The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-13
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Copyright by Kathleen Norris


prepared for the only step that to her
whirling brain and shamed soul
seemed possible. She must disappear.
There was no alternative.
She had harmed them all, they could
only think of her now as an unscrupu-
lous and mischievous woman who had
by chance entered their lives when
they were all in desperate need Of wis
dom and guidance, who had played
her own contemplate game. and added
one more hurt to the hurt reputation
Of the house of Carter.
Harriet got out of her evening gown
and into a loose wrapper. She went
about somewhat aimlessly, yet the
suitcases, spread open 6n the bed,
were gradually filed, and her per
sonal possessions gradually disap-
peared from tables and walls. Now
and then she stopped short, heartsick
and trembling; once her lips quivered
and her eyes filed, but for the most
part she did not pause.
Nina, at about eleven, had come to
the door Between their rooms. and
optntu II. lie girl WIS uIluE6SScu,
and for a few moments she watched
Harriet scowlingly, with narrowed
eyes.
Are you going away?" she said,
presently. Harriet brought heavy
eyes to meet hers, and stood consider
ing a minute, as If bringing her
thoughts back a long distance.
"I-going away? Yes" she said,
slowly. Yes, / may"
Nina stood watching which seemed
vaguely to trouble Harriet, who gave
her a restless glance now and then as
she went to and fro. Presently she
spoke 20 Nina again.
"GOOd-night. Nina!"
Goodnight" snapped Nina, and
the door slammed.
Harriet continued to move about for
perhaps half an hour before Nina's
odd manner required to her, on a wave
of memory, and she seemed to hear
again Nina's ungrac;ous tone.
HE told her!" she said, suddenly.
"She saw Royal, and he told herl Poor
child"
And she went to Nina's room, with
vague idea that she would sit beside
the weeping girl for awhile, one heavy
heart close to the other, even IL no
words could pass between them.
But Nina lay sleeping peacefully,
and Harriet, after watching her for
few minutes, went back to her own
room. She went to the open window,
and stood staring absently out at the
dark summer night, the great branches
of the trees moving In the restless
wind, and the oblong of dull light that
still fell from the library window.
She could not see the. horror as
Richard saw it: she could not see her
self as only a mistaken woman,
woman with youth, beauty, and intel
ngence pleading for her, one problem
more in his life, 1t is true. but only
one among many, and not the greatest.
She did not see him as he saw himself,
his family as the somewhat trouble
some, and yet quite understandable
group of selfish human beings in whose
perplexities he had always played the
part of arbiter.
To Harriet the thing doomed momen-
tous, unfOrgiving, incalculable. 1t as
sumed to her the proportions Of a muir
der. Richard, in her estimation, was
not what he thought himself, some
what ordinary man In the forties
whose life had already held poverty
and establishment and wholesome
disappointment, whose nature had
been tempered to humor and generOs-
ity and philosophy; to Harriet. he was
the richest, the finest the most deserv-
ing Of men, and she the adventures
who had brought his name down to
shame q id dishonor.
Until two o'clock she was wretched-
~ busy in soul and body. When the
last of her personal possessions was
packed, and when she was aching from
hea TO foot, she took hot bath, and
crept into bed.
But not to sleep. The feverish
agonies of shame and reproach held
her. She was pleading with Richard.
she was talking to Nina-she was max
Ing little of it-making much of it
she was saying a reluctant "yes-yes-
yes!" TO their questioning.
AT four o'clock she dressed herself
again. half-mad with headache and
fatigue, and went out into a world
that was just beginning to brighten in
TO faint shapes and cOlOrs.
A steamer moved majestically up
the river, the smoothly widening wake
spread from shore to shore; pink light
showed at one cabin window and into
Harriets somber thoughts came unbid-
den the picture of yawning cook.