The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-04-20
than a scalp a day." said her brother

than a scalp a day." said her brother
fraternally.
''Nina has a fortunel" the girl re.
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol
'Lord, he could marry girl with
ten times that Look here, you don:
think a man like Blondin would con.
slider thatr" he protested.
81 would rather see Nina dead and
buried !" The words burst from Har-
riet against her will, against her prom
Use to Royal. There was no help for
1t, her essential honesty would have
its way.
"Talk to him" Ward, fortunately
was not inclined to take her too serl-
ously. you'll like him! Gosh, he
certainly has q good effect on me"
added the youth, modestly. "He
doesn't drink. and he talks to me
you ought TO hear him l-about char
acter being fate, and all that! Say,
listen, before we get out Of the
woods-Y
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 off heI
| feet
ward" she gasped, freed at last
| and with one hand TO her disordered
hair, while the other held him AT
arm's-length. "Dear Please!
1t was no use. Soul and senses were
enveIoped 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 are!" she stammered,
GREATNESS and laughing. you mustn't
do that! You mustn't do that Why,
we might be Scent.
Breathless, too ne flung back his
hair, and stopped to pick up her para.
sol
"Do you think l carer he painted,
indifferently. 81 wouldn't care If the
whole world saw!"
"Sh-sh :" BY the magic only
known to youth and womanhOod IIar.
riet had gathered herself into trim.
ness and calm again. She took heI
parasol composedly. Her eyes tod
him the whole story. Nina and RoyaI
Blondn were two hundred feet away
coming up from the tennis court.
"You 1ool-fool-fool!" she said 10
herself What had they seen? What
new twist to the situation would
Ninas suspicious afford? Richard
Carter trusted her; this was no time
TO tell him that she loved his son.
| Did she love WARRIOR 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; II was I'M
thinkable! How she had weakened
her position here How she had
risked-her heart contracted with
pain-severing of her association with
| Crownlands.
Luncheon. under it's veneer Of
gaiety and foolishress, offered fresh
terrors. For old Madame Carter had
come down, and II occurred to Harriet
that II Nina had seen anything in the
wood, she might naturally Interest
her grandmother with an account Of
It. The old lady would go instantly
10 her son. And Richard-Harriet
could imagine him. tired. harassed.
heartsick over the recent inexplicable
weakness of his vile, having to face
another woman's treachery, having to
listen TO the demurs announcement OF
the little secretary's engagement to
his son.
He was experiencing the most over
whelming shock Of all his life now;
he must shortly be exposed 10 all the
whirl of scandal the silenced gossip,
the averted eyes Of his world, the
weekies with their muddy insinua'
tons. the staring fact headlined above
his breakfast bacon. This was her
time to efface herself and the house.
hold. to help him tn lift the load.
"Tm afraid l wasn't listening, Mr..
Blondin?"
miss Nina and I want TO know
what day we may have our party?"
Royal repeated.
1.-THE studio partyT
"The roof-garden party. We're GO
ing TO have II from half-past six TO
half-past seven only, because then II
won't be too hot"
"why not have II at night. with Ian
terns?" Harriet said quite involun-
tsrily. And again pang of self-con-
tempt swept over her 1t was hateful.
II was incredible. but she was playing
his game as calmly as If doubts and
reluctance had never entered her
heart.
II "Godi Make me 10 do what
is right, however hard il is"