Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-06-08
CHAPTER XIV.

The curtains at the French windows
in the library at Crownlands stirred
in the breeze of the warm summer
night, the pendulum of the big clock
behind Richard Carter moved to and
fro, but for a long time there was no
other sound in the library. Richard
had dropped his-eyes, was idly staring
at the blank sheet Of paper before
him. Royal Blondin, who had folded
his rms, for moment studied Har-
riet between half-closed lids, but pres
emily his eyes fell, too, and with a
rather troubled expression he studied
the pattern of the great oriental rug.
Harriet stood motionless, turned to
stone. If there was anything to be
said in her behalf, she could not say
it 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-
tivated 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,
''Pm extremely sorry" Richard said,
presently, in a somewhat lifeless tone.
INN orfr ~
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 twitching Of his
whole face that Harriet knew to be
characteristic of his worried moods.
"Mr. Blondin," he said, wearily and
politely, II 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 great many aspects to the
matter, and II must take time to con-
slider them. Nina must be my first
consideration, poor childI Her mother
failed her-we have all failed her !!
She has a 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 steadied herself second by
pressing one fine hand against the
dark wood, then she opened it and was
gone.
''T'm very sorry" Blondin said hesi-
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
matterl"
"She-she did? Royal stammefed.
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, l presume out Of a 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. think must ask you to ex-
cuse me" said Richard at the door.
His tone was one Of absolute suffoca-
tion. 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 would TO God" said Rich
ard, with bitterness. ''that 1 had never
seen your facel Mrs Carter has been
nseful-and Indispensable member
Of this family for many years; II there
was IN her past some unpleasant and
painful event, that Is her own az
fair-lH
mot when she marries a man who