Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-05-18


trip. Richard came back by train,
saving an hour, and was at the office
when they got there. Harriet did not
see him again; he was in conference;
and presently she quietly got back
into the motorcar and on her way to
meet Nina she slipped the plain circle
of gold into her handbag.
She had 1t out tonight, and put it
on her bare, pretty hand, and held it
to the fire, and slowly the events of
the bewildering and firing day wheeled
before her, and only the reality of the
ring assured her that it was not all
confused dream. Married And all
alone before the glowing Goals, weary
from hostile encounters, on her mar
riage night!
She had intended to write to Linda
tonight; Linda was vexed with her,
and small wonder! For Harriet had
left the little New Jersey house al
most without farewells had come
down to an earlier breakfast even
than Fred's, and had said briefly that
she was returning to the Carriers, and
would see them all soon.
Why hadn't she told Linda? Well,
for one reason, she had hardly be-
lieved her own memory of the talk on
Christmas day with Richard. Then
she had feared opposition, feared
Linda's shocked references to decent
intervals Of mourning; Linda's frank
belief that there was no strong per
sonal feeling involved on Richards
part; Linda's advice to bride.
Harriets face burned at the mere
thought Of it. No, she couldn't tell
Linda yet; she was tOo tired to write
tonight, anyway. Linda and Fred had
not been at all approving, Christmas
night. David had reproached her, had
disappeared earlier than was expect
ed or necessary; they had not fatled
of their suspicious.
"Well! l must go to bed" she said
aloud, suddenly. She stood, one elbow
on the mantel, her beautiful eyes fixed
on the dying fire. 1t was midnight,
the room and the house very still. ut
isn't exactly what expected marriage
to be-" she mused. "But after all"
she said to herself, beginning to move
about with last preparations for bed"
I'm married to the man love-nOth7
ing can change that. And if he doesn't
love me, he likes me. I've done moth
ing wrong, and If my life is just lit
tie different from most women's, why,
1 shall have to make the best Of 1t /!
And 1 did tell him-I did tell him"
And her thoughts went back to the
first few minutes she had spent in
Richards office that day. They had
been alone, discussing the last details
Of their astonishing plan, when she
had suddenly taken the plunge.
"Mr. Carter, there is just one thing
OF course" Harriet's cheeks had
famed, "of course, this marriage Of
ours is not the usual marriage, and
yet, there is just one thing Of which
would like to speak to you before we
we go up to Greenwich" And find
ing his gray eyes pleasantly fixed upon
her she had gone on, confused but de-
termined "I'm twenty-seven now
and perhaps 1 might have married
some other man before this-except
that-when l was seventeen-I did
fall in love with a mani And we
were to be married-w She had
stopped short; it was incredibly hard.
''He had-or thought he had, brought
something tremendously big and won
derful into my life," Harriet had con-
tinued, "and was a stupid little girl,
just taking care Of my sisters babies
and reading my fathers books"
'You are under no obligation to tell
me anything Of this" Richard had
said, kindly. far more concerned for
her distress than interested in what
she was saying. II must have known
that there were admirers! assure
you that"
"No, but just a momentl" Harriet
had interrupted him. II was infatu-
ated-I knew that at once, God knows
I've known 1t ever since went away
with him, little fool that was ~
A CLEAN of genuine surprise had
come into Richard Carter's eyes, and
he looked at her without speaking.
II was taken i'll the day left with
him. While was getting well had
time to think it over. I knew then I
was too young and too ignorant to be
any mans wife. was frightened and
I-well, ran away; went back to
my sister. Both she and her husband
regarded me after that as in some way
marked, unprincipled, unworthy"
poor childi" Richard had said.
''They naturally would. You were no
more than Nina's agel"
$50 that's my history" Harriet had
finished, simply. Il thought 1 had
done with men. And there have been
men, men like Ward, for instance, to
whom could have been married with
out feeling that need make any men
tion of that old time. But 1 wanted
to tell you"
'Thank you very much" Richard
/ Abo