The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-14

now
The man looked at her. looked away
nc the river, and shrugged his Shout
ders as liz he were mystifed by the
ways Of women.
"But-you were never his wtfeT he
said, fatty.
"Oh, no! You didn't think" Harriet
said, hurt, ''that would have married
you, or anyone else, IL had beeni"
you let him blackman you for
thatT' Richard further marveled.
81 knew-in my own mind, OF course,
that was not to blame" the girl said,
anxiously. "But 1t sounded-horrible."
Richard bit his lower lip, looked
critically at his racket, slowly shook
his head
IT didn't mind what any one
thought" Harriet said. reading his
thought. But they didl"
'sTheyT Richard repeated, patiently.
Everyone" she supplied, promptly.
"Your wife, your mother, Mary Put
naml Even Mrs. Tabor"
II suppose sol" he conceded, after a
pause. And beneath his breath he add
ed. "Isabelle-Ida Tabor!"
His tone was all she asked Of ex-
quisite reinsurance.
81 hoped you wouldn't" she said,
standing up with clasped hands and
sudden frightening OF her tired and col
Orless face. That's what / tried to
make myself believe you would feel
wanted 80 to leave all behind. I thought
b hmA hnf al
what 1t was mattered more than what
Ii sounded like thought I could save
Nina better, with what I knew, than
any one else! But last night" Harriet
added, proved to me that | had been
all wrong. I've been so worried" she
added, with utter faith In his decision.
IT don't know what you think we had
better do"
For a full minute Richard watched
her In silence. Then he said, mildly:
about Nina. you meanr
"About everythingw Harriet sudden
Iy laughed gaily, like a child. Life
seemed once more straight and pleas
ant In this exquisite June morning !:
she felt puzzled. but somehow no long
| er afraid. The menacing horrors Of all
the years, the vague uneasiness that
she had never quite dared to face, were
futtering about her awakening spirit
like Alice's pack Of cards.
nina will come into line" her ia
Their said, thoughtfully; "she doesn't
know what she wants. I wish-I wish
he loved herl" he added, with faint
frown. "I'll see him about 1t again
Wen take her to Rio. She'll get over
It."
| "And-" Harriet stopped, and began
again: "And do you want things to &C
on Just as they aref" she asked.
For answer Richard smiled at her IL
silence.
mo" he said, finally. IT can't ga!
that I do. I want you to worry less
and to buy yourself some new gowns
and to begin to enjoy life! Shake
speare had you down fine when III
talked about conscience making COW
ards Of us all. What did you do 1t for
A young, capable, good-looking CIR
scared by a lot Of old women! Now
we'll take up this Nina question, late
on. You'd better go up and get your
self some coffee, and 60 to bed TO
awhile. Better plan to be In town 70
a day or two, for you'll both nee
. clothes for the steamer"
You're very kind" the girl said. eye
j averted, voice almost inaudible. The
were both standing now. Harriet's hea
T turned aside, so that he could not ne
her face. but her soft fingers resting |
]. his.
"T'm not kind at ALL" Richard sait
/, with a rather confused laugh. He pa
% ted her hand encouragingly. 1.-THE sc
/ trip will shake both you and Nina VI
n and do you a world Of goodl" he sail
e you think" Harriet raised I'll
, soft, dark lashes, and her splendi'
n weary eyes met his. "You really aren
j worried about Nina3"
And she tried by very faint stirrir
q of her fingers to free them and. fndir
o them held, dropped her eyes again.
u IT think I have Blondin's number
Richard said, with more force than ell
Il Quence. Then, with little laugh tn
was partly amused and partly embs
raised, he let hertgo.
le He watched the young slender f
ure and the shining, bare head un
they disappeared among the gre
III frn@a ah0uf tha house