Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-06-08

ly. And he opened the library door.
Good eveningP' he said.
"Good eveningw Blondin, with his
light, lettering step, crossed the thresh-
old, and Richard closed the door. He
took his chair again and reached
toward the bell that would have
brought Bottomley to summon Nina
in turn. But halfway to the bell his
resolution wavered, disappeared. In
stead, he rested his elbows on the
table, and his head in his hands, and
there sounded from his chest a great
sigh that was almost a groan.
Oh, he was tired-he was tired-he
was tired! It was all a mess-the boy,
the girl, their mother, his own ar
rangements for their protection and
safety. All mess.
She had been beautiful, that girl,
with her golden hair in the lamplght,
and her white arms little raised to
rest her locked hands ON the chair.
Like some superb actress of tragedy,
some splendid and sullen prisoner at
the bar. The slender figure in the dull
wrapping of satin, and the white bos-
ON, had looked so young, so virginia.,
the blue eyes were so honestly fright
ened and ashamed. And she had been
that bounder's wife-in his arms Di-
vorced! Harriet Field? Poor girl,
cornered by this unscrupulous scoun-
drel, this bully, with all the ugly past
dragged up like the muddy bottom of
river, staining and clouding the
clear waters. And what a look she
had given him, there under the lamp
Its funny code" he unused. BAR
barians, that's what we are, when it
comes to women. Nina, Ida, Isabelle,
Harriet-all of them pay for the man
made rule / shouldn't have forced
her hand In this business marriage;
it was taking an advantage Of her. No
woman wants to marry for anything
but love, and if she had married for
love, she would have made a clean
breast of this old affair, Of course. 1
didn't exact that. We've made a nice
mess of it, all around!
81 mustn't let her work herself into
a fever over all thisI" he found him
self thinking.
But Nina must be the first consider
alton. He must plan for Nina. He
brought his thoughts back resolutely-
his daughter must break her engage
ment now, there was that much gained.
And for the Journey to Rio
"But why didn't she tell mel" he
interrupted himself, suddenly. The
reference was not to Nina Again he
saw the superb white shoulders in the
soft flood of lamplight and the flash
of the blue eyes that turned toward
Blondln.
"She could have killed him /" Rich
ard said. "My God how she will love
when she does lover
Meanwhile, to Harriet had come the
bitterest hour of her life. She had
reached a crossroads, and with steady
fingers and an anguished heart she
prepared for the only step that to her
whiriing brain and shamed soul
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
ohE ntlu lGll AlCu LlACul dllg InCX GOulu
only think of her now as an unscrupu-
lous and mischievous woman who had
by chance entered their lives when
they were all in desperate need Of wis
dom and guidance, who had played
her own contemplate game, and added
one more hurt to the hurt reputation
of the house Of Carter.
Harriet got out of her evening gown
and into loose wrapper She went
about somewhat aimlessly, yet the
suitcases, spread open on the bed,
were gradually filled, and her per-
sOnal possessions gradually disap-
peared from tables and walls. Now
and then she stopped short, heartsick
and trembling; once her lips Quivered
and her eyes filled, but for the most
part she did not pause.
Nina, at about eleven, had come to
the door between their rooms, and
opened it. The girl was undaessed
and for a few moments she watched
Harriet scowlingly, with narrowed
eyes.
Are you going away?" she said,
presently. Harriet brought heavy
eyes to meet hers, and stood consider
ing a minute as if bringing her
thoughts back a long distance.
"I-going away? Yes" she said,
slowly. "Yes, I may"
Nina stood watching, which seemed
vaguely to trouble Harriet, who gave
her a restless glance now and then as
She went to and fro. Presently she
spoke to Nina again.
Goodnight, Nina I"
"Good-nightlp Y snapped Nina, and
the door slammed.
Harriet continued to move about for
perhaps half an hour before Nina's
odd manner recurred to her, on a wave
OF memory, and she seemed to hear
again Nina's ungracious tone.
HE told herp she said, suddenly.
eSba saw Roval md ha toId hort Poor