Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-30

would have believed. "It is-you're
sure it isn't BlOndin?"
"Royal Blondin! No, it's more seri-
ous," Harriet said. ''It means constant
irritation for your mother. 1t means
that she is always in a state of exas-
peration. think-I don't know, but 1
have reason toi think-that she made
it choice, for Mary Putnam. between
usv'
"She has no right to do that. said
Richard, soberly.
I'm not-you know that !-criticiz-
ing" Harriet said. The man sighed,
and tossed a few papers on his desk.
Sometimes have hoped" he be-
gan, on a fresh track, "thats you and
the boy might fancy each other. Fm
not satisfied with Ward. He needs an
anchor. That would be solution for
us-all" 1t was a random shot. but
to his surprise she flushed brightly.
Ward knows that there is no
chance Of that" she said, quickly,
dearly as I love him"
Richards eyes widened with whim-
sical amusement again.
$50 you've refused Ward, have
you?"
Long ago." she answered simply.
The man laughed; but a moment later
his face grew dark and troubled again
as he said:
Il hardly know what to dol The
girl is the first consideration, of
course, and she needs you. feel that
she is not only safe, but happy, when
you are here. I've unfortunately
reached a place where I've got to feel
| free. You've heard US all talk of this
new asbestos merger-my dear girl,
that will keep me going like a slave
for months. perhaps years! 1 won't
| know when / am to be home, or what
shall have to cancel. l suppose l
can't convince you how badly we need
you. My mother-well, she has always
taken life that way; she can't change
now. l shall have Ida Tabor as fix
ture here, l suppose, Nina running
wild, Ward never home! You-you
give me exactly what l want here
| Good dinners, fires, hospitality, good
report from Nina and Ward; l can
bring men home, l can" He mused,
with a smile touching his fine, tired
face. "In short, l wish there was some
fortunate young man somewhere to
make you Mrs. Smith or Jones, Miss
Field, and let you come back to the
Carriers Immediately again p
Harriet laughed, sighed sharply i'm
mediately upon the laugh.
Unfortunately, there isn't such a
man." she said. And she added, Even
a widow, sometimes, is vulnerable"
Richard smiled, but some sudden
thought made the smile but an absent
one, and he sat quite obviously plunged
in meditation for a long minute.
Here's another suggestion, Miss
Field" he said suddenly, looking up.
II don't know how this will strike
you; it has occurred to me before.
Gardiner hinted it-or l thought he
did, and the more l think of it the
more possible it seems. You are a
business woman and l am a business
man. You know exactly what l am,
exactly what occurred in my married
life, after twenty-five years. That
thai sort of thing is over, of course.
But there is that way of settling it, if
you care to consider it"
He paused, with a questioning look
of encouragement, embarrassment and
affectionate interest. Harriet had
grown pale and had fixed her eyes
upon his as if under a spell.
"You mean" Her voice failed
her.
81 mean marriage. 1 mean that you
and 1 shall quietly get married in a
few weeks, when l am free" he an
swered. 81 have just indicated to you
what it would mean to me. l hope"
he added, watching her closely, as she
sat stunned and silent, 81 hope that it
would also have its advantages to you.
Your position then would be unques-
tiouable, my mother-Nina-th world,
would have nothing to say. Your in
f1uence on Ward is the one thing that
may save the boy. Of Nina we've
already spoken. My mOther-I know
her would Immediately become the
champion of her sons wife. There
would be three days buzzing-that
would end 1t"
The swift uprushing of joy in Har-
riet's heart was accompanied with the
first agOnies of renunciatiOn. was per-
haps all the more poignantly sweet