Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-20
The Warming

H n ND just what do you want me to
"A do about it7' Harriet's tone was
level, entirely without emotion. The
pity that she felt for Lucy Pratt was
swallowed up somehow In disgust
othat the girl should come here like this
and lay bare her soul to another woman.
Harriet could imagine herself doing
anything for a man who loved her
enough, but to run after man like
Charley Harmon, to love him in spite
Of the fact that he evidently preferred
another woman and to come to that
woman and confess such thing, was
beyond Harret's comprehension.
Suddenly Lucy's voice broke. "Oh,
I don't know, that's just It. I don't
know that you can do anything, but II
does help to realize that you don't love
him.
Harriet rose. Somehow she felt
suddenly hostile toward this girl; she
wanted to get away, upstairs, away
from her.
Then there's nothing else to be said.
is there?" she said coldly. But as
suddenly as Lucy had been abject she
became antagonistic.
Yes. there is more to be said. I
warn you to leave Charley Harmon
alone, aud If he insists upon forcing
his attentions on you you must avoid
him. IL you don't therc'll be trouble. ="
| Harriet's silence and admirable self
control evidently angered Lucy still
more. for she went on, her voice slowly
rising:
You think can't make trouble,
don t you, but ! can. and l tell you
you'll be sorry if you keep on. DON t
play with fire. and keep out Of this
affair. Remember, I'm warning you"
| She had risen to her feet and in the
dim light Of the gas jet Harriet could
sec her small face dark with passion.
IT gave her sudden warmth that she
did not ordinarily possess: it made her
almost attractive. Harriet could sec
now that in certain moods when she
was aroused, Lucy might have posi-
hilites. but her own attitude toward the
girl was curiously abstract. She some
how could not feel sympathy for the
girl. Lucy succeeded in arousing n GER
tain antipathy in Harriet that was sur.
prisipg.
Its hardly necessary to be melo-
dramatic about this matter, Miss
Pratt" Harriet said coldly. We're
not characters In play. and I doubt
very much IL Mr.. Harmon would ap-
preciate this conversation and the fact
that you have warned me to have moth
ing to do with him"
that amounted to almost an uncanny
terror.
You won't tell him. you couldn' Z
do that. Promise me you WON'T" she
said feverishly, putting out a hand that
was suppliCating.
Harriet drew away, she could not
help herself. "Oh, no. I won't tell him.
you needn't be afraid of that; we'll
simply forget that this has happened.
I'm sure when you have had a chance
to think matters over you'll be sorry
you decided to come here tonight"
Lucy said nothing more, and Harriet
walked to the door with her. She was
eager for Lucy to go. She wanted to be
alone to think matters over. for surely
this was a strange state of affairs. On
the way up to her room her mind re-
verted to her first day in the Offices of
Harmon 4 Graves. She remembered
Iucys hostile attitude. her unwilling
ness to be friends. Was this due per
haps TO tho fact that Charlie was 'sus
ccptiblc. easily attracted by new face
and a fresh personality? What was
there between Lucy and Charlie-a
Irritation or was there something more
behind it? Lucy's manner had implied
the latter, and yet she had been terri
fed lest Charley suspect her part in to
, nights happenings. Suddenly new
thought dsrted into Harriets mind. the
incident OF the jade necklace. Had
Charlie given that exquisite gift to Lucy