The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-05-25

descending in fresh rufies and
itooohs, and raised his voice. Here
'ne Shocking like the very rose OF
Come on now, Nina. YOU aren't
Sung 10 belong 10 anybody else but
INC Tor while!" he said But as ne
turned to leave Harriet. he added
"saIh; Cant you? Think II over"
|
The girl thought 1t over with a mad
uehing and feverish persistence that
presently caused her a sensation of
actual sickness. Vague speculatlons
! churhed and seethed In the weary
oraih That could find no beginning and
no END 10 them. To have made a
cream breast Of the whole matter
months ago would have meant de-
hcious sense OF freedom from re-
I spohsibillty now, but then under those
circumstances would she. Harriet,
nave been here now7 Certainly. even
IN the present purely technical sense.
she would not have been the second
Mrs. Richard Carter. nor would she
nave held her present position of trust
and responsibility.
while Nina and her lover murmured
on the terrace Harriet brooded on
these things, and after dinner that
evening she gave Richard so sharp a
warning that he sent at once for Nina
ana with a clouded brow and angry
eyes briefly requested Harriet to be
present while he spoke 10 her.
Nina came at once. with an inno-
cent expression on her rather heavy
young face. She seated herself near
Harriet and her father went 10 the
point al 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 | ask you
not to see him any more. several
months agol"
Yes. you did" Nina said. in a low
tone, and with a heaving breast.
Il hope. and We all hope. that you
VIII marry some day" Richard said.
But you are too young now 10 make
a wise choice. And until yOu are q
little older. you will have 70 take my
word for IL that such an affair would
only lead you 10 misery and regret"
Nina mumbled something bravely.
Il didn't hear you" her father said
II said. l didn't see what you could
do about IL ~ 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 I should
like, Nina" he conceded. but l shall
do what / can. But first let me ask
you: have you promised 10 marry Mr..
BlondlnT"
Silence. Nina looked at the floor.
Richard repeated his question.
"Yes. / have-and you can't XIII me
for it," Nina said. and burst into
tears.
''Weu." the father resumed. when
Harriet had supplied a consolatory
murmur and handkerchief, I'm
sorry. Of course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you. did she? 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
man more than twice your age; he
has a certain sort Of unsavory reputa-
ton In his affairs with women. He
has TO income. no profession. no
home; all those things tell against
him. You're only q child"
II shall be OF age Tuesday," Nina
burst forth. resentfully.
"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, i can
only forbid the man the house. and
lock you In your room I'm the good old
fashioned way. That 1 shall do.
shall then give out TO the world-that
has already had a rare treat at the
expense OF the Carter family-the
news Of my utter disapproval Of the
match. II you manage the marriage
In spite of me, shall forbid you and
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 all I can dol And 1 do II,
Nina" said Richard In softer tone.
Il do It to hasten the inevitable, my
dearI I do II to bring you back to
your father sooner instead of later; to
give you only one year Of disillusion-
ment and suffering, instead Of seven
or eight"
II must be a brave girl, thought
Harriet. who could persist In any
course. after that But Nina had the
impregnable armor Of ignorance and
PRIDE. and she only shifted pathetical-
" again, and shrugged her shoulders.
You do everything In the world to
make my marriage a failure" she
said with the irrepressible tears. and
I suppose you'll be delighted II II is
And don't self q woman can
marry q rich man, why a man
- uf r.