Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-01-26
cHAprEa WI.

WOTo an0 no sign from RlcnAIus the
possibilities began to suggest them
selves. II seemed to her incredible
that any oma would risk all that
Isabelle had for the sake Of a Hery
boys FIRST love, and yet, on the other
hand, there was the memory Of Isa-
bellies suffering two nights ago, and
here were the amazing facts to prove
II.
It vas for few women to enjoy the
popularity Isabelle had known. But
any woman might run away with a rich
admirer. Harriet's admiration for the
cleverness with which Isabelle con-
Quoted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared, and In its place came the
sharp conviction that old-fashioned
women like Linda had some justidca-
tiOn. after all; It was dangerous" II
did lead to sin" II could indeed HAP.
pen once too often
Harriet felt her own lapslng moral.
ity regaihinE Its standard Just nov.
when Nina most needed her mother,
whAn Richard was struggling with az.
Aeuit busthass ,eonditionS, when ward
was engaged
sAs interrupted her tAoughts hare.
ana tried to make herself feet LIKE Q
wezAan engaged "a, BE- married. 9sms.
ASw the fAst persisted injbazlinS hss.
I6ere WA fan anreality .aboas q that
prevented her from taskinR the Ifpli.
sweet. Engagsd-~to q rich. man. and Q
rich mans son. Well, perhaps when
Ward came back, It would seem more
believable. ~
She had been standing at n Of the
hall windows, q window deep set In
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path to
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
eyes tight, she came back to the pres
ent moment with a start. Ward Car.
ter was behind her. He laughed at her
confusion, and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes, he was
going back to the Bellamys', and so
was Blondin, but they had both come
in just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought ~assuran to
her. Ward was such a dear! OF
course she loved him.
"But you weren't a very good boy
last night !" she said. Their hands were
locked; but she had shaken a negative
when he would have kissed her.
d H1nkfan 80 hn nnuFaepo1 aaetIy tT
played poker, too. No man ought to
do that when he's edged. Sorry-sor-
r%y--sorry. Listen. When we're mar
ried it's all off, No smoking, drinking,
gambling, wine, women, or song,
.what7"~ M
You may not know 1t, but YOU "
spoke a truer word! !" the Sirl said His
shout Ok laughter was pleasant ii hear.
4 '.Listen. docs Mother know it1
About us. ! meanT'
"Oh, .Ward-nobody sknows It'll
Hushlr HIS mention OF his mother
brought back realisation with asrush,
and she added unfomfortably, sShe's
at Great Darlington"
"oh, darn 1 wanted to see. her
She wrote me, and told ME she loved
me, and that Ahe didn't think she had
been q very good mother TO messt He
laughed, yOuthfully. with q bewsldered
widening Of his eyes. II thought she
was sick. Wen, maybe w q stop
there going back"
"Where did you leave Mr.. Blon-
dinT"
HE beat It down to the tennis
court. Say, listen, is there a chance
that he's stuck on Nina? II looks to
me like what the watch comes In
Harriet glanced at her wrist before
she answered him. Her heart was
sick within her. Close upon her radi-
ant dream had come this shadow, far
mor 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.
II don't think sol" she said, briefly.
'T1l find Bottomley, and have lunch
put ahead"
you don't like himI" 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 to have more
than a scalp q day" said her brother
fraternally.
nina has a fOrtune!" the girl re.
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol. -
Lord, he could marry a girl with
ten times thatl Look here, you don't
think a man like Blondin would con-
slider that" he protested.
II would rather see Nina dead and
buriedi" The words burst from Hars
riet against her viii, against her prom.
Use TO Royal. There was no help for
II, her essential honesty would have
it's way.
talk to himl. Ward. fortunately,
was mot inclined to take her DO seri-
ously. you'll like himl Gosh, he
certainly has a good effect on me,i
added the youth, modestlys "He
doesn't drink, and he talks to me-
you ought to hear himl-about char
acter being fate. and all thatI Say.
listen, before we get out Of the
woods
h ~ #4ItFTeASt-Ha HhaMa &NNflNNA NHsHfsf
Els 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 nov
with trembling excitement. The quick
movement Of his breast she could feel
against her own. and the passion of
his kisses almost frightened her; sAe
was held, bound. half-iifted on her
(an& 4 aA4H NAa E9N