The Jasper news., 1922-02-16


put ahead"
.yon don't liRe hint" Ward said.
watching her closely.
Il don't like him for Nina !" she
amended.
The boy followed her while she gave
her order Then they went out into
the blazing day together.
nina isn't going TO have more
than scalp day." said her brother.
fruternnIly.
nina has q fortuneir the girl re
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
pnrasol.
: Lord. he could marry girl with
ten times thatl Look here. you don't
think O man like Blondln would con-
slider fhnti" he protested,
II would rnthef see Nina dend ana
buriedr' The words burst from Har-
riet against her will. against her prom.
ise to Royal. There was no help for
II, her essential honesty wenld have
its way.
talk to him II Ward, fortunately.
was not Inclined to take her too seri-
ously. you'll like him Gosh. ha
certainly has q good effect on me-
added the youth. modcstly. "Hs
doesn't drink. and he tnlks to me-
you ought to hear him i-about char
acter being fate. and oil thutl Say.
listen, before we get out OF the
woods---?"
His sudden sense OF her nenrness
and beauty belled the careless words
Harriet found his arms tight about
her, her face tipped up to the young,
handsome face that was stirred now
with trembling excitement. The quick
movement Of his breast she could feel
against her own. and the passion Of
bis kisses almost frightened her; she
wns held, bound. half.llfted of her
feet.
"wani!" she gasped, freed at Inst.
ana with one hand to her disorlered
hnis. while tho other held him at
nrn's-length. 'Dearl Plense"
II was no use. Soul and senses were
cnveloped again. and close to her ear
she heard him whisper: I'm mad
about you! Do you know that7 I'm
mad about you!"
II think you are!" she stamrDered.
breathless and laughing. "You mustn't
do that! You mustn't do that! Why.
we might be Scent"
Breatnless, too, he flung hack his
hair, and stopped TO pick up her para
sol
"Do you think I carei" he painted.
indlfferently. Il wouldn't care II tb"
whole world saw -
"Sh-sh r. BY the magic only
known TO youth and womaRhcod Har-
riet had gathered herself into trim
ness and calm again. She took her
parnsoi composedly. Her eyes told
him the whole story. Nina and Royal
Blondin were two hundred feet away.
coming up from the tennis court.
"You iOol-fooi--fool! :" she said to
herself. What had they seen? What
| new twist TO the situation would
Nlna's suspicious afford? Richard
Carter trusted her; this was no time
10 tell him that she loved his son.
| DID she love Ward9--or with his keen
and kindly eyes would Wards father
see exactly what she saw In the mar
rlage7 Caught kissing in the woods
lIko Rosa or Gernalne; {. was un-
thinkablei How she had weakened
her position herei How she had
risked-her heart contracted with
pain-severing Of her association Will
| CrOwnIands.
| Luncheon, under Its veneer OF
gaIety and foolishness. offered fresh
terrors. For old Madame Carter had
come down. and It occurred to Harrle,
that II Nina had seen anything In the
wood. she might naturally Interest
her grandmother with an account OF
It. The old lady would go Instantly
TO her son. And RIchard-Harrie'
could imagine him. tired. harassed
heartsick over the recent inexpllcabie
weakness OF his wife. having TO facs
another woman's treachery. having tC
listen to the demure announcement Of
the little secretnry's engagement e
his son.
He was experiencing the most over
whelming shock Of all his lifo now
he must shortly be exposed TO all ths
whlrl Of scandal: the silenced gossip
the ayerted eyes Of his world. TIN
weekiies with their muddy insinua
tions. the staring fact headllned abov'
his breakfast bacon. This was he
time 10 efface herself and the house
hold, to help him to lift the Load
"rm afraid wasn't listening. Mr.
BlondInr
"Adiss Nina and want TO know
whnt day we may have our parfyT
ROYAL reDeated.