Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-23
AZ - ~
CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.
u


A day or two later there was fam
ny conference In the library, and Har-
riet realized more clearly than ever
that 1t was impossible to forecast the
march Of events. Richard announced
that after consideration he had de-
cided that it would be wiser for the
family to weather the storm of talk
that would follow Isabelle's disappear
ance in some neighborhood less con-
nected with her. He had therefore
leased an establishment on Long
Island, where the children could have
their swimming and tennis, and his
mother her usual nearness to town, but
where they would be comparatively
inaccessible to a curious press and
public, and might disappear for
grateful interval. The life at Hunting
ton would be less formal than at
Crownlands, but the house he had
taken was comfortable and roomy;
there would be. plenty of room for
Nina's girl friends and Wards guests.
Miss Field, Bottomley and Hansen
would please see to 1t that the move
was made with all possible expedition.
II have explained to my mother and
the children" he said, quietly, to Har-
riet, ''that Mrs Carter has asked for
divorce, which will, of course. be
Immediately arranged. Now, Miss
Field, you will understand that you
are in charge from now on My mother
will-well, you know how to handle
her! She is old-enjoys her little bit
Of mischief sometimes! Anything un-
usual you can refer to me; shall be
there every week, anyway"
He paused and ruff1ed the scattered
papers that were on the fat-topped
desk before him. Harriet watched
him anxiously. She thought he looked
tired and old, and her heart ached at
the troubled attempt he was making
to simplify the tragedy for them all.
He was not handsome, she reflected,
but surely there had never been
keener or pleasanter gray eyes, and d
mouth so strong when it was in repose,
so honest when 1t smiled Not like
! Wards ready and incessant laughter,
not like Royal Blondin's carefully cal
| culated amusement
Reaching this point in her thought,
| facing him with her whole beautiful
| face alive with emotion and interest,
| Harriet smiled herself, involuntarily
and family. 1t was a smile of almost
! daughterly sympathy and comrade-
ship, friendly and innocent, and wholly
| irresistible.
Richard, catching the look, was per-
haps unconsciOusly cheered by it.
Even at forty-four, and under his
| present difficulties and harassments.
he must have been dead not to be
refreshed by the vision of earnest
youth and beauty that was so near
him in the tempered summer light of
the great library.
"Thank your he said as If she had
| spoken. There is one more thing.
Miss Field he added, idly rumpling
| his papers again, and then moving his
fine hand to his thick brown hair,
whose shining order he rumpled too.
About this man Blondin. Do you
know anything about him?"
A more direct shot at her innermost
Businesses could hardly have been
made. Robbed Of breath and senses
by the suddenness of 1t, and with dry
lips, Harriet could only falter a repe-
tition:
Know anything about him?"
81 don't know much, and what 1 do
know 1 don't like" Richard continued.
noticing nothing amiss in her manner,
perhaps because he was so deeply abb
sorbed in what he was saying Hes
a handsome fellow he knows his SUBJ
ject, l guess. But 1 don't like him.
! Now, don't know how he feels to
Nina, or she to him. but as you know,
she will come into her uncle's fortune
in a few months, unless the trustee,
who is myself. decides to defer pay
Izlent for another three years. l mere
! ~ want to say that it might be as well
to intimate to this young fellow that
there are conditions under which
would see fit to defer it. and anything
that brought him into that connection
Vould-well. would constitute one!"
Il didn't know of that! y Harriet ex-
claimed, i'll such obvious relief thar
the man smiled involuntarily.
''Then you agree with me?" he
asked. eagerly.
Here in the somber sweetness of the
! library, with the man she admired and
! respected above all others looking to
! her for confidence and counsel. what
could she say? Even had Royal BlOn-
| din been present, Harriet might have
cast every secondary consideration to
! the winds as readily. AS it was, she
could only tell him the truth.
"Oh. yes-yes! | told Ward that
would rather see Nina deadr"
''Why do you say so?" Richard
asked. ''Now. I'll tell you why do ;"
he added, as Harriet was, not unnatu