The herald., 1922-04-13

first shy filming of green. looked won
derful to Harriet's homesick eyes.
Richard was to join them at dinner;
it had been impossible for him to
meet them when the boat arrived, but
Fox had been there and attended to
the formalities. 1t had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
10 dress accordingly. Nina looked her
prettlest In white silk, and the old
lady was magnificent in diamonds and
brOcade. Harriet deliberately selected
her handsOmest gown, a severe black
satin that wrapped her slender body
with one superb and shining sweep,
and left her white arms and firm,
fawless shoulders bare. The firm
young lines of chin and throat, the
swelling white breast that met the en-
casing satin, the slippers with their
twinkling buckles-stle could not but
find every detail pleasing, and her
scarlet mouth, firmly shut, was
twitched by sudden dimple.
She glanced at the clock, went slow
ly to the door, and slowly down the
big square stairway. Richard and his
children were In the lower hall, and
they all glanced up.
Down IN the soft glow Of light came
Harriet, smiling as she slipped her left
arm about Nina, and gave the free
hand TO Nina's father. She was ap-
parently cool and unself-conscious; in
wardly she felt feverish, frightened
and excited and happy, all at once.
Richard was in evening dress, too; he
looked his best; his dark hair brushed
to a shining crest, and his gray eyes
full Of pleasure.
"Well, Miss Field" he said, lit
tie breathlessly. "Welll Your vaca-
ton hasn't done you any harm"
1--WE had to make an occasion Of
our coming home" Harriet said, with
nervous laugh, trying not to see the
admiration in his eyes.
"You look wonderful !" Nina said.
"Why, you saw this gown at Mas
sau," Harriet protested.
"Louise-or whoever she was of
Prussia, or whatever you call It,
turned In the family vault when you
walked down those stairsw Ward
said. "Oo-oo-caught you under the
mistletoe-oo-oo, you would" he
added, with an effort to envelop her
In his embrace.
"Ward, behave yourself~ Harriet
said, evading him, and walking toward
the dining room with his grandmother
who came downstairs In her turn, and
| Joined them.
| Richard Carter watched her, the in
carnation of young and beautiful
womanhood. Clever he knew her tc
be, capable and conscientious, but to
night she was in a new role. He liked
to see her there at the other end OF
the table; he realized that she was the
center of things, here in his house
and that he had missed her.
After dinner 1t CHANGED that Bot
tomley called her to the telephone
and that a moment later she passed
the call on to Richard.
Tt's Mr.. Gardiner, Mr.. Carter. H'
didn't know that you were here, bu
he would rather speak to you" Har
riet said. Richard went to the tele
phone, and as she moved to maxi
room for him, and gave him the re
ceiver. he had a sudden breath Of tn
sweetness and freshness Of her, o
hair and young firm skin, of tn
rustling satin gown, and the littl
handkerchief that she dropped, an
that he picked up for her. He smile
as he gave 1t, and flushed inexplicably
and his first few words to the Devil
dered Gardiner were little shake
and breathless. But Richard was quit
himself again an hour or two latel
when he sent for Miss Field, and sh
came into the library.
Il needn't say that I'm entirel
pleased with the way matters hav
gone. Harriet" said Richard, when sh
had seated herself on the oppOsit
! side Of his big. fiat desk, and lockin
her white hands on the shining SUI
faco had fixed her magnificent eyes o