The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-04-06

your And as Nina answered only
with an ugly glance at Harriet, the be-
trayer, he added, Didn't ! ask you
not TO see HIM any more. several
months aR0f
Eyes you did, Nina said. IN a low
tone, ind with d heavlng breast.
Il hope, and we all hope, that you
viii marry some day." Richard said.
"But YOU are too young now to make
a wise choice. And until You are a
little older. you will have TO take my
word for Il that such an affair would
only lead you to misery and regret"
Nina numbled something brnvely.
II didn't hear you" her father ssIid.
II said, ] didn't see what YOU could
do about iti- the girl repeated, des-
| perately.S
For few moments Of silence Rich
ard merely booked grnveiy at his
daughter. Then he clasped his fine
hands on the desk before him. and
cleared his throat.
Il cannot do as much as ! should
like, Nina he conceded, but / shnll
do what can. But first let me ask
you: huve you promised to marry Mr.
BlondinT'
Silence. Nlnn looked at the floor.
Richard repeated his question, !
"Ies. have--and you can't kill me
for IT." Nina said, and burst into
fears. . Fi
Well" the father resumed. when
Harriet had supplied n consolatnry
inurmur and O. handkerchief, I'm
sorry, OF course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you. did shel You
met him occasionally
Two or three times" MINI said
shifting and drying her eyes busily.
"You know my reasons for dlsllkIng
him. Nina" her father said. "He Is u
man more than twice your age; he
has certain sort of unsavory reputa-
| ton In his hffnirs with women. He
has no income. no profession, no
home; all those things tell against
him. You're only child"
II shall be Of age Tuesdayr' Nina
burst forth, rescntfully.
You will be Of age Tuesday. True.
But you will be my ward, as far as
your Uncle Edwards legacy is con-
cerned, for another three years. Now,
Nina, II you persist In this folly,
against my most earnest advice, can
only forbid the man the house, and
lock you in your room in the good old
fashioned way. That l shall do. 1
shall then give out 10 the world-that
has already had rare treat at the
expense OF the Carter family-the
news Of my utter disapproval Of the
match. IL you manage the marriage
in spite Of me, shall forbid you an,l
Blontlln my house, and as matter
OF course use my right to withhold
the payment of your legacy for three
years. and stop your present allow
ance, and your credit with the shops.
| That's nll / can do! And do II,
Nina" said Richard In softer tone.
II do it to hasten the Inevitable, my
dear! ! do 1t to bring you back to
your father sooner instead OF later; TO
give you only one year Of dlsillusion-
ment and suffering, instead OF seven
or eight"
/
Harriet. who could persist In any
course, after that. But Nina had the
imprernablc armOr OF ignorance and
pride, and she only shifted patheticnl.
ly again, and shrugged her shoulders,
"You do everything In the world Ia
make my marriage failure !" she
said with the irrepresslble tears @And
] suppose you'll be delighted II II is
And don't self a woman can
marry rich man, why man
shouldn't sometimes be glad II a girl
has money! I'm proud TO help him
out, II he'll let me- He says he won't
why, we had planned going-weli
ern California and Just everywhere
only now lie won't go! He says he 4:
going TO stay right here, and stake q
position with an art magazine that hs
Just hates and work 1t all off-befors
we 60. II 1t takes years"
"WOrk what all off?'' Harriet asked
simply and quietly.
This money that q friend Of hi
really lost. but he has taken II upoi
himself" Nina answered, little molli
fed. ut was eleven Thousand dollars
and he has paid on about four, AM
anyway. / hate so much talk abou
money I" she finished, angrily.
My dear" Harriet said, rs Richard
with troubled face, remained silent
ut isn't the money that we are worry
ing about Why, ask your father
Nina ASK him II he wouldn't writ
Royal Blondln a check for any sum to
dny. any sum, II you and lie woul'