Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1922-01-26
CHAPTER u.

Madame Carter, gathering her tirap-
cries about her, was one of the first
to leave the terrace Dressing for
dinner was a slow and serious bust
ness for her. She gave Harriet cold
appraising glance as she passed her
Richard Carter had risen to escort his
mother, but she delayed him for mo
ment.
sNiss Nina gone I'm. Miss Ficllf'
Harriet, whose manner with all old
persons was the essence of scrupulous
formality, rose at once to her feet.
"Nina has gon to change her dress,
Madame Carter"
"She took it up1A herself to ask
you to help US out this afternoon"
the old lady added, with the sort Of
gracious cruelty of which she was mis-
tress. Richard Carter gave his daugh-
ter's companion a look that asked in
diligence.
Harriet said nothing, and resumed
her seat as the old lady rustled slowly
away. "Who's coming?" she asked In
an undertone, to Ward, as one more
motor swept about the carriage drive.
"What Is 1t, BeautifulY Ward
laughed. Harriet's glorious eyes wild
ened into smiling warning. His open
and boyish admiration was a sort of
joke between them. Yet In this sec
| ond, as he craned his neck to get q
glimpse Of the approaching guests, a
sudden thought was born In her.
Honor had compelled her to a gen
erous policy with Ward. She had held
his admiration firmly in check; she
had maintained a big-sister attitude
that was as wholesome for herself as
for him.
But here, she thought with sudden
satisfaction, might be the realization
of her own ambition, after all. Ward
was but four years her junior, and
Ward would be Richard Carriers heir
ITS the Bellamys and their crowd,
said Ward, watching the approach OF
newcomers. Look at that man will
them, that fellow with the hair
that's Blondini That's the man was
telling you about the other night, The
man whose name / couldn't remem
beri''
"Who?" =
Harriet did not know whether sh,
said it or screamed it. She lost al
consciousness of her surroundings ant
her neighbors for a few terrible sec
onds; her mouth was dry, her throa
CONSTRUCTED, and lhideous weakness
ran like nausea through her entir
body. The hand with which sh
touched the sugar tongs was icy colo
pain split her forehead, and she fel
suddenly tired and broken.
Ward had gone across to greet tn
Bellamys; Harriet fixed her eye
with a SORT of fascination upon tn
man to whom she presently saw hill
talking. Almost everyone else In tn
group was looking at him, too; Roya
Blondin was used to 1t; one of hi
favorite affectations was an apparen
Inconsistencies of being observed.
Well over six feet In height, he ha
dropped his leonine head, with II
thick locks of dark hair, q little o
! one side; his mobile, thin lips wer
set, and his piercing eyes searched th
boys face with sort of passiOnal
: attention.
Introductions were In order, ever.
one wanted to meet the Bellamy
friend, and Harriet saw that 1t please
him, for some inscrutable reason,
continue his ridiculous conversatio
with the flattered Ward, and to aecel
names and greetings absently, In q
: aside, as 1t were, smiling perfunctori
: and briefly at the eager girls ar
? women, and returning Immediately
his concerned and passionate unde
: tones with the boy.
! It was Isabelle who brought him
E the tea table. Harriet had felt wi
: a sure premonitlon OF disaster, that
= must be. She might not escape; the
= was nothing for 1t but courage no
= Her breath was behaving badly, Oh
the muscles contracted In her thros
but she managed q smile.
"And this is Miss Field, Mr.. Bio
y din" said Isabelle. "She will give v,
= some teal"
: Miss Field" said Royal Blondi
and his dark hand came across t
" .6E4HzLZ<Z[SSavsss.