Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-13

fratenally.
"Nina has fortunel" the girl re-
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol.
Lord, he could marry a girl with
ten times that! Look here, you don't
think a man like Blondin would con-
slider that I" he protested.
Il would rather see Nina dead and
buriedr' The words burst from Har-
rlet against her will against her prom
Use to Royal. There was no help for
it, her essential honesty would have
its way.
talk to himl" Ward, fortunately,
was not inclined to take her too seri-
ously. you'll like him! Gosh, he
certainly has a good effect on me-"
added the youth, tnodestIy. "He
doesn't drink, and he talks to me-
you ought to hear him about char
acter being fate, and all that! Say,
listen, before we get out Of the
woods-T
His sudden sense Of her nearness
and beauty belied the careless words.
Harriet found his arms tight about
her, her face tipped up to the young,
handsome face that was stirred now
with trembling excitement The quick
movement of his breast she could feel
against her own, and the passion Of
his kisses almost frightened her; she
was held, bound, half-lifted of her
feet.
Ward" she gasped, freed at last,
and with one hand to her disordered
hair, while the other held him at
arm's-length. 'DearI Please!r
1t was no use. Soul and senses were
enveloped again, and close to her ear
she heard him whisper: I'm mad
about you! Do you know that? I'm
mad about you -
II think you arel" she stammered,
breathless and laughing. "You mustn't
do that! You mustn't do that why,
we might be seen !"
Breathless, too, he flung back his
hair, and stopped to pick up her para
sol.
do you think careI" he painted,
indifferently. II wouldn't care If the
whole world sawI"
"Sh-sh!" By the magic only
known to youth and womanhood Har-
riet had gathered herself into trim
ness and calm again. She took her
parasol cOmposedly. Her eyes told
him the whole story. Nina and Royal
BlOndin were two hundred feet away,
coming up from the tennis court.
''You 1Ool-fOol-fool 7" she said to
herself. What had they seem What
new twist to the situation would
Nina's suspicious afford? Richard
Carter trusted her; this was no time
to tell him that she loved his son.
Did she love DIOR with his keen
and kindly eyes would Wards father
see exactly what she saw in the mar
riage? Caught kissing in the woods
like Rosa or Germaine; it was I'M
thinkabIe How she had weakened
her position here How she had
risked-her heart contracted with
pains evering Of her association with
Crownlands.
Luncheon. under its veneer Of
gaiety and foolishness, offered fresh
terrors. For old Madame Carter had
come down. and It occurred to Harriet
that If Nina had seen anything in the
wood she might naturally interest
her grandmother with an account of
it. The old lady would go instantly
to her son. And Richard-Harriet
could imagine him, tired, harassed,
heartsick over the recent inexplicable
weakness of his wife, having to face
another woman's treachery, having to
listen to the demure announcement of
the little secretary's engagement to
his son.
He was experiencing the most over
shock OF all his life now
he must shortly be exposed to all the
whirl of scandal: the silenced gossip,
the averted eyes Of his world, the
weeklies with their muddy insinua-
tions, the staring fact headlined above
his breakfast bacon. This was her
time to efface herself and the house
hold, to help him to lift the load.
'T'm afraid 1 wasn't listening, Mr..
Miss Nina and I want to know
what day we may have our party?"
Royal repeated.
1.-THE studio party?"
"The roof-garden party. We're GO
ing to have it from half-past six to
nalf-past seven only, because then it
won't be too hot"
'Why not have 1t at night, with Ian
terns?" Harriet said, quite involun-
tarily. And again a pang of self-con-
tempt swept over her 1t was hateful,
It was incredible. but she was playing
his game as calmly as If doubts and
reluctance had never entered her
heart.
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