The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-02-22

OF course! But 1t never meant you
to me. I've been thinking of you al
night"
"Tve been thinking, too" she said,
simply.
ITS after SIX" Blondin said with
a glance about. I'VE can't talk here.
Can you get away Can we 80 some
wherey"
Without another word she deserted
her seat. pinned on her hat, and
picked up her gloves.
"There's a very quiet back road
straight down to C~rownlands," she
said, considering. 1--WE might walk"
Anything" he assented, briefly.
Guided by Harriet, who was familiar
with the place. they slipped through
the hallway, and out a side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soil
tude than the mar began deliberately:
Harriet, I have not thought of any
thing else since l came upon you yes
terday. after all these years. I want
you to tell me that you-you aren't
angry with ne. You knew--you knew
how desperately I tried to find you.
Harriet? What a hell l went through"
II she had steeled herself against
the possibility Of his shaking her. she
failed herself now. 1t was with an
involuntary and bitter little laugh that
she said:
"You had no monopoly Of that.
Roy"
"But you ran away from me-" he
accused her. "NVhen I went to And
you. they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
I felt terrible-that l walked the
streets, Harriet, praying-praying -
that I might catch a glimpse Of you.
It was the uppermost thought for
years-how many years1 Seeen!"
"More than eight" she corrected.
In q somewhat lifeless voice. II was
eighteen. My one thought. my one
hope. when I last saw you. In Linda's
house." she went on. with sudden pas
sion, twas that I would never see you
again! But I'm glad to hear you say
this. Roy" she added, In a gentler
tone. "Tm glad you-felt sorry. Our
going away was Il mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered a position on
a Brooklyn paper, and we all moved
from WATERFOWL to Brooklyn. / was
grateful for It: ! only wanted to dis
appear! Linda stood by me. her chill
dren saved my life. l was q nursery
maid for a year or two-I never saw
anybody or went anywhere! l look
back" Harriet said, talking more to
herself than to him, and walking
swiftly along In the golden sunset that
strealned across the old back road.
land I wonder l didn't 60 stark, star
ing mad!"
Don't think about It," he urged.
with concern
mo: I'll not think about It. Royal,
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. I thought of you. too. I
missed you. Truly. I missed what you
had given my life"
A dark flush came to the mans face.
md when he spoke It was with an
honest shame and gratitude in his
voice that would have surprised the
women who had only known him In
his later years.
You are generous. Harriet" he
said. You were always the most
generous girl In the world"
More stirred than she wished to
show herself, Harriet walked on, and
there was a silence.
LINDA and Fred made It hard for
vn,, ~ M ncHoA
"Oh. no! They were angels. But Of
course In their eyes, and mine, too
I was Marked"
Silence. Royal Blondin gave her a
glance full Of distress and compunc-
tion. But he did not speak. and It
was Harriet who ended the pause.
"Well, that's what a little girl Of
eighteen may do with hrr life" she
said. II have been q fool have
made a wreck Of mine"
"YOu are the most beautiful woman
in the world" Royal Rlondin said,
steadily. "you are established here,
they all adore you! Why do you say
that your life Is a wreck?"
II am the daughter Of Professor
Field" said Harriet, "and at twenty
even I am the paid companion Of
Mrs. Richard Carriers daughter! Oh,
well-I was happy enough to have the
opportunity. What Of yourself? Where
have you been?"
But he was not quite ready to drop
the personal note.
Harriet. now that we have met,
well be friendsf My life now Is among
these people: you'll not be sorry II we
occasionally meet1"
I'm this casual Wayne. we can
stand that" she agreed. The fears
Of tho night rose like mist. melted
away. It was bad enough. but It was
not what her lnflamed and fantastic
Apprchension had made II. He was
no revenReful villain. after all. He
did not mean 20 harm her
sI've BEEN everywhere he said, an
sweFine her question. II made two
trips "a China from San Francisco.
II LAA3MA-AA 49, AAmA---~ $500