Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-02
THE EVENING STORY.
Harriet'S Still Hunt.
Copyright. 1918, by W. werner.)

Harriet had almost made up her mind
to marry Jasper Kearney. Jasper's fate
had been hapg ing in the balance for
years. There was a good deal of the
barnacle In Jasper's nature, though you
would not think it TO see him. He looked
like a nice sort of man who worked hard
and saved his money. He was very quiet
and gentle and grave. But he wanted
Harriet. He wanted her so much that
he would not give her up even though
she had twice told him to go about his
business. And in the end Harriet by
reason OF his very tenactity, had been
forced to make a concession. IF ever
find a happy married woman. Jasper"
she said. solemnly. "a woman that think
Is as happy as l want TO be, I'll marry
YOU" And now 1t seemed TO her that she
had found that woman.
This woman was Mrs. Wentworth Pride.
The Prides had moved that spring into
the house next to Harriets. They had
bought It, for Mr.. Pride had gone into
business and intended to make Westmore
his permanent home. The Prtdes had
been married for some time before they
came 10 Westrnore, but they still acted
like a pair Of lovers. Harriet thought
that II a man like Wentworth Pride was
worthy of so much love. Jasper Kearney
IL
softened to Jasper Kearney IN so far that
she let him come and sit on the porch
with her moonlight evenings, while the
Prides played love songs on the phonO-
riet began to feel that she was a con-
noisseur in that class of music and she
wondered IL November would be too late
for a wedding journey.
The truth was, Harriet was tired OF lfv
ing alone. After a half dozen years the
tndpnpndanCp of a single woman had be-
gun to pail on her. But for one thing
she would have married Jasper Kearney
long before. She had no faith In men.
Her father had been a harsh man, a tickle
man, n man who would smile smoothly
upon stranger and strike his only
daughter. man who lied, cheated and
loved his own way like spoiled child.
Even as little thing Harriet had feared
him. As she grew older she learned to
despise him. Why did you ever marry
him?' she once asked her mother after
a violent scene. Il loved him., her
mother replied. Harriet was eighteen
then. As she looked at her mother all
her beautiful Illusion of life seemed to
crumble like the ash OF burnt paper. Il
don't see how you could have loved him."
she said.
II thought he was different her
mother sobbed. You have to marry a
man to know him. Remember that, dear"
Il shall never marry" Harriet replied.
coldly- In time she saw her mother har-
ried TO her grave. then the whole brunt
of living with her father fell upon her.
They had violent times together. for Har-
riet had fire in her, too. She did not
quail as her mother had done Her father
kept her fully occupied. She Had no
time for young company. 1t was not
pleasant TO ask her friends to her home
when her father was there. and so she
came not 10 ask them at all So 1t went
on for fifteen years. Then. in a fit of
rage. not at her. but ut some men with
whom he was carrying on a business
transaction, he burst blood vessel Har-
riet was thirty-six and she was alone.
She had time now to take an inventory.
She realized that her mothers married
fate was the fate of many.