The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-12-15
acepuriaht by kothIee1 Norris
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I.-IIarriet Field, twenty
eight years old and beautiful is the So
ciai secretary of the flirtatious Mrs Isa-
Carter's home, and governess of 17-year-
old Nina Carter. Ward, twenty-four years
old and impressionable. fancies himself in
tary. Mrs. Carter's latest AFFAIR" is
with young Anthony Pope, and the youth
Is taking it very seriously.
CHAPTER H.-Presiding over the tea
cups this summer afternoon, Harriet Is
profoundly disturbed by the arrival of
visitor. Royal Blondin. Next day. at
tea party In the city. Blondin makes him
self agreeable to Nina, and leaves deep
impression on the unsophisticated girl.
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 affectionate 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 dear!' said Harriet, in an
odd, breathy whisper.
The terror began to flood 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
ished, not crumb marred the order
of the grass-grown bricks. The chairs
held formal attitudes, the table was
empty. All the motorcars were gone
from the drive. She turned back into
the room, breathing more easily.
At half-past seven she came up
from a 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. If 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 invisibly. set with brilliant pins.
There was not an inch of her whole
beautiful little person that would not
have survived a 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 at
crisp angles; the silk stockings
showed a warm skin tint through their
thinness; her lower eyelids had been
skillfully darkened, her cheeks deli
otn1u hnr
with carInine; 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 gen.
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 a double line of mag
nificent 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 good disposition, and there
was nothing in her life now to ruffle
it. She mused happily, her lips twitch-
ing with some amusing memory. Then
she became businesslike. Harriet, do
you go to the city this weekT
nina 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, 1 thought l would like to 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 shrewd
Jlance.
Harriet hesitated. and the color
-ept into her smooth cheeks. zone
wonders" she mused in a most un-
promising tone, whether one is asked
as maid, or a guest?"
''In this case, as a mother" Isabelle
was inspired to answer. Personally,
I should very much like 1t for Nina's
sake. But you suit yourself"
The tone denied the words; Harriet
knew what she was expected to do.
I'll be delighted to help!" she said,
lifelessly. "a lot of women and chill
dren," she reflected, "and nobody
drinking tea anyway, this weatherl
Nina was duly dressed for the tea
party the next day, and went to show
herself to her mother while Harriet
dressed. The young girl looked her
best in filmy white with its severely
plain ruffles, and with wide white
hat on her thick, smoothly dressed
hair. Miss Field, too. although she
was very pale today, looked simply