The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-02-24

|
Good EVENING"" Blondin. with his
light. loItering step, crossed the thresh-
old, and Richard closed the door. He
took his chair again and reached
toward the bell that would have
brought Bottomley to summon Nina
In turn. But halfway to the bell his
resolution wavered disappeared. In
table, and his head In his hands. and
there sounded from his chest great
sigh that was almost a groan.
Oh. he was tired-he was tired-he
was tired 1t was all mess-the boy.
the girl. their mother, his own ar
engagements for their protection and
safety. All mess.
She had been beautiful, that girl.
with her golden hair in the lampllght.
and her white arms little raised to
rest her locked hands on the chair.
Like some superb actress of tragedy,
] some splendid and sullen prisoner at
the bar. The slender figure in the dull
wrapping of satin. and the white bos-
ON. had looked so young, so virginia.,
the blue eyes we're so honestly fright
ened and ashamed. And she had been
that Founders wife-in his arms d.
vorcedl Harriet Field? Poor girl,
cornered by this INSCRIPTIONS scoun-
drel, this bully, with all the ugly past
dragged up like the muddy bottom of
a river, staining and clouding the
clear waters. And what a look she
had given him. there under the lamp
Its funny code" he unused. Bar
barians. that's what we are, when 1t
comes to women. Nina, Ida, Isabelle
Harriet-all of them pay for the man
made rule / shouldn't have forced
her hand In this business marriage;
1t was taking an advantage of her. No
woman wants to marry for anything
but love, and If she had married for
love, she would have made a clean
breast of this old affair. of course. l
didn't exact that. We've made nice
mess of 1t. all around
81 mustn't let her work herself into
fever over all this !" he found him
self thinking
But Nina must be the first consider
alton. He must plan for Nina. He
brought his thoughts back resolutely-
his daughter must break her engage
ment now, there was that much gained.
And for the journey to Rio
but why didn't she tell mel" he
interrupted himself. suddenly. The |
reference was not to Nina. Again he |
saw the superb white shoulders In the |
soft flood of lamplight, and the flash |
Blondin.
"She could have killed him !" Rich
ard said. my God how she will love
when she does lover"
Meanwhile. to Harriet had come the
bitterest hour of her life. She had
reached crossroads. and with steady
fingers and an angulshed heart she
for the only step that to her
whlrling brain and shamed soul
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
She had harmed them all, they could
only think of her now as an unscrupu-
by chance entered their lives when
they were all In desperate need Of wis
dom and guidance. who had played
her own contemplate game. and added
one more hurt to the hurt reputation
Of the house of Carter.
Harriet got out of her evening gown
and into u loose wrapper. She went
about somewhat aimlessly. yet the
spread open on the bed,
we're gradually filed. and her per-
,onal possessions gradually disap-
)eared from tables and walls. Now
md then she stopped short, heartslck
md trembling; once her lips quivered
part she did not pause.
Nina, at about eleven, had come TO
he door between their rooms, and
opened 1t. The girl was undressed.
md for few moments she watched
Harriet scowlingly, with narrowed
yes.
Are you going away?" she said.
PRESENTLY. Harriet brought heavy
yes to meet hers, and stood consider
ng minute. as II bringing her '
thoughts back long distance.
"I-going awcy? Yes" she said, {
lowly Yes, / may" {
Nina stood watching, which seemed
aguely to trouble Harriet, who gave
Ter restless glance now and then as
he went to and fro. Presently she 7
poke to Nina again.
Goodnight, Nina -
Goodnight !" snapped Nina, and I
he door slammed. {
Harriet continued TO move about for /
erhaps half an hour before Nina's |
id manner required to her, on a wave I
( memory, and she seemed to hear t
gain Nina's ungracious tone.
ale told herl" she said, suddenly. I
She saw Royal, and he told her Poor s
HID" S
And she went to Nina's room. with q
vague idea that she would sit beside n
he weeping girl for awhile, one heavy e
cart close to the other, even II no g
lords could pass between them. q
But Nina lay sleeping peacefully.