The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-19


he take money-to break our engage
mentT'
nina, what horrible thought! Of
course not - Harriet could fortunate
ly answer In perfect honesty.
"Oh, Harriet" the girl caught her
hands, turning sick and imploring eyes
toward her, "are you surer'
nina, dear, your father would have
told mel"
HE might not-he might notp Nina
said, feverishly. But If he did"
she whispered, half TO herself. That's
Pilgrim, rang for her." she said, OF
a knock on her own door. ASK my
father to come up. will your" she said
to the maid, when Pilgrim appeared
wen settle 1t now"
"Mr. Carter Is Just coming up" Pill
grim said. And a moment later Rich
ard, with an interested face. came
through N1na's room, and Joined them.
Harriet had had time only to knot her
hair back carelessly, and slip into the
most formal Of her big Chinese coats.
Father" Nina said, when they three
were alone together, did Royal Blon-
din take a check from you ten days
ago?'
Richard, taken unaware, glanced
sharply at Harriet. who shook her
head, with an anxious look. He sat
down beside Nina on the bed, and put
a fatherly arm about her.
"Ah, Father, don't put me off," the
girl begged 81 wrote him. after my
birthday" she said, land told him
that money made no difference to me.
He didn't answer Then I got Bruce
Hopper to ask his mother to have
Blondin meet her at the club for tea,
and I saw him then. Bruce" Nina
cast in, still In the new. self contained
tone "has been wonderful about 1t!
I know he only seems a silent sort Of
boy. but I'll never forget what he's
done for me! Royal" she resumed,
didn't want to see me. and said he
had promised Father that 1t was over.
He-but needn't tell You all he said.
1t sounded" Nina chung to her ia
theirs hands. and shut her eyes. ut
sounded $3.50 falSe!' she whispered,
bitterly. $50 I went TO his studio to-
day. she presently continued. "And
there were two or three women
there. but 1t wasn't that. They were
well, perhaps they were just having
fun. But" And Nina looked pitt
fully from Harriet's sympathetic face
to her fathers troubled eyes. But
I've not been having much fun" she
faltered, with a suddenly trembling
mouth. "Tve been planning-pray
ing that somehow 1t would come out
right. He told me today that he had
promised not to see or speak to me
for two years." she said, slowly. q
Father, I knew that he had reason
He was changed. I never saw him so!
And two hours ago" she pointed to
the door that led into her fathers
room, "two hours ago went in there"
she said, land looked over your own
check book. Father, did you write
him a check? Was that the stub that
had r.. B. on it?''
Richard looked at her sorrowfully.
I'm sorry, Nina" he said, simply.
''I told him you should not know, from
me! 1 would have spared you that"
For few minutes there was silence
in the room. Then Nina said bravely,
through tears:
81 don't know why you should be
sorry for what will save me months
of slow worry all at one blow! You
and Harriet needn't worry any more.
I'm cured. I've been a fool, let him
n 40
new Nina, with bitter courage, but
I'm over 1t now. I'm sorry I gave you
much trouble, Father"
my darling girl" her father said.
tenderly. 81 only wish I could spare
you all this!'
Better now than two or three years
after we were married." Nina said.
"Plenty Of girls find 1t out then! Fa-
Their, 1 want you to get that check,
through the clearinghouse, for me-"
| she said, heroically, land l want to
keep it. If ever I'm a fool about man
again, I'll take 1t out and look at it ="
81 have it; l told Fox to get it to-
| day" Richard said. You shall have
| it,"
Nina had turned suddenly white; 1t
was as II a last little hope had been
| killed.
you have it!' she whispered. HE
i it, them"
/ e cashed 1t the next morning"
| Richard said. Nina was silent for a
moment.
How you must laugh at me, Har-
! rietl" she said then.
"I? Laugh at rou!" Harriet said,
stricken. MY DAZZLING girl, 1 am the
last woman In the world who could do
| that! l was only your age, Nina, when
l met him-you know that story. Why,
Nina, you're but eighteen, after all ;
you'll have many and many an affair
before the right man comes along"
Harriet said. you'll look back on this
some day, and say, 1T was an expert
ence, and learned from it! 1t is only
| going to make me happier and more
sure when the man whom really love
comes to me ="
Nina, sitting between Richard and
Harriet on the bed. looked wistfully
from one face to another
"Tn try to make it so, Harriet ~
she said. And somewhat timidly she
| added, "Father-and Harriet-shall
you feel dreadfully if l say that don't
want to 90 to Brazilf I'll tell you
| univ Ward fS GOING out RI tho Garfi