Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-06-01

have held her present position Of trust
and responsibility.
While Nina and her lover murmured
on the terrace Harriet brooded on
these things, and after dinner that
evening she gave Richard so sharp a
warning that he sent at once for Nina,
and with clouded brow and angry
eyes briefly requested Harriet to be
present while he spoke to her.
Nina came at once, with ain inno-
cent expression on her rather heavy
young face. She seated herself near
Harriet, and her father went to the
point at once.
'Nina," he said, seriously, "yOu saw
Royal Blondin this afternoon, didn't
your And as Nina answered only
with an ugly glance at Harriet, the be-
trayer, he added, Didn't 1 ask you
not to see him any more, severaf
months agoT"
Eyes, you did," Nina said, in low
tone, and with heaving breast.
II hope, and we all hope, that you
will marry some day." Richard said.
"But you are too young now to make
wise choice. And until you are
little older, you will have to take my
word for 1t that such an affair would
only lead you to misery and regret"
Nina mumbled something bravely.
II didn't hear you" her father said.
81 said, I didn't see what you could
do about IT." the girl repeated, des-
perately.
For few moments Of silence Rich
ard merely looked gravely at his
daughter. Then he clasped his fine
hands on the desk before him, and
cleared his throat.
II cannot do as much as 1 should
like, Nina" he conceded, "but I shall
do what 1 can. But first let me ask
you: have you promised to marry Mr..
BlondinT'
Silence. Nina looked at the door.
Richard repeated his question.
"Yes, have-and you can't kill me
for itr Nina said, and burst into
tears.
"Wen," the father resumed, when
Harriet had supplied a consolatory
murmur and a handkerchief, ''Pm
sorry, Of course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you, did she? You
met him occasionally?
1.-TWO or three times" Nina said,
shifting and drying her eyes busily.
"You know my reasons for disliking
him, Nina" her father said. 'He is a
man more than twice your age; he
has a certain sort Of unsavory reputa-
ton in his affairs with women. He
has no income, no profession, no
home; all those things tell against
him. You're only a child"
II shall be Of age Tuesday," Nina
burst forth, resentfully.
"You will be of age Tuesday. True
But you will be my ward, as far as
your Uncle Edwards legacy is con-
cerned, for another three years. Now,
Nina, If you persist in this folly,
against my most earnest advice, / can
only forbid the man the house, and
lock you in your room in the good old
fashioned way. That I shall do.
shall then give out to the world--that
has already had a rare treat at the
expense Of the Carter family-the
news of my utter disapproval of the
match. If you manage the marriage
In spite Of me, shall forbid you and
BlOndln my. house, and as a matter
Of course use my right to withhold
the payment Of your legacy for three
years, and stop your present allow
ance, and your credit with the shops
That's all can dol And I do 1t,
Nina" said Richard in a softer tone,
II do 1t to hasten the inevitable, my
dearl I do it to bring you back to
your father sooner instead of later; to
give you only one year of disillusion-
ment and suffering, instead of seven
or eight!"
1t must be a brave girl, thought
Harriet, who could persist in any
| course, after that. But Nina had the
impregnable armOr Of ignorance and
pride, and she only shifted pathetical-
ly again, and shrugged her shoulders.
you do everything in the world to
make my marriage a failurep she
said with the irrepressible tears. "And
1 suppose you'll be delighted If it is !
And don't see-if a woman can
marry a rich man, why a man
shouldn't sometimes be glad If a girl
has money! I'm proud to help him
out If he'll let me. He says he won't
why, we had planned going
just everywhere, Honolulu and south
ern California and just everywhere,
only now he won't go He says he is
going to stay right here, and take a
position with an art magazine that he
just hates, and work it all off-befOre
we go, If it takes years"
"WOrk what all off?" Harriet asked,
simply and quietly.
''This money that a friend of his
really lost, but he has taken it upon
himself" Nina answered, little molli-