The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-04-13

sick within her. Close upon her radi-
ant dream had come this shadow, far
more a shadow now. when her respOn-
sibility had infinitely increased, and
when she had had proof of the love
and respect in which they held her
here.
Il don't think so" she said. briefly.
.ril fiud Bottomley. and have lunch
put ahead"
"You don't like him" Ward said.
watching her closely.
II 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 10 have more
than a scalp day" said her brother.
fraternally.
"Nina has a fortune :" the girl re-
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol.
Lord. he could marry girl with
ten times that Look here. you don't
think a man like Blondin would con-
slider that - he protested.
IT would rather see Nina dead and
hurled ?" The words burst from Har-
riet against her viii. against her prom
ise 10 Royal There was no help for
II, her essential honesty would have
It's way.
Talk TO him." Ward. fortunately
was not inclined 10 take her too seri-
ously. you'll like him! Gosh, he
certainly has a good effect on me-"
added the youth. mOdestly. HE
doesn't drink. and he talks to me-
you ought to hear him about char
acter being fate. and all thati Say,
listen. before We get out Of the
woods
His sudden sense Of her nearness
and beauty belied 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
his kisses almost frightened her; she
was held. bound, half-lifted of her
feet.
Ward =" she gasped, freed at last
and with one hand 10 her disordered
hair. while the other held him al
arm's-length. "Deari PleaSel''
1t was no use. Soul and senses were
enyeloped again, and close to her ear
she heard him whisper: I'm mad
about you, Do you know that? I'm
mad about your
II think you arer" she stammered,
GREATNESS and laughing. "You mustn't
do that You mustn't do that Why,
We might be seen"
Breathless, too, he flung back his
hair. and stopped to pick up her para
( SOL
do you think / carei" he painted,
| indifferently. Il wouldn't care If the
whole world sawi"
"Sh-shr BY the magic only
known TO youth and womanhood Har-
riet had gathered herself into trim
ness and calm again. She took her
parasol compOsedly. Her eyes told
him the whole story. Nina and Royal
| Blondin were two hundred feet away,
coming up from the tennis court.
"You foOl-fooI-fool =" she said to
herself. What hau they seen? What
new twist 10 the situation would
Nina's suspicious afford? Richard
Carter trusted her; this was no time
10 tell him that she loved his son.
Did she love WARRIOR with his keen
and kindly eyes would Wards father
see exactly what she saw in the mar
ringer Caught kissing in the woods
Ike Rosa or Germaine; il was I'M
thinkablei How she had weakened
her position here How she had
rfsked-her heart contracted with
pain-severing OF her association with
Crownlands.
Luncheon. under its veneer Of
gaiety and fooIishness. offered fresh
terrors. For old Madame Carter had
come down and II occurred to Harriet
that II Nina had seen anything in the
wood. she might naturally Interest
her grandmother with an account Of
n The old lady would go instantly
70 her son And Richard-Harriet
could imagine him, tired. harassed.
heartsick over the recent inexplicable
weakness of his wife. having to face
another wOman's treachery. having TO
listen TO the demure announcement OF
rho little secretary's engagement to
his son.
He was experiencing the most over
Uhelming shock Of all his life now;
he must shortly he exposed to all the
wbirl of scandal: the slenced gossip.
the averted eyes of his world. the
waekIies with their muddy insinua-
lions. the staring fact headlined above
his breakfast bacon This was her
time TO efface herself and the house
hold. TO help him to lift the load.
I'm afraid I wasn't listening. Mr..
Blondin?
miss Nina and 1 want TO know
what day we may have our partyr
Royal repeated.
.The studio partyT
"The roof garden party. We're 60
inc TO have Ii from half-past six to
hstf-past seven only, because then II
won't be too hot
~Wby not have it at night. with Ian
ternsY' Harriet said, quite involun-