The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-04-20


that Mrs. Garter was 7IslfinE Win
DEMONSTRATING q beautiful time, too,
apparently.
Perhaps Nina suspected that some
thing was unusual. She looked from
her father to Harriet, and after d
moments silence asked abruptly:
when Is Mother coming backf'
II don't knowr her father IN
swered, quickly.
"Say, listen; are we going to dress2'
asked Amy. Minis, instantly diverted,
suggested that they 90 In. Nina's
awkward bigness and Amy's mousy
neutral tones were as well displayed
In one garment az another, but both
girls debated over pinks and blues,
crepes and nuIls, every evening. AZ
II the world was watching them alone.
Harriet fingered for only a word.
"Mr. Carter, it occurred to me that
old Mrs gleton is going to Cali
fornfa, i Ter. own car, tomorrow.
I was wondering If we might con-
nde In Mrs. Singleton-she was al
ways very fond of Mrs. Carter-and
give out the impression that Mrs. Car
ter had suddenly decided to make the
trip with her."
THAT'S an idea" Richard said,
thoughtfully. II could see Mrs. Sim
gleton tonight-and-and talk it over"
ut might serve for only a few
DAYS." Harriet submitted
Yes, I see," he agreed, slowly.
"Well, I can give Nina a hint nowf"
Harriet said, going.
But 1t was too late for any soothing
deception OF Nina. A scene was In
full progress In Nina's bedroom, and
Harriet's eye had only to 60 from
the prone form on the bed to the
crushed newspaper that had drifted to
the floor, to know that the secret was
out. Isabelle's face, radiant and hap
by, looked out from the page. 1t was
fianked by two smaller pictures, Rich
ards and Anthony Pope's. Harriet
could see the big letters: young
Millionaire-Wife Of Richard Carter"
The deluge was upon them.
"Oh--it's a lie-it's a lie! My beau
tiful little mother" Nina was sob
bing. "Oh, no, it's not true! It's a
lieL Oh. how shall I eyer hold UP my
head aga1nvo he d1sgraced-now
just when I'm so young-and ha-h-
happy"
"Nina, my child. control yourself I"
Harriet, ignoring the staring and pale
faced Amy, sat down on the edge Of
the bed, and shook the girl slightly.
"You mustn't give way! Come now,
my dear, you must face this like a
woman. Think how your father and
Ward will look to you"
Acting, all Of it, said Harriet in her
soul. But despite the youthful appe-
tite for heroics, there were real tears
in Nina's eyes, as there had been in
her Rrandmother's a few hours ago.
"Yes, that's true!" she said, wiping
q swollen face on the handkerchief
Harriet supplied. But OH don't be-
Iieve 1t, and my father will them
for libel, you see if he doesn't! My
mothers the purest and sweetest and
best woman alive and FL kill any one
who says any different"
10000, to see it in the paper there,
right on the bed" said Amy, in her
reedy, colorless lit lie voice, as Nina
stopped suddenly. 10000, 1 thought
Nina would die!" Nina began to cry
again, but more quietly. "T guess I ha
better 60 Amy finished, pIaintfvel,
"Oh, moi" said Nina, in a choke
voice, as she chung to her frined. ENC
darling! you stay with me. Oh,
must 60 see my father, and my poo
grandmother! Oh, AMY, perhaps yo
had better go, for my family will nee
me tonight. My mother said Nina
crying again.
She and Amy parted solemnly, wit
many kisses.
Its a thing that might happen t
me, or to any girl" said Amy gravel,
Harriet had an upsetting vision Q
stout, high-busted Mrs. Hawkes., pant
ing as she discussed the details of tn
Red Gross drive, but she vas yer
sympathetic with the young girls, an
even agreed with Nina, when Amy wa
gone, that it would be much more sen
sible to take her bath, and put on he
white organdie, and then go find he
father.
They dined almost silently, and wer
about to disperse quietly for the night
LATTER an hour of half-hearted converse
ton in the drawing room, obviousl
endured by Richard simply for hi
mothers sake, when Ward burst In
He had Travelled almost four hundre
miles by motor that day, his face wa
streaked with dirt and oil, and ghastl
with fatigue. He went straight t
his father. - ~
"Say, what's ell this r he said, in
voice hardly recognizable. Harrie
saw that he had been drinking. II 90
your wire, and we started. I though
the Mater was sick, perhaps. My 90
that worried me !" hi, broke or bf
terIy.S 'sBlondin came with me v
stopped on the road for dinner, an
the man had a paper there. Us this
what you wanted me forI don't b
lieye It! It's a dirty lie, and the bouI
der that put that In the paper
I'm glad you came home, my boy,
Richard said. "I've been waiting "a
you" @
: Harriet heard no more: she slippe
from the room. There genuin
2 tears In her own eyes now; for th
h0v had fang hiunn0lf fann