Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-06-01

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then, Nina, still such q childp
Harriet paused, glanclng at Richard
for encouragement he nodded eagerly,
and she went on:
Marriage IS a tremendous thing,
Nina, and the only thing that makes It
right"
III you're going to say love" Nina
broke in, scornfully, ''you didn't marry
Father for Lowell"
II was going to say mutual under
standing and respect" Harriet said,
quietly, but the splendid color flooded
her face as she spoke, "and you do not
understand life, Nina, or men, or mar
riage. Royal Blondin is a charming
man, and gifted man, but he is an ad-
venturer, dear; he is a man who has
lived In all sorts Of places, known all
sorts Of persons, accepted all sorts of
queer codes. There are coarse ele-
ments in him, Nina, things that would
utterly sicken and frighten you Your
father is right; you would be back
with us in few months or years, per-
haps with child, perhaps shattered in
body as well as soul-not free to take
up your life again with Ward and
Amy, but SCARED and embittered and
changed"
'My God, how that woman loves the
child?" Richard said to himself,
watching her. To him she seemed in
spired. Her eyes were blurred with
tears, her voice shaking, and she had
leaned over to clasp Nina's hands, and
so hold the girls unwilling attention.
nina, can't you trust your father
that far?" Harriet finished. "Can't you
realize that a man like Royal, embar-
rassed for mOney-no matter If he
truly admires you, and truly means to
make you happy-can't think of you
without thinking also Of what your
generous checks are going to mean to
him? Write him a check for eleven
thousand, Nina, as a consolation for
delaying the marriage a year. Try
til"
Nina rose to her feet. Her trembling
mouth was desperately scornful, and
her eyes brimming, although she
fought tears.
Il don't know why my own family is
the first to think that nobody could
possibly love me for myself!'' she said,
in a breaking voice "First Harriet
ruins my friendship with Ladybird-
and then-then-w
Listen, Nina" her father said. He
and Harriet had come around to stand
beside her, and he had encircled the
shaking and protesting shoulders with
his arm. II have just telephoned Fox
to make reservations for me on the
next Brazilian steamer. shall have
to be a month or six weeks in Rio de
Janeiro every year now. Now, I've just
been wondering why you and Harriet
don't come with me this first trip2 We
stop at the Barbados and Bahia; it's
magnificent steamer-swimmin
tanks and gymnasium; you'll love it,
and you'll love a touch Of the South
American countries, too, q chance to
try your Spanish. Why not put off this
marriage idea for a year, come along
with me; you'll make steamer ac-
Quaintances, you'll broaden out little
bit"
"I won't go anywherel" sobbed
Nina, wildly, turning for flight, "be-
cause I'm going to kill myself"
Harriet only waited long enough
after her dramatic exit to give Richard
a reassuring nod. Then she hurried
after Nina.
The girl was sobbing on her bed, and
for awhile she answered Harriet's
soothing touch Of voice and hand only
with angry jerks. Then they fell to
talking, and Nina confided for the first
time fully in the older woman. Royals
letters, his exquisite cards, sent with
flowers, the poems he had written her;
here they all were. Harriet sympa-
thized, sighed, and consoled her af-
fectionately. Presently she was able
to suggest a new thought to Nina, one
that could not but be palatable to the
girls hurt spirit.
"You see, you're only seventeen, Nj
ma" Harriet said, "the age when most
girls are still in the schoolroom, long
before they have affairs Well, you're
not interested in college, so that ought
to give you three or four clear years of
girlhood. You're bound to have other
affairs, you've proved that You go
to South America-perhaps there is
some interesting man on the steamer;
you go to Canada-tO California; the
world Is yours. Now, Royal is differ
ent. He is an experienced man of af-
fairs; he win always have an attrac-
tion for women, and they for him. You
aren't his match, now, Nina. In few
years you may be-"
"Pm not Jealous" Nina said, proud
ly. But Harriet smiled.
Eyes, you are jealous. You wouldn't
be real true woman If you weren'tl"
she accused, A reluctant dimple tugged
at Nina's pouting mouth. She did not
dislike the idea of potential despotism.
of the Travelled, experienced woman of