Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-03-23


II shall be of age Tuesday, Nina
burst forth, resentfuliy.
"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 roc in the good old
fashioned way. That ! shall Do. ]
shall then give out to the .vorid-that
has already had q 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 Ind.
Blondin my house, and as O 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 all I can dol And I DO Il,
Nina" said Richard in q softer tone.
II do It to hasten the inevitable, my,
deart I do It to bring you back 70
your father sooner instead of lateF; TO
give you only one year Of disllluslon.
nsent and suffering, instead Of seven
or eight"
II must be q brave girl, thought
Harriet, who could persist In any:
course. after that. But Nina had the
impregnahle arnlor 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 failureP she
said with the irrepressible tears. "And
I suppose you'll be delighted If It isl
And / don't see--if a woman can
marry a rich man, why a man
shouldn't sometimes be glad If a girl
has money! I'm proud to help him
out, II he'll let me. He says he won't
we had planned going-well,
just everywhere, Honolulu and south
ern California and just everywhere,
only now he won't goi He says he is
to stay right here, and take a
position with an art magazine that he
just hates, and work 1t all of-before
we 60, II 1t takes years"
"Work what all off" Harriet asked,
and quietly.
"This money that a friend Of his
really lost, but he has taken It upon
himself" Nina answered, a little molli-
fed. at was eleven thousand dollars,
and he has paid off about four, and
anyway, l hate so much talk about
money" she finished, angrily.
my DEAR" Harriet said, as Richard,
with a troubled face, remained silent,
ut isn't the money that we are worry
ing about. Why, ask your father,
Nina! Ask. him If he wouldn't write
Royal Blondin a check for any sum to-
day, any sum, If you and he would
promise solemnly to wait three years
more. You will only be twentysone
then, Nina, still such a childP'
Harriet paused, glsneing at Richard
for encouragement; he nodded eagerly,
and. she went on: ,as
Marriage Is a tremendous thing.
Nina, and the. only thing that makes y,
right" " -
"If you're going to say love-" Nina
broke In. s~cornfuliy. "5you didn't marry
for lover" %~ X 8
- --ss % 90. - a..
II was going to say mutual under
standing and respect" Harriet said,
but the splendid color flooded
her face as she spoke, "and you do not
understand life, Nina, or men, or mar
riage. Royal Blondin is a charming
man, and a gifted man, but he is an adj
~venturer, dear; he is a mar who has
lived in all sorts Of places, known all
sorts Of persons, accepted all sorts Of
queer codes. There are coarse ele-
ments in him, Nina, things that would
sicken and frlghten you'll Your
father is right; you would be back
with us in a few months or. years, per-
haps with a child, perhaps shattered in
body as well as soul-not free to take
up your life again with Ward and
Amy, but SCARED and embittered and
changed"
MY God, how that woman loves the
childf" Richard said to himself,
watching her. To him she seemed In
Her eyes were blurred with
tears, her voice shaking, and she had
leaned over to clasp Nina's hands. and
50 hold the girls unwilling attention.
NINA, can't you trust your father
that farf' Harriet finished. Cant you
realize that o man like Royal, embar-
raised for, money-no matter II he
truly admires you, and truly means to
make you happy-can't think Of you
without thinking also Of what your
generous checks are going to mean to
him7 Write him a cheek for eleven
thousand, Nina, as a consolation. for
delaying the marriage a year. Try
iti"i h.
Nina rose to her feet. Her trembling
mouth was desperately scornful, and
her eyes brimming, although she
fought tears.
Il don't know why my own family u
the first to think that nobody could
possibly love me for myself" she said.
In d breaking voice. 'Eirst Harriet
ruins my friendship with Ladybffd-
and Shen-then--i"
aListen, Nina her father said. He
and Harriet had come around to stand
beside her, and he had encircled the
shaking and protesting shoulders with
his arm. II have just telephoned Fox
to make reservations for me on the
next Brazilian steamer. ! shall have
10 be q month or six weeks IN Rio de
Janeiro every year now. Now, I've just
been wondering why you and Harriet
done come with me this first trip7 We
stop at the Barbadoes and Bahia it's
n MAGNIFICENT sfeamer-sWimminR