The herald., 1922-04-27
CHAPTER XIV.

The curtains at the French windows
in the library at Crownlands stirred
| in the breeze of the warm summer
night, the pendulum Of the big clock
| behind Richard Carter moved TO and
fro, but for long time there was no
other sound in the library. Richard
had dropped his eyes, was idly staring
at the blank sheet of paper before
him. Royal Blondin, who had folded
his arms, for a moment studied Har-
riet between half-clOsed lids, but pres
emily his eyes fell. too, and with a
rather troubled expression he studied
the pattern of the great oriental rug.
Harriet stood motionless, turned TO
stone. If there was anything to be
said In her behalf. she could not say
il now. For the first time the full
measure Of her responsibility and the
full measure of her deceit smote her.
and In utter sickness Of spirit she
could advance no excuse. 1t was not
that she had failed BlOndin, or that
she had failed Richard, but the extent
Of her failure toward herself appalled,
| lltI. OIt was u'l llC SOONs Va NNh
tivated woman she had liked TO think
herself; she was one more egOtist,
with Nina, and Isabelle, and Ida, un-
scrupulously playing her own game
for her own ends.
I'm extremely sorry" Richard said,
presently, in a somewhat lifeless tone.
"I imagine that If my daughter had
known this, she might have been
spared some suffering and some hu-
initiation. But we needn't consider
that now." He was silent, frowning
family. He put up fine hand and
adjusted his eyeglasses with a little
impatient muscular twitching Of his
whole face that Harriet knew to be
characteristic Of his worried moods.
"Mr. Blondin." he said, wearily and
politely, II have had great deal on
my mind, lately, and have perhaps
been hasty in my condemnation of you.
However, this does not particularly
help your cause with my daughter.
There are a great many aspects to the
matter, and IL must take time to con-
slider them. Nina must be my first
consideration, poor child! Her mother
failed her-we have all failed her
She has a right to know Of this con-
versation-"
Harriet stirred, and his eyes moved
to her. Without a word, and with q
; stricken look In her beautiful, ashen
J face she turned, and went slowly
toward the door. When she reached
IT, she steadied herself a second by
pressing one fine hand against the
dark wood, then she opened 1t and was
, gone.
J I'm very sorry" Blondin said hest
tatingly, when the men were alone.
"Mrs. Carter" Richard said, get
ting to his feet, and very definitely
indicating an end to the conversation
before she consented to the-arrange
ment into which we entered, Of course
took me into her confidence In this
matterw
"She-she did?" Royal stammered
Certainly she did" Richard said
harshly. And looking at him the othel
man saw that his face looked haggart
and colorless. "She did not mentor
your name, / presume out Of sense
of generosity to you. I could have
wished" he added, "that you had beer
similarly generous, and had seen ID
to leave her, and leave my daughtel
alone. I think / must ask you to ex
cuse me-" said Richard at the door
His tone was one of absolute suffoca
ton. 81 can see no object In you
and humiliate Mrs. Carter. My daugh
ter, and not myself, Is the one entitled
to your confidence, and you are vel
aware Of my feeling where she is con
cerned! l would to God," said Rich
ard, with bitterness, "that / had neve
seen your facet Mrs. Carter has beel
a useful-and Indispensable !-membe
Of this family for many years; If ther
was in her past some unpleasant ant
painful event, that Is her own al
fair
~ "Not when she marries a man VIII
is unaware of It." Blondin suggested
/, in his pleasant, soft tones.
t "That Is miner Richard said, stern
n ly. And he opened the library dooI
n Good EVENING"" he said.
"Good EVENING" Blondin, with hi
!" light, lettering step, crossed the thresf
I old. and Richard closed the door. Il
Is took his chair again and reache
" toward the bell that would hav
l- brought Bottomley to summon Mn
{, in turn. But halfway to the bell hi
If resolution wavered, disappeared. II
stead, he rested his elbows on tn
q table, and his head In his hands, an
ir there sounded from his chest a gref
I. sigh that was almost a groan.
q, Oh, he was tired-he was tired-h
u was tired 1t was all mess-the bo!
e the girl, their mother, his own al
,r rangements for their protection an
pt safety. All q mess.
N She had been beautiful, that CIR
lg with her golden hair In the lampligh
'p and her white arms little raised
IS. rest her locked hands on the chai
lg Like some superb actress Of TRACED,
he some splendid and sullen prisoner {
ut the bar. The slender figure In the du
30 wrapping cf satin, and the white bo