The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-04-20

Olrthday." she said, "and told him
that money made no difference to me
He didn't answer. Then got Bruce
Hopper to ask his mother to hav,
Blondin meet her at the club for tea
and I saw him then. Bruce" Mn"
cast In, still in the new. selfcontainea
tone. has heen wonderful about It
I know he only seems silent sort ~
hoy. hut III never forget what he,
done for me! Royal" she resumed
didn't want to see me. and said he
had promised Father that II was over
He-but I needn't tell you all he said
II sounded" Nina clung to her fn-
theirs hands. and shut her eyes. at
sounded $3.50 falsei" she whispered
bitterly. $50 went to his studio 10
day!" she presently continued. "And
there were two or three wome'
there. but 1t wasn't that. They We're
well, perhaps they were just havinc
fun. But" And Nina looked PHI
fully from Harriet's sympathetic face
to her fathers troubled eyes. "Bui
I've not been having much fun,' sh'
faltered with n suddenly tremhlln7
? mouth. ''Fve been planning-pray
Ing that somehow 1t would come oui
right. He told me today that he had
promised not to see or speak to me
for two years" she said, slowly. Il
Father. knew that he had reason
And two hours ago" she pointed to
the door that led into her fathers
room. 1.-TWO hours ago Iwent in there e
she said. land I looked over your own
check book. Father. did you write
him check? Was that the stub that
had r.. B. on it?'
Richard looked at her scrrowfully.
I'm sorry, Nina" he said, simply
~ told him you should not know from
me would have spared you that"
For n few minutes there was silence
In the room. Then Nina said bravey.
through tears:
81 don't know why you should he
sorry for what will save me months
of slow worry, all at one blow You
and Harriet needn't worry any more.
I'm cured. I've been a fool, let him
flatter me and lie to me-" said this
new Nina, with bitter courage. "but
I'm over it now. I'm sorry l gave you
much trouble, Father"
MY darling GIRL" her father said,
tenderly. 81 only wish 1 could spare
you all this!"
Better now than two or three years
after we were married." Nina said.
"Plenty of girls find 1t out then Fa-
ther, I want you to get that check
through the clearinghouse, for me-"
she said, heroically. land I want to
keep it. If ever I'm fool about man
again, I'll take 1t out and look at !"
'T have 1t; l told Fox to get it to-
day." Richard said. You shall have
it,"
Nina had turned suddenly white: 1t
was as If last little hope had been
killed.
"You have It'll" she whispered. He
cashed it, then."
"He cashed it the next morning."
Richard said. Nina was silent for
moment.
How you must laugh at me, Har-
retl !" she said then.
"I2 Laugh at your Harriet said.
SITlcktIl. My tlit
last woman in the world who could do
thatl l was only your age. Nina, when
| met him-you know that story. Why,
Nina. you're but eighteen, after all;
you'll have many and many an affair
before the right man comes along"
Harriet said. You'll look back on this
some day. and say. 1t was an expert
ence. and learned from it 1t is only
going to make me happier and more
sure when the man whom l really love
comes TO me ="
Nina, sitting between Richard and
Harriet on the bed. looked wlstfully
from one face to another.
"rll try to make 1t so, Harriet"
she said And somewhat timidly she
added, "Father-and Harriet-shall
you feel dreadfully If / say that don't
want to go TO Brazil? I'll tell you
Why. Ward is going out to the Gardi-
ncr ranch, and Bruce is going, too, and
II seems to me that riding and camp
ing and living in the open air will be-
well, will seem better to me than just
being on the steamer / dread seeing
strange places and meeting people,"
said Nina. THE Gardiner girls were
simply darling to me the term they
were in school and-don't you remem-
her. Harriet we were the only people
who took them out for Christmas and
Easter holidays, and they like me!
And-if Won wouldn't he too disnp-
u'nied Harriet, believe would like
nctter,"
'aiv darling girl" Harriet said
,lmly. you must 10 what seems
iSat 10 YOU. But you won't need me?"
he added. tactfully.
well. you see Mrs. Gardiner and
RS. Hopper are sisters" Nina ex-
aimed readily, "and they'll be with
{. But If you'd like to come-we are