The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-12-29

stormily, and Harriet saw that she was
biting her full under lip, as If anger
seethed strong within her
"come upstairs to my room; want
to speak to youi" Isabelle said. sud-
denly. Harriet followed her upstairs,
and they entered the beautiful boudoir
together. Here Isabelle dropped into
chair and stared duly ahead of her.
queen of tragedy.
Germaine came forward. evidently
more accustomed to this mood than
Harriet was Like flash the high
heeled shoes. the silver gown, and
the brocaded stays were whisked
away, and a cool. loose silk robe en-
cretonned chair by the window. The
lights were lowered, Isabelle nodded
Harriet to the opposite chair
II ask you," she said, with great
breath of anger restrained, 81 ask
you If any woman in the world could
stand 1t You saw the way Mr. Car
ter acted. You saw him make me
rldiculous-make fool of mel The
boy will never come to the house
again"
"Oh, I don't think that !" Harriet
said, in honesty.
mfr. Carter stalked in upon us, at
dinner" his wife said, broodingly.
She fell into thought, and suddenly
burst out, Harriet, my heart aches
for that boyl My God-my Cod
what have done to himi"
She rested her white full arms oh
the dressing table, and covered her
face with her hands. Harriet saw the
frail silk of the dressing gown stir
with her sudden dry sobbing.
my God-if could cryl" Isabelle
said, turning. And Harriet realized,
with shock, that she was not acting
"NIr. Carter only sees what see,"
she added, that 1t must stop. But
am afraid 1t will kill him. He isn't
like other men. He" She opened a
drawer, fumbled therein. '.Read that !"
she said
Harriet took the sheet of paper,
pressed it open.
"'My heart',' she read, in Tony
Pope's handwriting. "I will go away
from you If / must But it will be
further than India, Isabelle, further
than Rio or Alaska. While we two
live. l must see you sometimes. Per-
haps outside the world there is
place big enough for me to forget
your
"Now-!' said Isabelle, rising and
beginning restlessly to walk the floor.
"Now, what shall 1 do? Send him
away to his death, or risk Mr.. Car
ters insulting him again, as he did
tonight! Anthony Pope means it,
Harriet-I know him well enough for
that"
She fell silent. Germaine appeared
with tray, and began to loosen and
brush the dark hair, and Isabelle
went automatically to the business of
creaming and rubbing, still shaken,
but every minute more mistress of
herself. With the thick, dark switch
| gone, Harriet was almost shocked by
the change in the severely exposed
forehead and face. Isabelle looked
fully her age now, more than her age
"Welll" said the mistress, somber
eyed still, and with n still heaving
breast, "There was something else,
Harriet Gently, please, Germaine,
my head aches frightfully. Oh. Har-
riet, will you see what this Blondin
man wants with Nina? She tells me
he suggested some sort of summer
party in his roof garden; don't know
quite what 1t is. But her heart Is set
on it. They seem to understand each
other-I always felt that when Nina's
affairs did begin, she would pick out
freaks like thisl Don't" Germaine
had gone to the bathroom for hot
towel, and Isabelle dropped her voice,
almost affectionately-"do worry
about. this little scene, Harriet. 1t will
be quite all right!'
"Oh, surely," The companions
voice was light and cheerful; she
went upstairs only pleasantly excited
and thrilled. And at the breakfast
table next morning Harriet could show
the head of the house the same bright
assurance. Richard had come down
stairs early, and they had their coffee
alone.
"Nlna?" asked her father.
"She comes back today" Harriet
said. Mrs. Carter is going to have
her masseuse, so she won't be down.
She asked you to remember that you
are dining at the Jays tomorrow.
There's to be tennis at about four"
"Finals," he said, nodding, and went
out to his car apparently well pleased
with himself and his life. Harriet
started for the Hawkes. with a philo--
H..
ephemeral quality of married quar-
rels.
She brought Nina back at noon,
garrulous and complacent Nina, who
could pity the elder Hawkes. as girls
who never had admirers When
they reached the driveway of Crown