Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-12-23

81. hnNiONh1llOho NCitf III OlutIt tN'Il-
one wanted to meet the Bellamys'
friend, and Harriet saw that Il pleased
him., for some Inscrutabie reason to
continue his ridiculous conversation
with the flattered Ward and to accept
names and greetings absently, In an
aside, as 1t were. smiling perfunctorily
and briefly at the eager girls and
women, and returning Immediately to
his concerned and passionate under
tones with the boy.
1t was Isabelle who brought him to
the tea table. Harriet had felt, with
sure premonltion of disaster, that IL
must be. She might not escape; there
was nothing for 1t but courage now.
Her breath was behaving badly and
the muscles contracted in her throat,
but she managed smile.
"And this Is Miss Field, Mr. Blon-
din" said Isabelle. "She will give you
some tea !"
Miss Field" said Royal Blondln,
and his dark hand came across the
teacups. Harriet, as his thin mouth
| twitched with Just the hint of smile,
looked straight into his eyes, and she
knew he was as frightened as she.
! But from neither was there visible
| sign of CONSERVATION.
A few seconds later Harriet Field
| slipped from her place, crossed the
terrace with her heart beating sick
and fast with fright, and made her
| escape.
She and Nina had luxurious suite
on the second floor, shut Off from the
rest of the house by single door, and
rather remotely placed in wing that
commanded superb view of the river.
Nina, half-dressed, was sprawllng
luxurlously on her bed when Harriet
came in. Glass doors were open upon
square porch, and the sweet after
noon air stirred the crisp, transparent
curtains.
Harriet shut the door, and leaned
against It, and the world spun about
her. What now? What now? What
now? hammered her heart. Nina
tossed aside her magazine. and regard
ed her with affectlonate reproach.
You ran upstairs !" she said. I'm
lying on your bed because Maude had
the laundry all over mine. Are you
going to lie DOWN.
mo, my dearw said Harriet, in an
odd, breathy whisper.
The terror began to food her soul
and mind again. She went out to the
porch. and looked down into the clear
shade of the early twilight, under the
trees. The terrace was deserted;
every sign of the tea party had van
lshed not a crumb marred the order
of the grass grown bricks. The chairs
held formal attitudes, the table was
empty. All the motorcars We're gone
from the drive. She turned back into
the room, breathing more easily.
At half-past seven she came up
from little diplomatic adjusting In
the service end of the house, to peep
at Nina, who was reading in bed, and
to go on to Isabelle's room. IL Mrs.
Carter was alone. she liked to see
Harriet then, to be sure OF any last
message, or to discuss any domestic
plan.
Harriet found her, exquisite in
twinkling black spangles, before her
mirror. Isabelle's hair was dressed In
dark and shining waves and scallops
netted invlslbly, set with brilliant pins.
There was not an inch of her whole
beautiful little person that would not
have survived critical inspection.
Her skin, her white throat, her arms
and hands and fingernails, her waist
and ankles and her pretty feet, were
all absolute perfection. The illusion
that yelled her slender arms stood nj
crisp angles the silk stockings
showed warm skin tint through their
thinness; her lower eyellds had been
skillfully darkened, her cheeks deli
cately rouged, and her lips touched
with carmine; her brows had been
clipped and trained and penciled, her
lashes brushed with liquid dye, and
what fragrant powders and perfumes
could add, had been added In gem
erous measure. She wore diamonds
on her fingers, In her ears, and about
her throat, and her gown was held at
her full smooth breast by platinum
| bar that bore double line of mag
nihcent stones. Harriet always
thought her handsome; tonight she
had to admit that her employer was
truly beautiful.
Mrs. Carter was In pleasant mood ;
she had II good disposition, and there
was nothing in her life now to ruflle
II. She unused happily, her lips twitch-
ing with some amusing memory. Then
she became businesslike. Harriet, do
you go to the city this week?'
"Nlna and the girls are To see Ruth
st. Denis on Friday" Harriet said. ~
thought Madame Carter would take
them, but now she says no. But If
Nina stays with her grandmother over
night | thought l would like 10 see
my sister; she hasn't been very well
That can wait, of course. Miss Jays
tea party is tomorrow; that's Thurs
day"
"And that reminds me that Louise
Jay telephoned today, and asked me
If you would take charge of the tea
table," Isabelle said, with a shrewd
| glance.