The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-04-20

You f0OI-fool--fool! r. she said to
herself. What had they seen? What
new twist to the situation would
Nina's suspicious afford? Richard
Garter trusted her; this wa no time
to tell him that she loved his son.s
| Did she love WARRIOR with his keen
and kindly eyes would Wards father
| see exactly what she saw in the a
riage? Caught kissing in the woods
like Rosa Or Germaine ; it was I'M
thinkablei How she had weakened
her position here, How she had
rfsked-her heart contracted with
pain-severing Of her association with
Crownlands. ~
Luncheon. under it's veneer OF
gaiety and foolishness, offered fresh
| terrors. For old Madame Carter had
| come down, and it occurred to Harriet
that If Nina had seen anything in the
wood, she might naturally interest
her grandmother with an account OF
1t. The old lady would go instantly
TO her son. And Richard-Harriet
could imagine him, tired, harassed,
heartsick over the recent inexplicable
weakness of his wife, having to face
another woman's, treachery, having to
listen to the demure. announcement OF
the little secretary'sL engagement to
his son. ,L@ .
He was experiencing the most over
whelming shock of all his life now;
he must shortly be exposed to all the
whirl of scandal: the silenced gossip,
the saverted eyes Of his world. the
weeklies with their muddy insinua-
lions, the staring fact headlined above
his breakfast bacon. This was her
time to efface herself and the house
hold. to help him to lift the load.
'I'm afraid 1 wasn't listening, Mr..
Blondin" &-
"Miss Nina and I want to know
what day we may have u party"
Royal repeated.
"The studio party?"
"The roof-garden party. We're go
ing to have 1t from half-past six to
half-past seven only. because then 1t
won't be too hot"
"Why not have it at night, with lam
terns?" Harriet said, quite %inyolun-
tariIy. And again a pang Of self-con-
tempt swept over her. 1t was hateful,
1t was incredible, but she was playing
his game as calmly as If doubts and
reluctance had " entered her
heart.
At four o'clock Richard came home,
and the instant Harriet saw his face
she realized, with a shock even sharp
er than the original moment Of in
credulity, that he had had no success
In his search. He was alone. His
face was drawn and gray, he looked
hot and rumpled and utterly weary;
more, he who had always been the
pink Of well-groemed perfection
looked old. He asked Bottornley
briefly If Madame Carter was In her
room, and, being informed that she
was. went hastily upstairs.
It was to the old lady's beautiful
sitting room that Harriet was sum-
moned a few minutes later. She knew
at once that he had told his mother
all he knew and feared.
Madame Garter was s~hockingly agf.
tated. She had a deep sense of the
dramatic, but she was not entirely act
ing nov. Her face was pale under fts
rouge, and the painful tears of age
stood In her eyes.
Miss Field" said Madame Carter,
1--WE have just had a most terrtble-s
most unexpected-blow! J"
- Harriet simulated expectancy.
There is every reason to believe
pursued Madame Carter, majestically
shat my unfortunate daughter-in-law
Mr.. Carriers wife, Isabelle, has yield
ed to the passion Of her lover! No
let me talk, Richard" she interrupted
herself, as the man raised haggard
eyes to watch her ~impersonally, 'fai
better to face the facts, my dear! My
son tells me, Miss Field the-the
well-nfgh incredible statement that
forgetting the honor of womanhood
and the tender claims Of maternity
aMiss Field" Richard did not have
the manner of interruption, but hi
quiet. voice dominated the other voice
none the less. Madame Carter fell 81
lent, and watched him with mournfu
pride. Miss Field" he said, wi
want your help The facts are these
williams had all the roads watched
they did not go by motor. Mrs. Car
ter reached New London at five O'Clock
yesterday; .Pope's boat, the Geisha
: pulled out at half-past six. From
what Williams men picked up, at thu
dock, Pope did not expect her, ~was II
have sailed this morning. She ar
rived, and evidently he thought It wis,
to hurry their start. The pier had {
{ dozen boxes for the Geisha on II, gro
cerfes and what moi, that they lief
behind! They VIII probably skirt thu
, coast for q few days. and put IL
somewhere for supplies. But that
he passed his hand YEARLY. cross hi'
forehead-.fhat doesn't concern u
now. We got there at ten last night
hours too late, OF course" His voic
fell, he unused, with a knitted brow
!, .WeH 7" he said. suddenly recallin,
, himself. aeynw. Miss Field. I wan
you to get hold Of Ward. i want tn,
by home at once! He must know
/ But there is OF course q CHANGE tina
Mrs. Carter isis planning to return
J There may be q woman friend wit
her--it's not probable. but It's poss
, bic. don't want any one In th
I house, or out OF Il, to suspect, and ]
] you think It is possible, / should Ik
Nina protected re-
81 understands Harriet said. auiel