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

.0SAH SSS E& ASA
that any woman would risk all that.
isabelle had for the sake Of q iery
boys first love, and yet, on the other
hand, there was the memory Of Isa-
bellies suffering two nights ago, and
here ere the amazing facts to prove
it. = W >,
1t was for few women to enjoy the
popularity. Isabelle had known. But
any woman might u away with a rich
admirer. Harriet's admiration for the
cleyerness with which Isabelle con-
Quoted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared, and in it's place came the
sharp conviction that old-fashioned
women like Linda had some justifica-
ton, after allssit was dangerous" it
did lead to sim it could indeed HAP
pen once too often" ~ .
Harriet feltsher own lapsing moral
ity, regaining its standard. Just now,
when Nina most needed her mother,
when Richard was struggling with diff
icult business conditions, when Ward
was engaged ..
She Interrupted her thoughts here,
and tried to make herself feel like a
woman engaged to be married. Some
how the fact persisted in battling her.
There was an unreality about it that
prevented her from tasting the full
sweet. Engaged-to a rich man, and q
rich mans son.. Well, perhaps when
Ward came back, 1t would seem more
believable. .s
She had been standing at n of the
hall windows q window deep set In
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path to
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
eyes tight, she came back to the pres
ent, moment with a start. Ward Car
ter was behind her. He laughed at her
confusion, and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes, he was
going back to the Bellamys', and so
was Blondin, but they had both come
in just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought to
her. Ward was such a dear! OF
COuISC she lONCu ILL.
But 9 weren't q very good boy
last night! !" she said. Their hands were
locked but she had shaken a negative
when he would have kissed her.
Rotten !" he confessed, easily. Il
played poker, too. No man ought to
do that when he's edged. ~Sorry-sor-
ry-sorry. Listen. When we're mar
ried it's all off. No smoking, drinking,
gambling, wine, women, or song,
what?"
"You may not know it, but you never
spoke a truer word!" the girl said. His
shout Of laughter was pleasant to hear.
Listen. Does Mother know It'll
About us, / meanT
"Oh, Ward-nobody knows it
Hush" His mention Of his mother
brought back realization with a rush,
and she added uncomfortably, "She's
at Great Darlington"
"Oh, darn! l wanted to see her
She wrote me, and told me she loved
me-, and that she didn't think she had
been a very good mother to me |" He
laughed, youthfully, with a bewildered
widening of his eyes. Il thought sht
was sick. Well, maybe we can stol
there going back"
Where did you leave MIR. Blon
din?" s~4 So.
"He beat it down to the tenni
court. Say, listen, is there a chanc'
that he's stuck IN Nina? 1t looks t.
me like what the watch comes in!"
Harriet glanced at her wrist befor'
she answered him. Her heart wa
sick within her. Close upon her radi
ant dream had come this shadow, ia
more a shadow now, when her respon
sibility had infinitely increased, ant
when she had had proof of the low
and respect In which they held he
here. ~ -
81 don't think. sol" she said, briefly
"IIl find Bottomley, and have luncl
| put, ahead" ~ g.
aYou don't like himg" Ward said
watching her closely.
II don't like him for Nina! !" sh
/ amended.
The boy followed her while she CAV
her order. Then they went out int
the blazing day together.
"Nina isn't going to have NOR
than d scalp a day" said her brother
fraternally. -.
nina has q fortune |" the girl n
marked, dryly, opening her wide whit
parasoL
aLord, he could marry a girl wit
ten times that Look here, you don
think a man like Blondin would col
slider that I" he protested. 81
sT would rather e Nina dead an
buried!" The words burst from Hal
riet against her will, against her prom
ise to Royal. There was no help fc
ii, her essential honesty would hav
It's way. \
aTalk to himp Ward. fortunatel!
was not inclined TO take her too ser
ously. you'll like him Gosh, b
certainly has q good effect on me,
added the youth, modestly. II
doesn't drink. and he talks to me-
d ought to hear him l-about chal
acter being fate, and all that! Sa.
listen, before we get out Of th
woods
His sudden sense OF her nearnes
and beauty belied the careless word
Harriet found his arms tight abot
her, her face tipped up to the younl
handsome face that was stirred no
with trembling excitement. The quic
movement OF his breast she could &c.
AGAINST her own. and the passion 1
His kisses almost frightened her; 81
was held. bound, half-lifted Oh hs