The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-05-25

I suppose you'll be delighted IL II isi
And I don't see--if a can
marry q rich man, why q man
shouldn't sometimes be glad lie a girl
has money! I'm proud to help him
out, ff he'll let me. He says he won't
why, we had planned going--well,
just everywhere, Honolulu and south
ern California and just. everywhere,
only now he won't goi he says he Is
going to stay right here, and take q
position with an art magazine that he
just hates, and work 1t all off-before
we go, If 1t takes years" = :
"Work what all offr' Harriet asked,
simply and quietly. f,
"This money that a friend Of his
really lost, but he has taken 1t upon
himself" Nina answered, a little molli-
fed. ut was eleven Thousand dollars,
and he has paid off about four, and
anyway, / hate so much talk about
money!" she finished, angrily.
my DEAR" Harriet said, as Richard,
with a troubled face, remained silent,
TT isn't the money that we are worry
ing about. Why, ask your father,
Nina! Ask him II he. wouldn't write
Royal Blondin a check for any sum to-
day, any sum, If you and he would
promise solemn1y to wait three years
more. You will only be twenty-one
then, Nina, still such a childw
Harriet paused, glancing at Richard
for encouragement he nodded eagerly,
and she went O
Marriage Is a tremendous thing,
Nina, and the only thing that makes 1t
right"
y IF you're going to say love-" Nina
broke in, seornfully, "you didn't marry
Father for love!
II was going to say mutual under
standing and respect" Harriet said,
quietly, but the splendid color flooded
her face as she spoke, "and you do not
understand life, Nina, or men, or mar
rage. Royal B1ondin is a charming
man, and a gifted man, but he Is an adj
venturer, dear; he is a man who has
lived In all sorts Of places, known all
sorts Of persons, accepted all sorts Of
queer codes. There are coarse ele-
ments In him, Nina, things that would
utterly sicken and brighten youi Your
father is right; you would be back
with us In a few months or years, per-
haps with a child, perhaps shattered in
body as we'll as soul-not free to take
up your life again with Ward and
Amy, but SCARED and embittered and
changed-p
my God, how that woman loves the
child?" Richard said to himself,
watching her. To. him she seemed in
spired. Her eyes were blurred with
tears, her voice shaking, and she had
leaned over to clasp Nina's hands, and
50 hold the girls unwilling attention.
"Nina, can't you trust your father
that farf" Harriet finished. "Can't you
realize that q man like Royal, enbar-
raised for money-no matter If he
truly admires you, and truly means to
make you happy-can't think Of you
without thinking also Of what your
generous checks are going to mean to
him? Write him q check for eleven
thousand, Nina, as a consolation for
delaying the marriage a year. Try
It'll"
Nina ISL to her feet. Her trembling
mouth was desperately scornful, and
her eyes brimming, although she
fought tears.
II don't know why my own family Is
the first to think that nobody could
possibly love me for myself !" she said,
in q breaking voice. First Harriet
ruins my friendship with Ladybird-
and then-then-I"
Listen, Nina" her father said. He
and Harriet had come around to stand
beside her, and he had eneircled the
shaking and protesting shoulders with
his arm. II have just telephoned Fox
to make reservations for me on the
next Brazilian steamer. I shall have
to be a month or six weeks in Rio de
Janeiro every year now. Now, I've just
been wondering why you and Harriet
don't come with me this first trip? We
step at the Barbados and Bahia it's
a magnificent misunderstanding
LuAAS olu yA4lkuSi0LA JVu 1OfC H.
and youu love a touch Of the South
American countries, too, a chance to
try your Spanish. Why not put off this
marriage idea for a year, come along
with me; youn make steamer ac-
quaintances, you'll broaden out a little
BIT
II won't 60 anywhere!" sobbed
Nina, wildly, turning for flight, "be-
cause I'm going to kill myself"
Harriet only waited long enough
after her dramatic exit to give Richard
a reassuring nod. Then she hurried
after Nina.
The girl was sobbing on her bed, and
for awhile she answered Harriet's
soothing touch Of voice and hand only
with angry. Jerks. Then they fell to
talking, and Nina confided for the first
time fully In the older woman. Royals
letters, his exquisite cards, sent with
flowers, the poems he had written her;
here they all yer Harriet sympa-
thized, sighed. and consoled her at
fectionately. Presently she vas able
to suggest a new thought to Nina, one
that could not but be palatable to the
girls hurt spirit. ~
You see, you're only seventeen, NJ
ma" Harriet said, athe age when most
girls are still In the schoolroom, long
before they have affairs! Well, you're
not interested In college, so that ought
to give you three or four clear years OF
girlhood. You're bound to have other
affairs, you've proved thatl You go