The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-02
CHAPTER xXxv

WIZ you 80 10T J 0I1v0 Win me,
sweetheart? I'm on . vacation, and
rs Z nice day. Be good for you to
ret out. We'll lunch in the country.
And then III tell you my good
news"
"Oh no. ten me now"
Get your hat and coat ri tell
you in the car"
Caroline delayed to give some in
structions to Mrs. Stevenson but in
. few minutes she was ready. How
ard was glad to leave the house. In
spite Of all that Caroline and her
mother had done to brighten it up
hs found it depressing. He would
give . great deal, he thought, II
Caroline were never coming back
70 Il. With the thought came . glow
Of righteousness, which he did not
aualyse: and therefore did not dis
cover that il was his own love OF
comfort that inspired his gener-
osity.
"We're Going 70 look at . little
old stone cottage ct Lake Cloud" he
said 20 her ~ they drove away.
"And IL you like Il, Caro-, we'll buy
Il in the spring. It's for sale very
cheap. Everything 10 coming our
way 90 last, sweetheart. Ovens on
for Reno and she isn't going to
cause 10 any trouble. I've had .
talk with Dad ="
"Oh. Howard" Caroline broke In,
Ayou mean he isn't going to oppose
our marriage"
The pause that preceded How
ards answer TO Caroline's question
was more enlightening than his
words. "He isn't - down on me
about Ovens leaving % ! thought
he'd be-" he said. "But Of course"
he added hastily. "he doesn't know
Ill about it."
Caroline drew in . sharp breath.
~Aii about vhat!" she asked.
"Gwen or met"
sAbout you, dear. I couldn't tell
him. He believed, % Il was, that !
vas % blame for Ill the trouble with
CWen-if he'd known about you ]
could nsver have convinced him that
"Well." Caroline asked, "aren't
you, Howard1 Aren't both Of %
$ blame?"
sYou know bettsr than that"
Howard answered shortly.
"It's true, ! haven't felt guilty
about IT." Caroline admitted. but
Gwen wouldn't have left you s it
hadn't been for me, would she?"
~ think she would" Howard said.
"Sho told me she's In love with
someone else, Caro-"
s'Oh!-well, I'm glad. m stop
worrying about her now; ] was .
little, you know; thinking that per-
hsps Ne hadn't % much right TO
our love q Ne believed. I've hated
her. Howard, but ! felt, after last
night, that I might have been
wrong"
"You were wasting your :ympa-
thy" Howard told her. Seven
didn't 30 for our sakes. She wants
to b free % marry again"
"That makes things better for
you with your father, doesn't it,"
"lt saved the, day for me. After
Gwen rot % hot about you she'd
have done anything to injure 40 il
she hadn't had good reason not 70.
Shes trying 70 Keep her dad sweet,
too"
Caroline looked at him, with .
twist Of doubt On her lips. "Too?"
she repeated. "Do you mean. How.
ard, that now you are 70 b free,
you must consider your father above
III else?"
"Not above al else, darling"
Howard corrected. "but with Ill
else. Surely you understand that.
I'm just whore ! Was before, o far
. he's concerned. except that Gwen
has made the break and Dad hasn't
kicked me ont. / thought you'd Be
pleased that things have gone %
we'll 10 sddsd reprosehfully.
Il an, daa1," Caroline said, feel
ing ashanaed Of her nagging. II
new you're Sight-1 WoEo % b
seAdble ahout Il HIT 81. vell.