The herald., 1922-04-20
By KATHLEEN NORRIS


little older, you will have to take my
word for it that such an affair would
only lead you to misery and regret"
Nina mumbled something brayely.
81 didn't hear you" her father said.
Il said, didn't see what you could
do about it," the girl repeated, des-
perately.
For few moments of silence Rich
ard merely looked gravely at his
daughter. Then he clasped his fine
hands on the desk before him, and
cleared his throat.
Il cannot do as much as l should
like, Nina" he conceded, "but l shall
do what l can. But first let me ask
YOU: have you promised to marry Mr..
BlondinW
Silence. Nina looked at the floor.
Richard repeated his question.
"Yes, l have-and you can't XIII me
for it." Nina said, and burst into
tears.
"Well," the father resumed, when
Harriet had supplied a consolatory
murmur and a handkerchief, I'm
sorry, Of course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you, did she? You
met him occasionallyT
1.-Two or three times" Nina said,
shifting and drying her eyes busily.
you know my reasons for disliking
him, Nina" her father said. "He is a
man more than twice your age; he
has q certain sort Of unsavOry reputa-
ton in his affairs with women. He
has no income, no profession, no
home; all those things tell against
him. You're only a child"
81 shall be Of age Tuesday," Nina
burst forth, resentfully.
You will be of age Tuesday. True.
But you will be my ward, as far as
your Uncle Edwards legacy is con-
cerned, for another three years. Now,
Nina, If you persist In this folly,
against my most earnest advice, l can
lock you in your room in the good old
fashioned way. That l shall do. l
shall then give out to the world-that
has already had a rare treat at the
expense of the Carter family-the
news of my utter disapproval of the
match. If you manage the marriage
In spite of me, l shall forbid you and
Blondin my house, and as a matter
of course use my right TO withhold
the payment of your legacy for three
|
ance, and your credit with the shops
That's all / can dol And / do It,
Nina" said Richard in a softer tone
"I do II to hasten the inevitable, my
deari I do 1t to bring you back to
your father sooner instead Of later; to
give you only one year Of disillusion
ment and suffering, instead Of seven
or eight"
| 1t must be a brave girl, thought
Harriet, who could persist In any
course, after that. But Nina had the
impregnable armor Of ignorance ant
pride, and she only shifted pathetical
~ again, and shrugged her shoulders
"You do everything in the world t.
make my marriage a failure!" sh'
said with the irrepressible tears. "Ant
1 suppose you'll be delighted II 1t is
And 1 don't see-if a woman cal
marry rich man, why a mai
shouldn't sometimes be glad II cir
has money! I'm proud to help hin
out, If he'll let me. He says he won
why, we had planned going-well
lust everywhere, Honolulu and south
ern California and just everywhere
only now he won't gol He says he i
going to stay right here, and take
position with an art magazine that n
Just hates, and work it all of-befor
we go, II 1t takes years"
"Work what all Off" Harriet asked
simply and quietly.
"This money that friend Of hi
really lost. but he has taken 1t upo
himself" Nina answered, little moll
fed. "It was eleven thousand dollars
and he has paid off about four, an
anyway, / hate so much talk abou
money |" she finished, angrily.
my DEAR" Harriet said, as Richard
with a troubled face, remained silent
"It isn't the money that we are worr!
ing about. Why, ask your fathel
Nina! Ask him II he wouldn't writ
Royal Blondin a check for any sum Il
day, any sum. II you and he woul
promise solemnly to wait three year
more. You will only be twenty-on
then, Nina, still such child"
Harriet paused, glancing at R1char
for encouragement; he nodded eagerl.
and she went on:
Marriage Is tremendous thin
Nina, and the only thing that makes
right"
"If you're going to say love-" Mn
broke in, scornfully, 'you didn't MARI
Father for lover
ST was going to say mutual unde
standing and respect" Harriet sal
quietly, but the splendid color fioode
her face as she spoke, land you do M
understand life, Nina, or men, or ma
rage. Royal Blondin is a charmin
man. and a gifted man, but he Is an a.
yenturer, dear; he is man who M
lived In all sorts of places, known
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