The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-12-15

would please the Carriers, imagine"
The word engagement brought
filmy vision before Harriet's eyes. horn
of the fragrance and sunshine of the
summer. She saw a ring. laughter
and congratulations. dinner parties
and receptions, shopping in glittering
Fifth avenue.
"a boy in Wards position may do
much worse than marry lovely and
sensible woman" Mrs. Putnam said.
well, 1t just occurred to me. 1t is
your affair, of course. But looking
back one sees how much just the
well, the lack of tiny push has
meant in ones lifel"
"And this is the push?" Harriet said.
her heart full of the confusion and
happiness that this unusual mood of
confidence and affection on Mary Put
nams part had brought her.
"Perhapsl" The smooth, cool hand
touched hers for second before Mrs.
Putnam went upon her gracious way.
Harriet hardly heard the hustle and
confusion about her for few minutes.
She sat musing, with her splendid eyes
fixed upon some point invisible to the
joyous group about her.
To Nina, meanwhile, had come the
most extraordinary hour of her life
She had sauntered to green bench,
under great naples, with Lettice Gra-
ham and Harry Trout and Anna
Poett And Joshua Brevoort had come
for Anna, and they had sauntered
away, with that mysterious ease with
faI ,fI r;rlc 20
young men. And then Harry and Let
tice had in some manner communi
Gated with each other. for Lettice had
| jumped up suddenly, saying: "Nina
will you excuse us? Well be back
directly" and they had wandered off
in the direction of the river. giggling
as they went. Nina had smiled gall
lantly in farewell, but her feelings
were deeply hurt. She hated to sit on
here. visibly alone, and yet there was
small object in going back to the alb
sorbed groups nearer the house.
Then came the miracle. For as she
uncomfortably waited, Wards friend,
the queer man with the black eyes and
thick hair. suddenly took the seat be-
side her. Nina's heart gave a plunge.
for if she was i'll at ease with kids
like Harry and Joshua, how much less
could she manage a conversation with
the lion of the hour, But Royal Blon
Gin needed no help from Nina.
You're little Miss Carter. aren,
you?" he said. I'VE were Introduced
back there, but there were TOO muny
young men around you then for me tc
get word in, Nice boys, all of them
But not worth your whlle!'
Nina murmured confidence.
What did you say?" Blondin said
But come" he added, frankly, your.
not afraid of me. are you? My deai
little girl, I'm old enough to be your
father! Look up-I want to see those
eyes. That's better. Now, that's more
friendly. Tell me what you said?'
Il said-that mother expected me
TOTO like them"
ITO? oh, to like the boys. Mother
expects it? OF course she does And
some day she'll expect to dress you in
white. and bid us all to come and
dance at the wedding But in the
meantime, Mother mustn't blame some
one who has just little more discern
ment than-well, young BrevOort, for
example, for seeing that her tame
dove is really a wild little seagull
starving for the sea. And you don't
want to fall in love with one of these
lads for year or two, anyway"
''Oh, my, mol" Nina felt the express
sion inadequate, but her breath had
been taken away. The man had
+ turned about little, his eyes were
all for her. and his arm, laid carelessly
along the back of the green bench.
| almost touched the white ruffies. They
were in full sight of the house, too,
| and if Lettice or Anna came back.
they would see Nina in deep and last
ing conversation with the man that all
the older women were so mad about
You don't. But-what?" He bent
his dark head.
Il said, But l don't know how you
knew itr Nina repeated, looking
down in her overwhelming self-con-
sciousness, but with smile of utter
happiness and excitement.
A second later she looked up in
some alarm. He was silent-she had
somehow said the awkward thing
again Nina's heart fluttered nerv-
ously.
| But what she saw reassured her.
Royal Blondin had squared himself
about, and had folded his arms, and
was staring darkly into space.
How l knew it !" he said in half
whisper, us if to himself, after full
| half-minute of silence that thrilled
| Nina to the soul. Child don't know
Some day you and / will read books
ogether-wonderful books And then
perhaps we will begin to understand
the cosmic secret-why your soul
| reaches out to mine-why l not only
want tn Ennxv Won hattar hut ,,,h,, 4, i.,