, 1922-06-14

as she and Nina basked on the gently
heaving float, in the sunshine. Nina
talked necessarily of Blondin. HAIR
riet fancied she saw an opening for a
little talk she felt extremely timely.
"Mr. Blondin likes you, Nina, Just
because you aren't flirtatious and silly.
like h other girls. But he Isn't the
sort of man to get very deeply inter-
ested in any woman. dear"
No. l know he's not - Nina said
quickly, turning suddenly red, and
looking atte%ntively at the print of her
wet hand on the dry, hot boards.
And l would be sorry If he WERE"
Harriet pursued, not too seriously,
for l want you to marry a man Of
your w age, when o do marry.
and not a man who has had-well,
other affairs, who has that confiden-
tial, iattering manner with all women!
You will be rich, Nina
Why don't you say that Royal is
after my money y Nina burst out, with
symptoms of tears. The ready name
frightened Harriet afresh she knew
that they correspondent, that grass was
not growing under Royals feet. 1.-THE
first man | ever really liked" Nina
said, with a heaving breast, 'the first
man who ever understood me-"
Nina" Harriet said. you don't
want TO have TO write your husband
a check on your honeymoon"
She felt 1t a cruel cut; but seven
teen years of f%iattery and smoothness
had armed Nina in impregnable COM
placence. She ave a sneerlng laugh
that trembled on the brink of tears,
and tried to control a mouth that was
shaking with anger. One look of utter
scorn she did manage, then she
shrugged not so much her shoulders
as her whole body, and flung herself
furiously into the water. Harriet
called Nina !" first impatiently, and
then coaxingly. But the younger girl
swan steadily to the shore, and Har-
riet saw her a minute later, shaking
herself outside the shower, before she
disappeared into the big b%athhouse.
Harriet had entirely forgotten Ward.
until he swan under the float. and
with a characteristic yell, rose stream
ing like a seal under her very feet.
Genuinely startled, she gratifed him
with a scream, and they both laughed
Ike children as he flung himself drip
ping on the hot boards. and proceeded
to bake luxuriously In the sun.
Its the most gorgeous thing I ever
saw, do o know that?" he asked.
with n hand touching the river of
sparkling gold that blazed n .umbled
on her shoulders. listen. Harriet,
do you remember the little talk we
had some weeks ago?r
Perfectly" she said. a little unwil-
lingiy.
"weIl how about it," the boy said,
after a pause.
at wouldn't be fair to you. Ward"
the girl said. slowly. after a pause.
II love you. but I don't love you the
way your wife will
II want you'll" he said, ~sullenly. "rm
crazy about youl My God"
Ward. please don't touch me I" she
said sharply, getting to her feet with a
spring, as he put his arm about her.
Don't l shall tell your father If
you dol"
you didn't talk that way at Crown
lands last June" the man said, salkily.
Il don't see what has made such a
difference nowl'
Il think perhaps I'm different, Ward.
The summer" Harriet's voice died
into silence. Her eyes were fixed upon
the figure of a man who came down
the little pier. and dove into the shin
ing water. Two minutes later. with a
great gasp of satisfaction. Richard
~ rfor .Iratr hIpncaIF rs hnrtl. 49,.