The Holbrook news., 1922-01-20


 to supper one night. and Royal had laughed with the others at the spirited little waitress who delivered herself of tremendous decisions while she came i and went with plates. and forgot to take oir her checked blue apron when she finally slipped into her place.
 The man had been a derelict theE, ! as now. But he was nine years older than Harriet Field. He had had tho same delightful voice. the same pen ! etrating eyes, He had brought poetry music. art. into the sordid little parlor ! of the Watertown apartment; he had helped Harriet to tame and house those soaring ambitions. She felt again those kisses that had walked the | little-girl heart into passionate wom- | anhood she shut her eyes and pressed her hand tight against them. So young ---so happy-so confident !-plunging headlong into that soaring blackness. I And now Royal Blondin was back again. and she was not ready for him ! She could not score now. But he could hurt her irreperably if he would Isabelle was an indifferent mother. and an incorrigible f1irt. but | at the first word. at the first hint-ah, there would be no arguing, no weigh ing of the old blame and responsibil. ity! If there was the faintest cloud of doubt. that would be enough! Harriet had shaken back her mane of hsir, had hammered furious fists I together up on the dark balcony. It wasn't fsir-it wasn't fsir-just now, when she was SO secure and happy! She had flung her arms across the railing, and buried her hot face on them, and had wept desperate and an- gry tears into the silken and golden light.
 She did not refuse him her hand when hs came to the tea table. or her eyes, and there was friendliness, or the semblance of 1t, In the voice with which she said his name. That he was Saiting. perhaps os fearfully as she. for his cue, was evidenced by the quick relief with which he echoed the old familiarity.
 Harriet. I find you again. I've been waiting all this time to find youl I'd heard Ward speak of Miss Field of coursel But it never meant you. to me. I've been thinking of you sll night"
 Eve been thinking, too," she said. simply.
 "It's after six" Blcndin said with Q glance about. "We can't talk here Can you get away? Can we go some where?"
 Without another word she deserted her seat. pinned on her hat and picked up her gloves.
 There's very quiet back road straight down to Crownlands." she said, considering. I've might walk
 "Anythingw he assented. briefly.
 Guided by Harriet, who was familiar With the place. they slipped through the hallway, and out Q s.s!. door. They had no sooner gained silence and soli- tlide than the man began deliberately:
 Harriet, I have not thought of any thing else since I came upon you yes terday, after all these years. I want you to tell me that you--you aren't angry with me. You knew-you knew how desperately I tried to find you, Harriet: What 6 hell went through?"
 If she had steeled herself against . oe I, ~l, failed herself now. It was with an involuntary and bitter little laugh that s..e said:
 "You had 10 monopoly Of that. Roy"
 But you ran away from me-" he accused her. When I went to ~Snd you, they told me the Davenports had moved away. Won't you believe that felt terrible-that I walked the streets, Harriet, praying-praying!- L. that I might catch a glimpse of you. It was the uppermost thought for years-how many years? Sesenf"
 More than eight" she corrected. in somewhat Ifeless voice. T was eighteen. My one thought. my one hope, when l last saw you. In Linda's house." she went on, with sudden pas sion. 'was that would never see you again But I'm glad to hear you say this, Roy" she added, in gentler tone. I'm glad you-felt sorry. Our going away was mere chance. Fred Davenport was offered position on q Brooklyn paper. and we all moved from Watertown to Brooklyn. I was grateful for It; 1 only wanted to dis appear! Linda stood by me, her chill dren saved my life. I was a nursery maid for year or two-I never saw anybody CT went anywhere! I look back" Harriet said. talking more to herself than to him, and walking swiftly along in the golden sunset that streamed across the old back road. "and I wonder I didn't go stark, star Ing mad!"
 Don't think about It." he urged, with concern.
 "No: I'll not think about it. Royal. don't think that all my feeling was for myself. thought of you. too. missed you. Truly, missed what you had given my lifei'
 4 dark flush came to the mans face, and when he spoke 1t was with an honest shame and gratitude in his voice that would have surprised tho women who had only known him in hls later years.
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