The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-03-09
again: Cant your rhink it over"

churned and seethed in the weary
brain that could find no beginning and
no end to them. To have made a
clean breast of the whole matter
months ago would have meant IA de-
licious sense of freedom from re.
sponsibility 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
Mrs. Richard Carter, nor would she
have held her present position of trust.
and responsibility.
While Nina and her lover murmured
on the terrace Harriet brooded on
these things, and after dinner that
evening she gave Richard so sharp
and with clouded brow and angry
eyes briefly requested Harriet to be
present while he spoke to her
Nina came at once, with an inno-
cent expression on her rather heavy
young face. She seated herself near
Harriet. and her father went to the
point at once.
"Nina," he said, seriously, ''you saw
Royal Blondin this afternoon, didn't
your And as Nina answered only
with an ugly glance at Harriet, the be-
trayer, he added. Didn't l ask you
not to see him any more. several
months ago?"
"Yes, you did," Nina said, in low
tone, and with a heaving breast
II hope. and we all hope. that you
will marry some day." Richard said
But you are too young now to make
wise choice. And until you are
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 bravely.
81 didn't hear you." her father said
II said. didn't see what you could
do about tr' the girl repeated, des-
perately.
For n few moments of silence Rich
ard merely looked gravely at his
daughter. Then he clasped his fine
hands on the desk before him, ard
cleared his throat.
81 cannot do as much as l should
like. Nina" he conceded, 'but shall
do what ! can. But first let me ask
you: have you promised to marry Mr.
BlondinT'
Silence. Nina looked at the floor.
Richard repeated his question.
ayes, l have-and you can't kill me
for itT Nina said. and burst into
tears.
WELL" the father resumed. when
Harriet had supplied consolatory
murmur and a handkerchief, I'm
sorry, of course. Mrs. Tabor carried
letters between you, did she? You
met him occasionally
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 q
man more than twice your age he
has a certain sort of unsavory reputa.
tIon in his affairs with women. He
has DO income. no profession no
home; all those things tell agaInsi
him. You're only child"
II 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
only forbid the man the house, and
lock you In your room in the good old
fashioned way. That l shall do. /
shall then give out to the world-that
hoc al dxr hnd Mt ho
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
| years, and stop your present allow
ance, and your credit with the shops.
That's all 1 can dol And l do 1t,
Nina" said Richard in softer tone,
II do II to hasten the inevitable, my
dear! 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 eightl !"
It must be brave girl. thought
Harriet, who could persist In any
course. after that. But Nina had the
impregnable armor Of ignorance and
pride. and she only sniffed pathetical-
ly again. and shrugged her shoulders.
you do everything In the world to
make my marriage failurel' she
said with the irrepressible tears. "And
suppose you'll be delighted II 1t is
And I don't see-if a woman car
marry rich man, why a maj
shouldn't sometimes be glad If cir
has money! I'm proud to help hin
out, If he'll let me. He says he wont
why, we had planned going-well
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