The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-12

Harriet stood motionless. turned to
stone IL there was anything to be
said In her behalf, she could not say
IL now. For the first time the full
measure Of her responsibility and the
full measure Of her deceit smote her,
and In utter sickness Of spirit she
could advance no excuse. It was not
that she had failed Blondin. or that
she had failed Richard, but the extent
Of her failure toward herself appalled,
her. She was not the good, brave, cul-
tiyated woman she had liked TO think
herself; she was one more egotist,
with Nina, and Isabelle. and Ida, un-
scrupulously playing her own game
for her own ends.
I'm extremely sorry" Richard said,
presently, In a somewhat Hfeless tone.
81 imagine that If my daughter had
known this. she might have been
spared some suffering and some hu-
initiation. But we needn't consider
that now" He was silent. frowning
family. He put up a fine hand and
adjusted his eyeglasses with a little
impatient muscular twitehing Of his
whole face that Harriet knew to be
characteristic of his worried moods.
Mr.. BlondiR," he said. YEARLY and
politely, Il have had a great deal on
my mind, lately, and have perhaps
been hasty In my condemnation of you.
However, this does not particularly
help your cause with my daughter.
There are a great many aspects to the
H..
slider them Nina must be my first
considerati":l. poor cElfldt- Her mother
failed her--we have all failed her
She has right to know of this con-
versatiOn-"
Harriet stirred, and his eyes moved
to her Without a word. and with
stricken look in her beautiful ashen
face, she turned, and went slowly
toward the door. When she reached
it, she steadted herself a second by
pressing one fine hand against the
dark wood, then she opened 1t and was
gone
I'm very sorry" BlOndin said hest
tatingly, when the men were alone.
Mrs. Carter" Richard SAID, get
ting to his feet, and very definitely
indicating an end to the conversation,
before she consented to the-arrange-
ment into which we entered, Of course
| took me into her confidence in this
matterI''
"She-she did," Royal stammered.
Certainly she did" Richard said,
| harshly. And looking at him the other
man saw that his face looked haggard
and colorless. "She did not mention
your name, / presume out Of sense
| Of generosity to you. / could have
wished" he added, that you had been
similarly generous, and had seen fit
to leave her, and leave my daughter
alone. I think I must ask you to ex-
cuse me-" said Richard at the door.
His tone was one of absolute suffoca-
ton. II can see no object In your
frankness tonight, unless to distress
and humiliate Mrs. Carter. My daugh-
| ter, and not myself Is the one entitled
to your confidence, and you are well
aware of my feeling where she Is con-
cerned !! l would to God" said Rich
ard, with bitterness, that I had never
seen your facet Mrs. Carter has been
q useful-and Indispensable member
Of this family for many years; IL there
was In her past some unpleasant and
painful event, that Is her own at
fair"
mot when she marries man who
is unaware Of It," Blondin suggested
in his pleasant, soft tones.
THAT is miner' Richard said, stern
ly. And he opened the library door
Good evening"" he said.
"Good evening"" Blondin, with hi
light, lettering step. crossed the thresh
old. and Richard closed the door. 81,
took his chair again and reached
toward the bell that would hav
brought Bottomley TO summon Mn
in turn. But halfway to the bell hi
resolution wavered disappeared. In
stead, he rested his elbows on tn
; table, and his head In his hands, an
there sounded from his chest a grea
sigh that was almost a groan.
Oh, he was tired-he was tired-h
was tired 1t was all mess-the boy
the girl, their mother, his own al
rangements for their protection an
safety. All q mess.
She had been beautiful. that cir
with her golden hair. In the lampligh
, and her white arms a little raised
I rest her locked hands on the chai
Like some superb actress Of TRACED,
) some splendid and sullen prisoner &
T the bar. The slender figure In the du
: wrapping Of satin, and the white DO
l. ON, had looked so young, so virginia
+ the blue eyes were SO honestly frigh
: ened and ashamed And she had bee
r that Founders wife-in his arms! .
L vorced! Harriet Field? Poor gil
cornered by this INSCRIPTIONS scou
9 :drel, this bully, with all the ugly pa
p dragged up like the muddy bottom
a river, staining and clouding Il
g clear waters. And what q look 81
e had given him, there under the LAM
It Its a funny code" he unused. "Ba
% barians, that's what we are, when
l. comes to women. Nina, Ida, Isabel
q Harriet--an of them pay for the ma
q made rule. I shouldn't have fore
e her hand In this business narriag
J. II was taking an advantage Of her. J
D. woman wants to marry for anythl
l. but love, and if she had married I
ID love, she would have made a Gle
ID breast of this old affair. of course.
II didn't exact that We've made q nj