The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-22
CHAPTER XVII

"Wha. can you know-that How
ard hasn't told met" Caroline de-
manded, confident that her mother
was harboring some unfounded sus-
picion.
II know that there is reason to
believe that Howard married Gwen
dolyn Hoffman, to better the Duns-
worth fortunes" Alva said caus-
tically. I'VE have kept it from you,
your father and I, but he learned
recently that it ~as Gwendolyn's
father who backed Henry Duns-
worth In gaining control Of the Rut-
ledge factory and running Philip"
Caroline was stunned for . mo-
ment. then, But that isn't How
ards FAULT" she cried. 1T only
brought him and Gwendolyn to-
gether-he told me himself, that his
father and Mr.. Hoffman, were ne
gotiating some business deal 1T the
time"
"Some business dealt" Alva re-
peated. "He did not tell you it was
the Rutledge factory they were
negotiating? Don't you see, Caro-
line, that was evasion. to say the
least"
Mother, We hadn't time to talk
about that: Why should Howard de-
eeive met"
ITO keep you from suspecting
that he had married for money"
Caroline shook her head, ! pa
tient half-smile softening her lips.
Howard knows shouldn't believe
that really" she said dreamily.
Alvs regarded her in dismay.
"You still believe that nonsense
about sacrificing himself?".
"Of course" Caroline admitted.
But don't lets quarrel, dearest.
Perhaps I am . weak sentimental
: ist-l wasn't, once. and ! made .
meas Of everything. II I were to be
suspicious and hard now I should
have NO happiness 1T oil to hope
for"
"Then you would gamble on How
ards honesty? You expect-happi-
ness with him."
eyes"
.They are going to Be divorced!"
Naturally"
"Did he tell you SOL"
II think he was about to tell me
when you arrived"
"You think! Caroline!"
"Oh, please, Mother" the girl
passed : hand YEARLY before her
eyes "l'm very tired"
Alva could not say more. The
time until Howard came again was
passed in silent, anxious specula-
tion. She admitted him with frosty
politeness, took the box Of roses he
brought and told him that Caroline
Was In the living ROOM.
The girl, excited, had slept but
little the night before, for deep in
her heart was . small voice that
family schoed her mothers doubts.
She WAS lying on the couch, her
hair hair cut short. looked Ike : halo Of
red-gold about her ethereal counte-
nance.
Her last faint doubt hed before
Towards presence. Az he stopped
and kissed her she felt like traitor
toward him. How foolish, how reck-
lessly ungrateful, to weigh love in
the scale with other emotions.
"You're like m orchid" he said.
n feel - though ] should crush You
i ! were 70 hold You . close .
I'd like"
Caroline smiled, remembering
that her grandfather had called her
mother IN orchid for . very differ
emit reason. Well, Alva was no
longer q parasite: nor was she IS
frail q . flower. She was . girl
vitality alive with new hope-wait-
Her mother came in with the roses
In . vase. @Talisman," Caroline
breathed. ssThey do act O. . charm,
don't they? The room IL positively
aelow with their color"
"And you're aglow with tempera-
ture," her mother reminded her.
Don't let her talk too much. How
ard" .
Howard will do the talking"
Caroline said.
Mrs. Rutledge left them, but How
ard did not say the things Caroline
was waiting to hear. Instead he
talked about his fight to California
polo ct Del Monte, sailing in San
Francisco Bay, tuna fishing, the
week he spent 1t Catalina, and Of
the newly aroused interest among
society people in Mexico City"
1--WE will 60 there some day,
Caro-" he said eagerly: you haven't
bean, have you"