The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-05-04
THURSDAY 4 /, is2z

arm on q Caf. III W0uIunt interiors,
because ] knew you'd all give Ii mi
You just all have q perfectly wonder-
full time. and TIL be down next week
end and hear about AZ
Nina stood irresolute too choked
with sudden disappointment to risk
her voice. It was all hateful. madden
Ing, HORRIBLE Those two boys and
Amy-ah, there would be no FUN
now! She loathed Amy, getting In 10
briskly, and saying, "Oone On, Nina n
She hated Ward, she wished that thsy
were all dead, and herself. ton.
The storm came at Good Ground,
and they all had to scramble with cur
tains, smelly" curtains, Nina called
them. And the dinner wal eaten IN
warm, sticky half-darkness on q hotel
porch, with horrible music making d
horrible racket, according to the same
authority. Saunders and Amy held
hands all the way home, too, and Nina
thought 1t was disgusting; everyone
was too tired to talk, they bounced
along silently and Grossly.
AA0 NPoh SSStAAS AoAiCs AAl60 ahI~G
riet came out Of the shadows on the
porch, looking perfectly exquisite In
her new gown, sweetly interested and
cheerful. She said that she was 90
sorry the dinner was poor, they had
had such q nice dinner at home, and
that she had had a talk with their
father, and they were to 90 back 10
Crownlands next week. Nina did not
e Blondin; for the first time In her
LIE she cried, herself to sleep.
Harriet had assuredly triumphed,
but 1t was on terms that for more
than one reason did not entirely
please her. Richard. finding the
pretty secretary prettier than ever In
her blue gown, and warmed by q re-
Taxed day at the club and a mood Of,
friendliness, had specifically instruct
ed her that she was to dine with the
family on all occasions, and to dress
as the others did, and to regard her
self as "a member OF the family" And
this, Harriet was quick to realize,
placed her In a peculiar position, made
difficult by Richards kindly cham
pioning no less than his mothers hos
tilty, by the adoring sympathy Of the
servants, and the af~fectionate tamil
iarities of the Carter children. Rich
ards friends took their cue from him,
al was natural, and in the first early
winter dinner parties at Crownlands
Harriet could not but sparkle and
lead; she had reached her own level
at last. e.
A of well-being and happiness
began to envelop Richard Carter for
the first time In many years. He was
conscious Of q desire to express his
appreciation to Miss Field. It Wa
natural that this should take the form
Of money a little present, In the form
Of a check. She had a sister who was
not rich; she would like to 20 home
with laden hands. But the question
was. how Muchi
He was musing over this very point
and other matters Of deeper moment
one morning when Harriet herself
came In. She returned his smile with
her usual bright nod, but he thought
abe looked pale and troubled.
"Mr. Carter" she said, bravely going
to the point, do you think Nina L.
able, with your mothers help, to man.
age your house?" b
Richard looked at her silently for
perhaps two minutes. Then he said,
quietly:
"Mr. Blondin, eh?" :
The girl looked bewildered.
"My mother has given me a hint, In
deed I've seen, that he would want to
take you away from us! !" Richard said.
Harriet, without any show of emo
ton, looked down, and was silent In
her turn. But it was not, he saw with
surprise. the silence Of confusion. On
the contrary, she seemed simply a
little thoughtful and puzzled.
Mr.. Carter" she said presently, II
have reason to believe that Mr.. Blon-
din would be a very bad husband for
Nina. I had no scruple in-in divert
ing his thoughts. But If he vas the
only man in the world"-and to his
surprise, she slowly got to her feet,
and spoke as IL to herself, her eyes
fixed far away-"1 would sooner kill
him than marry him !" she said.
Richard sat genuinely dumfounded-
Her beauty, her assurance, and the
cleverness with which she had man
aged that Blondin's allegiance should
be temporarily shifted from his
daughter, held him mute. 1t was with
the charm Of watching perfect acting
that he followed this extremely anus
ing and unexpected woman.
Il confess that / am glad to hear
It'll" he said, dryly. &~ 81
ssNina ID very angry at me- Earriet
said. well, I have to stand that
And she gave Nina's father q within
sicaI and friendly lcok.
sBu what then Richard asksd
Harriet Immediately became serious
again.
But this q she said. .you know your
mother Id rieht. You're an too kind
10 me-; I am really q member Of tn
family. I love II. I love to dress Tor
dinner. and order the car. and charge
things 70 your account But-it1
mot possible. You zee thatIs
Richard was quietly looking down.
Now he made several parallel liner
with Z pencil before he looked I'M.
mo. don't . thatfr
, sMary-Mrs. Putnam, Cor Instance
who ID very fond Of me. and Nh. IN.
They want to- ask mo % dinner-te