The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-04-06
Harriet herself interrupted with a


laugh.
You say that woman as II it was
bitter. deadly cursel' she said
"Well-" They had reached the car
now. and Richard was investigating
the oil gauge and spark plugs under
the hood. 'Well. a woman like that
breaks in-nothing to her. he said
with scorn, strightening up.
yes. but at country club?' Har-
riet offered, placaringly, as she got
into the front seat. and tucked the
pongee robe snugly about The saffron
colored gown.
81 suppose sol" He got in beside
her; there was moment of backing
and wrenching before they glided out
smoothly on the white driveway.
"What I meant TO say was this" he
added, suddenly. with sdewise
glance from his wheel IL want
you to realize that appreciate the In
jnstice-the crudeness Of my rushing
to you In New Jersey that Christmas
day. I realize that we all have I'm,
posed on you-we've taken you too
and couldn't think of any other way
out of 1t. But for any man to put a
proposition like that to any woman"
They were driving very slowly. He
looked at her again. and met a won
dering look in her beautiful eyes that
still further confused him. He had
been uncomfortably conscious of an
odd confusion in touching upon this
subject at all. Yet his mind had been
full of 1t all day.
II never felt it so. l assure you !"
Harriet said with her lucid. friendly
look. Richard felt that there was
more to say, but realized that he had
selected an unfortunate time for these
condolences.
I'm afraid I've been extremely
stupid in the matter" he said, feeling
for his words. I've gone about it
clumsily. To tell you the truth
What does that boy want?"
1t was Ward who was coming to-
ward them across the green. with
great springs and leaps, like some
mountain animal.
"Give us lift ~ shrieked Ward,
fing!ng himself upon the car as its
speed decreased. Something is the
matter with my engine-engine pee
toris is what call It, Father, Mr..
Tom Grant expects you to dine at his
table tonight, he said to remind you.
And, Harriet, angel of angels. we will
be about six or seven about the groan-
Ing board is that all right?
Il told Bottomley six or seven, u
Harriet said, serenely Ward. get in
or get out" she added, materially
don't hang over the door in that
blOod-curdling wayl"
She had put her arm about the bo,
to steady him; they began to discus.
tennis scores with enthusiasm Rich
ard drove the rest of the way hom,
almost without speaking
He planned to see Harriet agar
that evening, and left the club a
eleven o'clock. after an Incredibly dnl
game with the definite hope that the
youngsters would dance or in some
other wny prolong the summer eve
ming at least until midnight. His
heart sank when he reached Crown.
lands; the lower floor showed only
the tempered lights that burned until
the latest member of the family came
In. and Bottomley reported that the
young persons had gone upstairs at
about hnlf-past ten. sir. 1t was now
half-past eleven.
Richard debated sending Harriet a
message to the effect that he would
like to see her for moment The
f1aw in this plan was that he could
think Of nothing about which there
was the slightest necessity of seeing
her. He felt restless and anything
but sleepy, and glanced irresolutely at
the library door. and at the stairway.
Suddenly uproar broke out upstairs
there were humping feet, shrieks,
wild laughter. and slamming doors.
With suddenly lightened heart Rich