The herald., 1922-05-11
HARRIET and tie PIPER
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
By KATHLEEN NORRIS


Mrs. Carter, said slow old bewhiSkered
John HOyt, was an extremely pretty
woman. my wife"-Richard in answer
ing called her that-'lOoks particularly
well in an evening gown" Indeed she
looked exquisite in the blue and silver
dress, laughing-still with that adOr-
able mist of StrangeneSS and shyneSS
about herewith her neighbOrs at the
table, and afterward in the drawing
room, waving her silver fan slowly
while Freda HOyt, who quite obviously
adored her, whispered her long conf
denceS.
Coming home in the limousine they
had neighbOrs with them, old Doctor
and Mrs. Carmichael, so he might not
have the word alone with her for which
he had been longing all evening. But
he stopped her in the wide, dim hall
way when they reached CrOwnlands.
"Tired?" he said al the foot of the
stairs.
Not Bit" There was an enChant-
ing vitality about her. She had
slipped the thin wrap from her Shout
ders, and she turned 10 him her lovely,
happy face. did you want meT
81 wanted TO say something to you"
Richard said, feeling awkward as
boy.
an thereT She nodded, suddenly
alert, toward the library.
"Why in there?" he asked, with a
little husky laugh. His one impulse
was to put his arms about her.
81 thought-bills, perhaps?' Harriet
said innocently. 1t was the third day
of the month; he had often consulted
her as to expenses before this.
"No," Richard said, with another I'M
steady little laugh. ut wasn't bills. l
was just wondering-if l had been
very stupid" he said, taking one of her
hands, and looking up from the fin
gers that lay In his to the face that
now wore an expression a little
frightened, despite the smile.
"Never with mel" Harriet said, In a
low tone.
"Never so blind" Richard said
never so matter-of-fact that 1 hurt
your feelings? Nothing of-that sortT
always the kindest friend l ever
had!" the girl answered, unsteadily
and with suddenly wet eyes. THE
the most generous!"
He looked at her hand again, looked
up at her as If he would speak. Bu'
instead, she felt her fingers pressed
and felt her heart thump with deli
cious terror.
Bottomley came noiselessly, dis
creetly, across the hall. Instantly thu
woman In blue and silver was all tn,
mistress.
as Mr.. Ward In, BottomleyT
"He dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter"
"Oh. thank you! You may locs UT
then. Goodnight, Mr.. Carter! Coco
night, Bottomley!"
She was gone. The blue-and-silve
gown and the punched folds Of tn
furred coat vanished on the stairwa
landing. The tall clock that sh
passed struck eleven. And Richard
going into his library, realized that h
was deeply and passionately In love
, He could think of nothing else-he di
not wish to think of anything els'
Her face came between him and hi
book. her voice loitered In his ear
; her precise, pretty phrasing. tn
laughter that sometimes lurked b.
meath her tones.
They were at the country club
, Harriet chaperoning Nina, who Wa
down at the tennis court with grou
of young persons; Richard Breathe:
and happy from hard game e
eighteen holes. He had encOuntere
, her on the porch, on his way to II
showers, experiencing, as he did
, the thrill that belongs only to the Vi
expected encounter. Now they loitere
at the railing, In the shade Of Il
green awnings, as entirely Oblivion
of watching eyes as If the clubhou!
= were the library at home.
Mrs. Carter" said woman
bright yellow, coming up to them SUI
!, denly, twill you be darling and con
:. and Talk 10 my rIcuSh oihNSA'
girls have all been practicing the
, Rerlitz on him, and he's almost losir
= his mind! Dick" added this matro
= who had linked her arm about Ha
riet's waist, "for heavens sake
;. clean up! Can't you find time to ia
= TO your wife at home? I've be-
watching you for FIVE minutes, gettil
nv arms burned simply black-w
YOU come, Mrs. Carter? That's q
poor soul. over there with Sarah.
+ don't know why I've had French go
e erness for that girl for seven years
:, ITO save the life Of fellow ere
:, ture-" Harriet said In her liqu
II French. She went off, laughingly,
the other woman's custody; Richa
. looked after them a moment.
!. He saw them join the group OF SIN
= ing girls and the harassed FrenC
:, man: saw the aliens face brighten
Harriet was introduced. A nome
= later a boy with tennis racs
dashed up to them, and there was
= scattering in the direction OF I
- courts. The girls surrounded the OF
- and streamed away chattering. L
" matron in yellow came back to \
=, .oh,o And Harriet unfurli