The Jasper news., 1922-04-13
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
BY
Kathleen Norris
illustration, BY
Irwin Myers
Copyright BY Kathleen Morris
CHAPTER xIIl-continued.


NINA" he said, tenderly, "is warm
hearted. And chance nllusion to my
financial position, which l thought
sowed her, has distressed her unneces-
,sarily. 1t will. truly, be out Of the
'question for me to travel, as we had
planned. The unfortunate specua-
tions OF my friend"
"Whose name you withhold" Rich
ard interrupted the musical voice to
say, dryly.
Because of q promise!" Royal
flashed promptly. But" he resumed,
turning TO Harriet, II shall be able TO
negotiate this business. as | assure
Mr.. Carter, without any assistance
from him or his daughter" his lip
curled scornfully, "and ! do not pro-
pose to give her up for any three
years-Or three veeks!'
Harriet could only look at him fix
edly, with an ashen face.
God help me-" she breathed in her
soul. God help me !"
"WclI," said Richard with weary
imnatience, I'VE die not call you down
TO bore you with this | asked to see
you, Harriet, because Mr.. Blondin has
made the statement TO me, just now,
that you were heartily in accord with
his plans for Nina and that you ap-
proved Of the AFFAIR."
The prayer in Harriet's heart did
not stop as she moved her wrctched
eyes to BlOndn.
II believed that you and she had
not seen each other since December"
she reminded him. ~ lost no chance
To advise her against the engagement!
thought it was all overt"
We'll" Richard said. with a breath
of relief. He had been watching her
closely, now he settled back in his
chair and moved his contemptuous
scrutiny TO BlOndln.
"One moment ~ Royal Blondin said,
gently. But he was also pale. You
believe that would make Nina a good
husband, don't your" lie asked Harriet
directly and quietly.
She was not looking nj him. Her
eyes were on Richard Carter.
II believe you would ruin her life!"
she said, deliberately.
THANK you" Richard said. 81 think
that is all, Mr.. Blondin. was aware
that you Observation-Disclosures Mrs.
Carter when you made that state
mcnt!"
Not quite ALL" Blondin persisted.
you believe that Nina would he wiser
not TO marry me?' he asked Harriet.
"YOu-" She cleared her throat
"You know that / think sou she said.
Hondin laughed.
"And now, Mr. Blondln. you Will
kindly leave my house" said Richard.
The other man was watching Har-
riet, with menace in his narrowed
eyes White lines had draw them
selves about his tightly clos al lips.
yet he was smiling. He had lost the
game, truly. but she knew he would
play his last card, just the same. The
suavity. the calm of years fell from
him, and his voice deepened into
sort of cold and quiet fury as he said:
"Oue moment, Mr.. Carter. Why
don't you ask your wife what makes
her think l won't make Nina a good
husband? Why don't you ask her If
she has been hiding something from
you all this time? Why don't you ask
her If she herself wasn't mady in love
and with me when she was Nina's
age, ard whether she was married. in
my studio, TO me, ten years ago-w
He had shot the phrases at her with
distinctneSs almost violent. Now
his dry voice stopped, but his swift,
VenOmOus look went from the silent
man at the desk to the silent woman
who stood before him. Before either
moved or spoke he spoke again.
ASK her--she'll tell you Ask her I"
"Be quiet" Richard said. Il don't
believe one word of 1t 1" And then as
the girl neither raised her eyes nor
attempted to speak, he asked her, en-
couragingly and quickly; Harriet,
will you tell him that not one word of
that Is truef"
Harriet had risen, and was standing
at the back of the carved black chair
with both her hands resting upon IL.
She had looked quietly at BlOndln,
when he began TO speak, and the beau
tiful white breast that her black eve.
ming gown left bare had risen once or
twice on swift impulse to interrupt
him. But now she was looking down.
at her laced fingers, with something
despairing and helpless In the droop
OF her bright head and lowered lashes.
y. i@i had its times of seeming
frigntfuI TO her, this secret, in the