The herald., 1922-04-27

the blue eyes were so honestly fright
ened and ashamed. And she had been
that bOunder's wife-in his arms! Di-
vOrced! Harriet Field? Poor girl,
cornered by this unscrupulous scOun-
drel, this bully, with all the ugly past
dragged up Ike the muddy bottom of
river, staining and Clouding the
clear waters. And what a look she
had given him, there under the lamp!
IT'S funny code" he mused. Bar
harians. that's what we are, when II
comes to women. Nina, Ida. Isabelle.
Harriet-all of them pay for the man.
made rule! l shouldn't have forced
her hand in tAis business marriage;
IL was taking IN 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.
didn't exact that. We've made a nice
mess Of It, all aroundl
II 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
Of the blue eyes that turned toward
Blondin.
"She could have killed him!" Rich
ard said. MY God how she will love
when she does lovew
|
Meanwhile, to Harriet had come the
bitterest hour of her life. She had
reached a crossroads, and with steady
fingers and an anguished heart she
prepared for the only step that TO her
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
She had harmed them all, they could
only think Of her now as an unscrupu-
lous and mischievous woman who had
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 loose wrapper. She went
about somewhat aimlessly, yet the
suitcases, spread open on the bed
were gradually filed, and her per.
sonal possessions gradually disap
peared from tables and walls. Now
and then she stopped short, heartsick
and trembling; once her lips quivered
and her eyes filed, but for the mos,
part she did not pause.
Nina, at about eleven, had come tc
the door between their rooms, and
opened 1t. The girl was undressed
and for a few moments she watched
Harriet scowlingly, with narrowed
eyes.
Are you going away" she said
presently. Harriet brought heav!
eyes to meet hers, and stood consider
ing a minute, as II bringing hel
thoughts back long distance.
"I-going away? Yes" she said
slowly. "Yes, may"
Nina stood watching, which seemet
vaguely to trouble Harriet, who gav'
her a restless glance now and then a!
she went to and fro. Presently sh'
spoke to Nina again.
Goodnight, Nina!"
Goodnight" snapped Nina, ant
the door slammed.
, Harriet continued to move about 70
perhaps half an hour before Nina
odd manner required to her, on wa
of memory, and she seemed to hea
again Nina's ungracious tone. v
, "He told herl" she said, suddenly
, "She saw Royal, and he told her /! Poo
, child"
, And she went to Nlna's room, wit
. vague idea that she would sit besid
, the weeping girl for awhile, one heav
: heart close to the other, even II n
, words could pass between them.
But Nina lay sleeping peacefully
and Harriet, after watching her for
few minutes. went back to her ow
> room. She went to the open window
. and stood staring absently out at tn
dark summer night, the great branche
of the trees moving In the restles
wind, and the oblong Of dull light tha
still fell from the library window.
She could not see the horror
Richard saw it: she could not see hel
, self as only a mistaken woman,
: woman with youth, beauty, and inte
d IL