The Ocala evening star., 1922-04-15


think she is glad of it. 1 believe she
would regret the-the inevitable
eStrangement as much as l."
Richard had taken a small slip
Of tan paper from his pocket, and was
studying it thoughtfully. Royal saw
Il, and his eyes narrowed.
Now. Mr.. Blondin," Nina's father
said. simply, I'm a business man. i
can't beat about the bush, and call
things by pretty names. want favor
OF you, and I'm willing to pay for it
I telephoned you this morning that
wanted to see you on a matter Of
business. This is my proposition"
He leaned forward. and Royal saw
the paper. He boasted to women Of
his Indifference to money, Ii was true,
but as with all adventurers, II held
first place in his thoughts. No man
who was in debt could look upon that
check unmoved. Royal might win at
cards tonight, to be sure; Carter
might weaken tomorrow, it was true.
But this check bore his name, and 1t
was sure.
To enter the bank, with Richard
Carter's check for so substantial an
amount to deposit it, exchange a care
less word with the cashier, to write
his check for the overdue rent, with
casual apology; to play bridge again,
this evening, with young Bellamy, and
this time win back the accursed check
of his own. as he knew he would win
1t.
''Just one moment, Mr.. Carter. You
say that you and l know what mar
riage is. How do you reconcile 1t with
your knowledge of Nina, your knOwi-
edge of her upbringing, to plan delib-
erately what would make our marriage
or any neutrality-suspicious. to-
failure from the start? l didn't spoil
Nina. l didn't form her tastes. She
has thought of herself as an heiress,
she has spent money, lived luxurious
ly. / only ask a fair chance. Make
it an allowance, If you like. Keep the
matter in the family; don't blaze to
the world that you disapproveI Many
a less-promising marriage has turned
| out brilliant success. She loves me.
II am devoted to her. l see tre-
mendOus possibilities in herr!
"She loves you as a child does, and
| because she doesn't know you," Rich
ard said, infiexibly. But you haven't
heard what propose, Blondin. Hear
me out. 1 give you this now, today,
on condition that before tonight you
talk to Nina. Represent anything you
| wish to her. Tell her what you please.
But convince her that she must wait
for two years-with no letters, no
! meetings, no engagement-that's all.
"On my part, promise that nobody
| in the world, not Mrs Carter, not any
| body, will hear of this for two years
| from today, at least. Meanwhile, Well
amuse Nina. Her grandmother wants
| to take her to Santa Barbara next
! fall-Gardiner wants both the young
sters on his ranch this summer, or she
may go with me to Brazil. She'll have
enough to think about. Well not hurt
! you with her, you may take my word
for it. And I tell you frankly that I
shall be deeply grateful. I'm not pay
ing you for giving her up. I'm paying
| you for two years delay. Young Hopper
will be at the GARDENERS this summer
she likes him, and he likes her
Well, that's speculation" Richard dis
missed it with a movement of his fine
hands "But we'll distract her. !" he
promised. Hopper may buy a ranch
out there-that sort of thing might
suit Nina down to the ground''
"Buy it with Nina's money" Royal
could not help sneering.
Richard eyed him In surprise.
"When Joe Hopper died he left that
boys mother something In the mil
lions," he said. 'There's an immense
estate" And then, with reversion
to business: "Come, now, Mr. Blon-
din. We understand each other
Nina's dining at the Bellamys to
night; you're staying there. VIII you
see herr"
The check fiuttered to the table be-
tween them. There was long silence
Then Blondin ground out his cigarette
In stone saucer, rose, in all the easy
beauty of his white summer clothes
his flowing scarf, his dark, romantic
locks He lifted his straw hat, put II
on, picked up his stick, and laid 1t on
the table. Then he took the check
and read 1t thoughtfully.
THANK. your he said: Yet the
shameful! thing struck him, an adept
now in evading and lying, as surpris
ingly easy, and as he sauntered away
In the June warmth and silence, II
was not of Nina, or her father, or even
of himself that he was thinking.
He had met the widow of Joe Hop.
per a few nights ago: a faded little
pleasant woman of fifty, pathetically
grateful for his casual politeness In
her strangeness and shyness. He had
chanced, quite idly and accidentally
to make an impression on her. She
had promised to come to the studio
and look at his rugs.
Royal wondered why she dressed SC
badly; she needed simple materials