The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-04-20
HARRIET AND
THE PIPER


ship, friendly and innocent, and wholly
irresistible.
Richard. catching the look. was per
maps unconsclousiy cheered by IT.
t.yen al fortyfOur, and under his
present difficulties and harassments,
he must have been dead not 10 be
refreshed by the vision Of earnest
youth and beauty that was so near
him In the tempered summer light OF
the great library.
Thank you - he said. as II she had
spoken. There is one more thing,
Miss Field" he added. idly rumpling
his papers again, and then moving his
fine hand TO his thick brown hair.
whose shining order he rumpled too.
About this man Blondin. DO you
know anything about himT"
A more direct shot at her innermost
Businesses could hardly have been
made Robbed of breath and senses
by the suddenness OF IL, and with dry
tition:
know anything about himT'
II don't know much. and what i do
know | don't like" Richard continued.
noticing nothing amiss in her manner.
perhaps because he was so deeply abb
sorbed In what he was saying. He's
handsome fellow; ne knows his sub
ject. l guess. But / don't like him
Now. / don't know how he feels 10
Nina. or she TO hssn. but as you know,
she Will come into her uncle's fortune
in few months. unless the trustee,
who Ii myself. decides TO defer pay
ment for another three years. i mere
Is want 20 say that IL might be as well
TO Intimate to this young fellow that
there are conditions under which Z
would see At To defer IL. and anything
that brought him into that connection
would-well. would constitute one :"
Il didn't know of THAR" Harriet ex-
claimed. I'm such obvious relief that
the man smiled involuntarily.
"Then you agree with meT he
asked. eagerly.
Here in the sOmber sweetness of the
library. with the man she admired and
respected above all others looking to
her for confidence and counsel, what
could she say7 Even had Royal Blon-
din been present, Harriet might have
cast every secondary consideration to
the winds as readily. As IL was, she
could only tell him the truth.
''Oh. yes-yes: told Ward that
would rather see Nina dead -
"Why do you say SOP" Richard
asked. "Sow. TIL tell you why | do"
he added. as Harriet was. not unnatu-
rally. cropping for definite phrases.
"rve been watching this man. I had
his record looked into. There's moth
ing extremely bad In 1.-THE seems to
be a gentleman adventurer. / don't
want him mixed up with my family.
I'm going 10 speak to Ward about II.
warn him that his sisters happiness
mustn't he risked by having the fellow
about at all. You're tired" said
Richard. abruptly.
Indeed I'm not !" the girl protested.
with white lips.
You don't imagine the man is serf-
ous7" Richard asked, alarmed by her
manner.
II don't known Harriet answered
at random. 'Theyve-they've hardly
known each other three weeks"
"Ah. well, And she is only seven
teen" her father said. Distract her.
amuse her-if she's inclined TO NOPE
a bit. Get riding horsesr'
No time to think-no time to trim
her course. Harriet must plunge
blindly ahead now.
mfr. Carter. would you-if you
think wise-give your mother a hint
Of this7 Madame Carter Is romantic,
you know"
"Oh, certainly Certainly" he said
approvingly. "I1l speak TO her. We
must keep Nina little girl this sum
mer. And. Miss Field"
II was said with only a slight change
I'm the pleasant voice. But II brought
a sudden change In their relationship
a tightening of the bonds that were
all Harriet's world now.
Miss Field, I may say here and
now that IT Is an unmixed privilege
In my estimation" Richard Carter
said. simply. that my daughter, and
my son, too, for the matter Of that
should have the advantage of you
time. / have never been unapprecia
| tive OF the value OF q simple, gooo
unspoiled woman in my household.
have seen the effect In a THOUSAND
ways. But ut the present moment,
hardly know where / could turn with
out you. i can only hope that In SOM
way the Carriers may be able to repa1
| youi"
The secretary's shining head dropped
and she rested her elbow on the table
and pressed a white hand tight acros'
| her eyes for a moment of silence
When she faced him again her fac
was a little pale, and her magninccn
eyes heavy with tears.
Il love all the Carriers" she sal
simply. 81 only wish ] were-hai
what you sayi"
And without another word she stoo
up. folded into a tiny oblong the %
per upon which she had been maxim
few notes. and went slowly to Tn