Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-03-23

him came to her In a rush. Why-it
was nothingl 1t was less than moth
ing. In half an hour she would be
back here in her room again, with all
the past clean and straight at last,
with the cloud gone, and with her
whole soul singing with hope Of the
glorious future For a moment she
knelt by her bed, her face in her
hands.
She rose to her feet. There was q
tap at the door.
1t was Bottomley. III you please,
:m-MI. Carter would be SO much
obliged II you would step down to the
library, I'M" Harriet gave herself a
parting glance, and followed the man
downstairs.
"Courager she said to herself, with
her hand on the library door. "Tye
exaggerated and enlarged upon this
thing too longl I've imagined 1t into
an importance that 1t really hasn't at
ALI"
Richard YVES back at his desk he
smiled and rose as she came In. There
was another man In the library, who
rose and faced her, too.
And wheh Harriet saw him she
knew that she was too late. II was
Royal Blondin.
A dizziness and sickness came over
her as she went slowly to the chair
opposite Richard. She touched the
desk for support as she sat down, and
felt that her fingers were cold and
wet. y,
"Mr. Blondin has come to talk TO
me aboutsNina," Richard said. Har-
riet somehow moved her dizzy eyes
toward Blondin, and she smiled me-
chanicalIy. But she had TO moisten
her lips before she could speak.
II see" Her voice sounded horl
ribly chOked to her; she could find
nothing to add to the meaningless
words.
"Mr. Blondin asks my consent to an
immediate marriage" Richard said.
"You know my objections to that,
Harriet. of course! We have just
been discussing them, as I explained
to him. This is a painful matter to
me, and l regret 1t. But Mr.. Blondin
has given fne no choice but to tell him
frankly why l think him an unsuitable
husband for my daughter. ! have told
him exactly what my procedure will
be in such a case, and l think we I'M
derstand each other!"
Royal was smiling the serene,
dreamy smile that was characteristic
of him.
Nina" he said. tenderly, sis warm
hearted. And a chance alluslon to my
financial position, which / thought l
owed her. has distressed her unneces-
sarily. 1t will, truly, be out of the
question for me to travel, as we had
planned. The unfortunate specula-
lions of my friend" :
Whose name you withhold" Rich
ard interrupted the musical, yoicg to
say, dryly. ''@
Because Of a promise % Royal
flashed promptly. But he resumed,
{ turning to Harriet, II shall be able to
negotiate this business, as l assure
Mr.. Carter, without any assistance
from him OF his daughter" his lip
curled scOrnfully, land I do not pro-
pose to give her up, for, any three
years-or three weeks!"
Harriet could only look at him FIX
eddy, with an ashen face.
"God help me" she breathed In her
soul. God help mel"
"Well," said Richard with weary
impotence, 1--WE did not call you down
to bore you with this! / asked to see
you, Harriet, because Mr.. Blondin has
made the statement to me, just now,
that you were heartily in accord with
his plans for Nina and that you ap-
proved Of the AFFAIR."" 4
The prayer in Harriet's heart did
not stop as she moved her, wretched
eyes to Blondin.
II believed that you and she had
not seen each other since December"
she reminded him. 81 lost no chance
to advise her against the engagement
I thought 1t was all over !"
"Welll" Richard said, with a breath
Of relief. He had been watching her,
closely, now he settled back In his
chair and moved his contemptuoust
scrutiny to Blondin.
"One momentw Royal BlOndin said,
gently. But he was also pale: "You