The Jasper news., 1922-04-13

was tireul It was all fiess--the boy
the girl, their mother. his own ar.
rangements for their projections and
safety. All mess.
She had been beautiful. that girl
with her golden hair In the lamplight,
and her white arms little raised to
rest her. locked hands on the chair.
Like some superb actress OF tragedy,
some splendid and sullen prisoner at
the bar. The slender figure In the dull
Wrapping OF satin. and the white hos
ON, had looked so young, so vIrginal,
ihe blue eyes we're so honestly fright
ened and ashamed. And she had been
that bounder's wife-in his arms Di-
yorced! Harriet FieId7 Poor girl,
cornered l,y this INSCRIPTIONS scoun-
drel. this bully, with all the ugly past
dragged MP like the muddy bottom Of
rlver, staining and cloudlng the
clear waters. And what a look she
had given him. there under the lanipi
ITS funny code" he unused. Bar
barians, that's what we are. when II
comes to women. Nina. Ida. Isabelle
Harriet-all OF them pay for the man
mnde rulel shouldn't have forced
her hand In this business marriage; |;
II was taking an advantage Of her. No
woman wants to marry for anything
but love, and II she hud married for
love, she would have mnde clean
breast of this old affair. of course. !
didn't exact that. We've made nice
mess Of 1t, all around
Il mustn't let hpr work herself into
a fever over all thls!" lie found him
self thinking. n
But Nina must be the first consider
alton. He must plan for Nina. He
brought his thoughts back resOlutely--
his daughter must break her engage
nent now, there was that much gained.
And for the Journey to Rio
But why didn't she tell mer he
interrupted himself, suddenly. The
reference was NOT TO Nina. Again he
saw the superb white shoulders in the
soft flood Of lnmplght, and the flash
of the blue eyes that turned toward
Blondin.
"She could hnve killed him !" Rich.
ard said. MY God how she viii love
when she does love"
Meanwhile. 10 Harriet had come the
bltterest hour of her life. She had
reached crossroads, and with steady
fingers and All angushed heart she
prepared for the only step that to her
whirling brain and shamed soul
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
She had harmed them all, they could
only think Of her now as ;in unscrupu-
lOus and mlschiesoiis woman who had
by chance entered their lives when
they were all In desperate need of wis
dom and guidance, who had played
her own contemplate game, and added
one more hurt to- the hurt reputation
of the house of Carter.
Harriet got out of her evening gown
and into loose wrapper. She went
about somewhat almlessly. yet the
suitcases, spread open Oh the ted,
were gradually filed, and her per.
sonal possessions gradually dlsap-
peared from tables and walls. Now
and then she stopped short, heartslck
and trembling; once her lips Quivered
and her eyes filled, but for the most
part SHE did not pause,
Nina, at about eleven, had come TO
the door between their rooms, and
opened IT, The girl was undressed,
and for few moments she watched
Harriet scOwlingly, with narrowed
eyes.
Are you going awayT" she said.
presently. Harriet brought heavy
eyes TO meet hers, and stood consider
ing minute, as II bringing her
thoughts back long distance.
"I--going away7 Yes" she said.
slowly. ayes, may"
Nina stood watching, which seemed
vaguely TO trouble Harriet, who gave
her a restless glance now and then as
she went TO and fro. Presently she
spoke to Nina again.
"Good-night, Nlna!"
Goodnight !" snapped Nina, AMI
the door slammed.
Harriet continued 10 move about for
perhaps half an hour before Nlnas
odd manner recurrcd TO her, on wave
Of memory, and she seemed to hear
again Nlna's ungracious tone.
ale told her!r she said. suddenly.
"She saw Royal, and he told her Poor
child"
And she went TO Nina's room, with
a vague idea that she would sit beside
the weeping girl for awhile, one heavy
heart close to the other, even II no
words could pass between them.