat about the bush, and call
things by pretty. names ] want favor
Of you, and I'm willing to pay for II.
teiephoned you this morning that
wanted to see you on a matter OF
business. This is my proposition"
He leaned forward, and Royal saw
the paper He boasted to women OF
his indifference to money, It was true,
but as with all ndyepturers, II held
first place in his thoughts. No man
who was in debt could look upon that
check unmoved. Royal might win at
cards tonight, to be sure; Carter
might weaken tomorrow, it was true.
But this check bore his name, and 1t
was sure.
To enter the bank, with Richard
amount, to deposit II, exchange a care
less word with the cashier, TO write
his check for the overdue rent, with
casual apology; TO play bridge again,
this evening, with young Bellamy, and
| this time win back the accursed check
of his own, as he knew he would win
II. 49,.
Just one moment, Mr.. Carter. You
say that you and ! know what mar
riage Is. How do you reconcile 1t with
your knowledge of Nina, your knowl-
edge Of her upbringing, to plan delib-
erately what would make our marriage
| OR any marriage--foredoom 10
failure from the start? j didn't spoil
! Nina, | didn't form her tastes. She
| has thought of herself as an heiress,
she has spent money, lived luxurious
~. only ask a fair chance, Make
il an allowance, IL you like. Keep the
matter in the family; don't blaze to
the world that you disapprovei Mnny
less promising marriage has turned
out a brilliant success. She loves me.
! IL am devoted to her. see tre-
mendous possibilities in her!"
"She loves you as a child does, and
because she doesn't know you" Rich
ard said. Inflexibly. But you haven't
heard what I'prOpose, Blondin. Hear
me out. | give lou this now. today,
on condition that before tonight you
! talk to Nina. Represent anything you
/ wish to her. Tell her what you please.
/ But convince her that she must walt
for two years-wlth no letters. no
meetings. no engngement-that's all.
ION my part. promise that nobody
IN the world, not Mrs. Carter, not sny-
body. viii hear of this FOR two years
from today, ut least. Meanwhile. we'll
amuse Nina. Her grandmother wants
10 take her to Santa Barbara next
! fall-Gardlner wants both the young
sters on his ranch this summer, or she
may go with me TO Brazil. She'll have
enough TO think about. Wen not hurt
you with her, you may take my word
for It. And / tell you frankly that L
shall he deeply grateful. I'm not pay
ing you for giving her up. I'm paying
you for two years delay. Young Hopper
will be at the GARDENERS this summer
she likes him, and he likes her /
Well, that's speculation" Richard dis
missed It with q movement of his fine
hands. "But wen distract herl" he
promised. Hopper may buy ranch
out there-that sort OF thing might
suit Nina down to the groundl"
Buy IT with NIna's money" Royal
could not help sneerlng
Richard eyed him In surprise.
"When Joe Hopper died he left that
boys mother something in the mil
llcns," he said. There's an immense
estate" And then. with a reverslon
TO business: "Come, now, Mr.. Blon-
din. We understand each other
Nina's dining at the Bellamys to-
night; you're staying there. VIII you
see herr"
The check fiuttered TO the table be.
tween them. There was long silence
Then Blondin ground out his cigarette
in a stone saucer, rose, In all the easy
beauty OF his white summer clothes
his flowing scarf, his dark. romantic
| locks. He lifted his straw hat, put II
on, picked up his stick, and laid II on
/, the table. Then he took the check
and read It thoughtfully.
Thank you" he said. Yet the
shameful thing struck him, an adept
now in evadlng and lying, as surpris
ingly easy, and as he sauntered away
In the June warmth and silence, Il
, was not OF Nina. or her father, or even
OF himself that he was thinking.