The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-03-22
IIlIlIINI

heaving float, in the sunshine. Nina
talked necessarily of Blondin. Har-
riet fancied she saw an opening for a
little talk she felt extremely timely.
"Mr. Blondin likes you, Nina, just
because you aren't 1irtatious and silly,
like the other girls. But he isn't the
sort OF man to get very deeply inter
ested In any woman, dear"
mo, l know he's not !" Nina said
quickly, turning suddenly red. and
looking attentively at the print of her
wet hand on the dry, hot boards.
And l would be sorry II he were,"
Harriet pursued, not too seriously,
for l want you to marry a man of
your own age, when you do marry,
and not a man who has had-well,
other affairs, who has that confiden-
tial, flattering manner with all women
You will be rich, Nina"
why don't you say that Royal Is
after my money I" Nina burst out. with
symptoms of tears. The ready name
frightened Harriet afresh; she knew
that they corresponded. that grass was
not growing under Royals feet. "The
first man l ever really liked" Nina
said, with a heaving breast, "the first
man who yer understood me-"
Nina" Harriet said, you don't
want to have to write your husband
a check on your honeymoon
She felt 1t a cruel cut but seven
teen years of 1attery and smoothness
had armed Nina In impregnable COM
%placence. She gave a sneering laugh
that trembled on the brink Of tears,
shaking with anger. One look Of utter
scorn she did manage, then she
shrugged not SO much her shoulders
as her whole body. and flung herself
~flriously into the water. Harriet
called "Nina!" first impatiently. and
then coaxingly. But the younger girl
swan steadily to the shore, and Har-
riet saw her a minute later, shaking
herself outside the shower, before she
disappeared into the big %bathhouse.
Harriet had entirely forgotten Ward.
until he swan under the float, and
with a characteristic yell, rose stream
ing like a seal under her very feet.
Genuinely startled, she gratiied him
with a scream, and they both laughed
like children as he flung himself drip
ping on the hot boards, and proceeded
to bake ~luxuriously in the sun.
Its the most gorgeous thing / ever
saw, do you know that?" he asked,
with one hand touching the river OF
sparkling gold that blazed and tumbled
on her shoulders. Listen, Harriet,
do you remember the little talk we
had some weeks agoY
Perfectly" she said, a little unwil-
lingiy.
"Well, how about it?" the boy said,
after a pause.
1T wouldn't be fair to you. Ward"
the girl said, slowly, after a pause.
Il love you, but don't love you the
way your wife will !"
II want you !" he said, s%ullenly. I'm
crazy about you! My God"
"Ward, please don't touch me !" she
said sharply, getting to her feet with a
spring, as he put his arm about her
Don't! l shall tell your father ii
you dol"
You didn't talk that way at Crown.
lands last June" the mar said, sulklly
II don't see what has made such q
difference now!'
II think perhaps I'm different, Ward
The summer" Harriet's voice died
into silence. Her eyes. were fixed upon
the figure Of a man who came dowr
the little pier. and dove into the shin.
ing water. Two minutes later, with q
great gasp Of satisfaction. Richard
Carter drew himself up beside them
"Ha! That is something like! My
Lord, the water is beautiful today
How about the buoy? Who swims
with me to the buoyV"
"Come ON. Harriet! !" Ward said
poising.
Harriet rose, and bundled the glory
Of her hair into a blue rubber cap thai
French peasant. With no further
speech she made a splendid dive, ant
the men followed her.
It was one Of life's beautiful hours
she thought. as in a great splash o,
salt water she reached the buoy, ant
hung laughing and painting to Its rest
less bulk. Ward had preceded her b.
a full minute. Richard was half {
minute behind her. With much vain
glorious Boosting from the men, the.
all rested there before the homewart
swim. Harriet hardly spoke, her cul
was full to the brim with a mysteriou!
felicity born of the summer hour, thu
heaving waters. and the joyous moot
Of father and son. When Richart
praised her swimming she flushed II
the severe blue cap. and the blue eye!
net his with the shy pleasure Of
child. 1t was while she was hastil.
dressing. In the hot %bathhouse a littl'
later. that a sudden thought came t
her, and flushed the lovely face again
and brought her to a sudden pause.
tromnndnuc fhOnpht hat mad