The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-06-08

pier for me. But as 1t was, / angeIed
them. / didn't want to marry David.
And SO It vas what folly girls got
themselves into-what the world
thought Of a girl who had been talked
about-what the least breath of scan
dal meant I" -
"And you went back to Blondin7 r.
Richard suggested. ; "
II? No, ] never saw him again until
a year ago In this garden! p Harriet
said.
"You never saw him again I" the man
calculated.
"Not for nine yearsl"
"But-my God, my dear girl, he
spoke of you as his wife," Richard
said.
HE said I had been. Not that / was
now"
The man looked at her, looked away
at the river, and shrugged his Shout
ders as If he were mystifed by the
ways of women.
"But-you were never his wtfe?" he
said, fatty.
"Oh, no! You didn't think" Harriet
said, hurt, that I would have married
you, or anyone else, If l had been"
you let him blackmail you for
thatW Richard further marveled.
II knew-in my W mind, of course,
that I was not to blame" the girl said,
a%nxiously. "But it sounded-horrible."
Richard bit his lower lip, looked
critically at his racket, slowly shook
his head.
II didn't mind what any one
thought" Harriet said, reading his
thought. But they did,"
'They?" Richard repeated, patiently.
Everyone" she supplied, promptly.
''Your wife, your mother, Mary Put
mani Even Mrs. Tabor"
II suppose SOL" he conceded, after a
pause. And beneath his breath he add
ed, "Isabelle-Ida Tabor!"
His tone was all she asked Of ex-
quisite reinsurance.
IT hoped you wouldn't" she said,
standing up with clasped hands and a
sudden Frightening Of her tired and col
0rless face. That's what I tried to
make myself believe you would feel! l
wanted so to leave all behind. thought
he had gone, that it was all over, that
what it IA mattered more than what
it sounded like I thought I could save
Nina better, with what I knew, than
any one else! But last night" Harriet
added, proved to me that I had been
all wrong. I've been 50 worried" she
added, with utter faith in his decision.
II don't know what you think we had
better do"
For a full minute Richard watched
her in silence. Then he said, mildly:
"About Nina, you meanT'
"About everything! !" Harriet sudden
ly laughed gaily, like a child. Life
seemed once more straight and pleas
she felt puzzled, but somehow no long
er afraid. The menacing horrors of all
the years, the vague uneasiness that
she had never quite dared to face, were
fiuttering about her awakening spirit
like Alice's pack OF cards.
"Nina will come into Hne," her IA
Their said, thoughtfully; "she doesn't
know what she wants. I wish-I wish
he loved her" he added, with a faint
frown. "TH see him about 1t again.
Wen take her to Rio. She'll get over
It."
And" Harriet stopped, and began
again: "And do you want things to 90
on Just as they areY' she asked.
For answer Richard smiled at her in
silence.
Mo" he said, finally. Il can't say
that I do. I want you to worry less,
and to buy yourself SOM new gowns,
and to begin to enjoy lifel Shake
speare had you down fine when he
talked about conscience making cow
ards Of us all. What did you do it fort
A young. capable, goodlooking girl
scared by q lot Of old womepi Now,
wen take up this Nina question, later
ON. You'd better 60 up and get your
self some coffee, and 60 to bed for
awhile. Better plan to be In town for
q day OF two, for you'll both need
clothes for the steamer
You're very kind" the girl said, eyes
averted, voice almost inaudible. Thsy
were both standing now, Harrtet's head
turned aside, so that he could not see
her face, but her soft fingers resting in
his. r %>.'' =. -.;
I'm not kind at all |" Richard said,
with a rather confused laugh. he pat
I'D her hand encouragingly. "The sea
trip VIII shake both you and Nina up.
and do you a world Of goodw he said
"You think" Harriet raised tho
soft, dark lashes, and her splendid,
weary eyes met his, You really aren't
worried about Ninaf' -.
And she tried by a very faint stirring
Of her fingers to free them and, finding
them held. dropped her eyes again.
n think I have Blondin's number
Richard said, with more force than elo-
Quence. Then, with q little laugh that
was partly amused and partly embar-
raised, he let her Go I
He watched the young. slender ~
me and the shining. hare head unt1l
they disappeared among the grutI
trees about the house. 1
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE summer Sunday ran Id us1nl
course. Ward and his sister went %
luncheon ut the club; Madame Carter
drove maJestically 20 q late service IN
nrstty, vine-covered viIlage churcA.
/. at last abls % relax n soal