The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-04-06

I.
enough to know that half his'acQuaint-
ances detested him theoretically, but
were glad to have him about. Nina
and Harriet came In from an after
noon ut the club to find him playing
with languld hands at the plano, and
he lazlly rose to greet them. While
Nina was there, his attitude toward
both was. pleasantly impersOnai, but
his suggestion, which was more like
command. that she run upstairs and
dress early, so that they might have
a talk before dinner sent the girl fly
ing, and lie and Harriet could speak
more freely.
well, Harriet, congratulate you!
How does it feel to be "A married wom-
an? l saw your name IN an evening
paper, of course was delighted for
YOU"
Money and position don't really
ymenn much to me-" Harriet said. unen-
cournglngly.
MY first sensations" Blondin went
OIL. was one Of satisfaction. thought
10 myself that my own cause. with
Nina, was snfe now. That you trusted
me, and | had every reason to trust
you"
Harriet looked away for brief
silence. brought her eyes to his face.
She felt Suddenly sick.
Roy, you're not still serious about
Nina?"
81 have never been anything else"
lie said, delicately.
"But-but why?" Harriet asked.
II like the girl" he reminded her
pleasantly. II hope she is not entire
Iy Indifferent TO me"
Indifferent She's at the nge that
narries anybody" Harriet said. lndlg-
nantly.
You give me hope" Royal said with
bow.
Her father very violently opposes
IT," Harriet snid. after troubled
silence.
II am well aware Of that, my dear.
Her father forbade me the house last
December. / submitted; the girl sub
mltted. But we made our plans.
fancy we will not have any difficulty
now"
You mean that you are cngagedT"
IAN understanding. We have CORE
spoDded, seen each other now and then
through Ida Tabor It's" he smiled.
dreamlly, extremely romantic. OF
course" he said.
Harriet felt she could have killed
him
you understand that she won't
have one penny, Roy. know her fa-
Their He won't yield. He'll forbid II;
he'll not hesitate. IL she does ii
three years for her money. Three
years! Roy, she wouldn't be happy
three weeks Mr.. Carter spoke To me
about It the only time we've spoken OF
you. He said that he was glad the
affair had ended naturally; that you
were not the man To make Nina happy.
and that he would rather have her suf-
fer anything, and find out her mistake
at once, than have her heart broken,
and her money wasted, through sew
eral wretched years
Blondin had listened to this quietly,
| his eyes moving from her lips TO her
own earnest eyes, and wandering over
her animated face.
Il count on you TO be my advocate,
my dear Harriet" lie said, after Il mo-
ment's silence. "Rlchard Carter be-
lieves in you; he has great faith In
your Judgment If you represent to
him that you believe this 10 be wise
step all round. we shall have no
| further trouble"
Il can't honestly tell him so, Roy -
the girl interrupted.
| Cant yOu?" BlOndn said. He
looked across the open hallway to
Nina, descending in fresh ruffles anu
ribbons, and raised his voice Here
she Is-loOking like the very rose OF
girls Come on now, Nina, you aren't
going TO belong to anybody else but
me for a while" he said. But as lie
turned 10 leave Harriet, he added
again: Cant you? Think ii over
The girl thought It over with a mad
dening and feverish persistence that
presently caused her sensation OF
actual sickness. Vague speculatlons
churned and seethed IN the weary
brain that could find no beginning and
ho end TO. them. To have made o
clean breast of the whole matter
months ago would have meant a de.
llcious sense of freedom from rc
sponsiblllty now, but then under those
circumstances would she, Harriet,
have been here now? Certainly, even
in the present purely technical sense
she would not have been the second