The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-12-29
CHAPTER v.

Harriet slept in the room with Julia
and Josephine that night. or rather
tossed and lay wakeful there. At
about two o'clock the wind streamed
mercifully in, hot and thick. but
prophetic of rain, and Harriet, wan
dering about to make windows fast
encountered Linda. on the same err
rand. When the worst of the crack
ling and flashing was over. the girl
glanced Mt her watch. Three o'clock.
but she could sleep now. She sank
deeply into dreams, not to stir until
Iinda's alarm clock, hastily smoth-
cred, thrilled at seven, and the small
girls rose with cheerful noise, to let
streams of hot sunshine upon her face.
Immediately after breakfast the
two small girls attacked their Satur
day mornings work with philosophic
vigor that rather touched their aunt.
Fred had hurried away after his hasty
meal; the boys were turned out into
the backyard. which Pip was expected
to rake while he watched his small
brother.
Harriet's heart ached deeply for
them all as she watched the Jersey
marshes from the car window few
hours later Josephine was to be
stenographer when she finished high
school, and little Julia had expressed
an angelic ambition to teach kinder
garten class some day. Nina, at their
ages. had her pony. her finishing
school. her little silk stockings. and
her monogrammed ivory toilet set.
her trip to England and France and
Italy with her mother and brother
and grandmother.
Suppose that she, Harriet was right
in suspecting that Wards feeling was
more than the passing gallantry of
n light-hearted boy? 1T would be
nine-days' wonder, his marriage Mt
twenty-five with his mothers secre-
tary. more than four years his senior.
But after that? After that there
would be nothing to say or do. Young
Mr. and Mrs. Ward Carter would es-'
tablish themselves comfortably. and
the elder Carriers would visit them;
Isabelle absorbed as usual in her own
mysterious thoughts, and Richard
Carter
Harriet's thoughts, none too com
Portable up to this point. stopped here
and she flushed She would not enjoy
telling Richard that she was to marry
his son. Those keen eyes would read.
her through and through, and while
her fnther-in-law might love her, and
see her beauty and charm with all
the rest of the world, Harriet knew
that she must begin an actual cam
palgn for his esteem on her wedding
had
ed piquancy. She had little fear of
its outcome. She would make Ward
Carter wife for whom hfs father
must come to feel genuine gratitude
and devotion. There would be chill
dren, there would be hospitality and
music and "A garden. And Ward
should seriously settle down to his
business, whatever 1t might be, and
show himself a worthy son OF his
clever father.
"Why not-why not?" Harriet asked
herself, as she reached Madame Car
ter's pretentious apartment house, and
was whisked upstairs. She was to
meet Nina here. and she glanced about
for the big limousine at the curb, as an
Indication that the old lady might be
ready to accompany them back to
Crownlands. But there was no car in
sight. The maids first statement was
that Miss Carter had gone home with
her brother. and then Madame Carter
came magnificently into the room.
"well. our bird has flown!" said the
old lady. Harriet could see that she
was pleased about something.
"Gone home with Wardf" Harriet
asked. Madame Carter never shook