Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-16
By KATHLEEN NORRIS


Mr.. Carter, it occurred to me that
old Mrs. Singleton is going to Call
fornia, in her own car, tomorrow.
l was wondering if we might con-
fide in Mrs. Singleton-she was al
ways very fond of Mrs. Carter-and
give out the impression that Mrs. Car
ter had suddenly decided to make the
trip with her."
That's an idea," Richard said,
thoughtfully. Il could see Mrs. Sin
gietOn tOnight-and-and talk it over"
1T might serve for only a few
days" Harriet submitted.
Yes, l see," he agreed, slowly.
well, l can give Nina a hint now!"
Harriet said, going.
But it was, too late for any soothing
| deception of Nina. A scene was in
full progress in Nina's bedroom, and
| Harriets eye had only to go from
the prone form on the bed to the
crushed newspaper that had drifted to
the floor, to know that the secret was
out. 1Sabelle's face, radiant and hap
| py, looked out from the page. 1t was
fianked by two smaller pictures, Rich
ards and Anthony Pepe's. Harriet
could see the big letters: young
Millionaire-Wife of Richard Carter"
| The deluge was upon them.
"Oh-it's a lie-it's lie! My beau
tiful little mother!" Nina was sob
bling. "Oh, no, it's not true! It's a
| lie! Oh, how shall l ever hold up my
head again-to be disgraced-now
just when I'm so young-and ha-h-
happy!"
Nina, my child, control yourself "
Harriet, ignoring the staring and pale
the bed, and shook the girl slightly.
you mustn't give way! Come now,
my dear, you must face this like a
woman. Think how your father and
Ward will look to you"
Acting, all of it, said Harriet in her
soul. But despite the youthful appe-
tite for heroics, there were real tears
in Nina's eyes, as there had been in
her grandmother's a few hours ago.
Yes, that's true!" she said, wiping
a swollen face on the handkerchief
Harriet supplied. But OH don't be-
lieve it, and my father will sue them
for libel, you see if he doesn't! My
mothers the purest and sweetest and
best woman alive-and I'll kill any one
who says any different!"
10000, TO see it in the paper there
right on the bed" said Amy, In her
/ reedy, colorless little voice, as Nina
stopped suddenly. 10000, l thought
Nina would die!'' Nina began to cry
again, but more quietly. 81 guess had
i better go" Amy finished. plaintively
"Oh, now said Nina, in a choked
voice, as she clung to her frined. mo
darling! you stay with me. Oh,
must go see my father, and my poor
grandmother! Oh, Amy, perhaps you
had better go, for my family will neeC
me tonight. My mother" said Nina
crying again.
She and Amy parted solemnly, witt
many kisses.
Its thing that might happen t,
me, or to any girl" said Amy gravely
Harriet had an upsetting vision O
ing as she discussed the details of tht
Red Cross drive, but she was yer!
sympathetic with the young girls, ant
even agreed with Nina, when Amy wa
gone, that it would be much more sen
, sible to take her bath, and put on he
white organdie, and then go find he
father.
, They dined almost silently, and wer
about to disperse quietly for the night
after an hour of half-hearted converse
, tion in the drawing room, obviousl.
endured by Richard simply for hi
mothers sake, when Ward burst in
He had travelled almost four hundret
miles by motor that day. his face wa
streaked with dirt and oil, and ghastl.
with fatigue. He went straight +
his father.
, Say. what's all thisv" he said in
voice hardly recognizable. Harrle
, saw that he had been drinking. 81 go
your wire, and we started. l though
the Mater was sick, perhaps. My Co
f that worried mel" he broke off bit
, terly. "BIondin came with me; w
! stopped on the road for dinner, an,
: the man had paper there. Is tha
$ what you wanted me for-I don't be
$ lieve it! It's dirty lie. and the boun
= der that put that in the paper"
2 I'm glad you came home, my boy,
. Richard said. I've been waiting TO
: you"
t Harriet heard no more; she slippe
2 from the room. There were genuil
:. tears in her own eyes now; for tn
t boy had flung himself face dOwnwar