The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-02-24

| Mrs. Richard Carter, nor would sh
have held her present position OF trus
and responsibility.
While Nina and her lover murmuret
on the terrace Harriet brooded OF
these things. and after dinner tina
evening she gave Richard 80 sharp q
warning that he sent at once for Nina
and with a clouded brow and angry
eyes briefly requested Harriet to be
| present while he spoke to her.
Nina came at once, with an limo
young face. She seated herself near
Harriet, and her father went to the
point at once.
"Nina." he said, seriously, you saw
Royal Blondin this afternoon. didn't
your" And as Nina answered only
with an ugly glance at Harriet, the be-
trayer, he added, Didn't l ask you
not to see him any more, several
months ago7"
"Yes. you did" Nina said. in low
tone, and with a heaving breast.
Il hope, and we all hope, that you
will marry some day." Richard said.
But you are too young now to make
a wise choice. And until you are
little older, you will have to take my
word for 1t that such an affair would
only lead you to misery and regret"
Nina mumbled something bravely.
II didn't hear you" her father said.
II said, didn't see what you could
do about i" the girl repeated. des-
perately.
For few moments of silence Rich
ard merely looked gravely at his
daughter. Then he clasped his fine
hands on the desk before him, and
cleared his throat
II cannot do as much as l should
like, Nina" he conceded, but / shall
do what / can. But first let me ask
you: have you promised to marry Mr..
Blondin?"
Silence. Nina looked at the floor.
Richard repeated his question.
Eyes, ] have-and you can't kill me
for It'll" Nina said. and burst into
tears.
"Well," the father resumed, when
Harriet had supplied a consolatory
murmur and a handkerchief, I'm
sorry, of course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you. did she7 You
met him occasionally?
1.-TWO or three times" Nina said, |
shifting and drying her eyes busily.
"You know my reasons for disliking
him, Nina" her father said. HE is a
nan more than twice your age; he
las a certain sort Of unsavory reputa-
ion In his affairs with women. He
las no income, no profession, no
Tome; all those things tell against
i'm. You're only a child"
81 shall be Of age Tuesday," Nina
urst forth, resentfully.
"You will be of age Tuesday. True.
Sut you win be my ward, as far as
our Uncle Edwards legacy is con-
erned, for another three years. Now,
Una, If you persist In this folly
gainst my most earnest advice, | can
My forbid the man the house, and
)ck you In your room In the good old
ashioned way. That l shall do. l
hall then give out to the world-that
as already had rare treat at the
xpense Of the Carter family-the
ews of my utter disapproval of the
latch. If you manage the marriage
! spite Of me, l shall forbid you and
londin my house, and as a matter
course use my right to withhold
lie payment OF your legacy for three
ears. and stop your present allow
nee, and your credit with the shops.
hats all l can dol And do 1t,
ina," said Richard In softer tone,
do II TO hasten the inevitable, my
,arl / do 1t to bring you back to
'ur father sooner instead of later; to
We you only one year of disillusion- ,
ent and suffering, instead of seven
eight"
It must be q brave girl. thought .
arriet, who could persist in any
urse, after that But Nina had the
pregnable armor Of Ignorance and
ide, and she only shifted pathetical- >,
again, and shrugged her shoulders.
''You do everything in the world to h
axe my marriage failure !" she :
Id with the irrepressible tears. "And q
suppose you'll be delighted ii 1t is 4
ID / don't self a woman can q
TRY a rich man, why man n
Duldn't sometimes be glad II girl
s money! I'm proud to help him y
/, If he'll let me. He says he won't n,
Why, we had planned going-well. ST
L everywhere, Honolulu and south II
| California and Just everywhere,
y now he won't gol He says he is h,
ng TO stay right here, and take a II
'ition with an art magazine that he n
I hates, and work 1t all off-before
go, II 1t takes years" A
Work what all OFF, Harriet asked. W
ply and quietly. Fl
This money that a friend of his
lily lost. but he has taken II upon W
lself," Nina answered, little molli- ri
/. ut was eleven thousand dollars, TO
| he has paid of about four, and
way, / hate SO much talk about FL
ley 70 she finished, angrily. pc
Ny dear" Harriet said. as Richard. ad
n n tronhIad Face remained silent | nj