The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-03-30
CHAPTER ~.

again reached her room with white
cheeks and fast-bearing heart MINI
was not there. She crossed 70 rho win
dow, and stood there win her bonds
clasped on her chest, and her breath
coming and going stormily.
"Oh. he's clever" she whispered
half aloud. Hes clever, He never
made d threat. he never made a
threat OF any kind He knew that he
had me-he knew that he had me lust
where ne wanted me, Aud what he
does mere, In making his way with this
family doesn't concern me. Nina IN
old enough To decide for herself"
Nina had been experiencing what
were among the pleaSantest hours OF
her IRE. school friend. Amy Hawkes..
who was romance per~onified. under
plain and denure exterior. had OBJ
served Nina's long conversation with
Royal Blondin, and had found an arch
aliusion to II so well received by Nina
that she had followed up that line Of
conversation. ever since.
Amy was to sleep with Nina. and
Harriet realized. as she superintendent
their fiuttered dressing. that she, Har-
riet' would be Obliged To go To their
door five times. between eleven and
one o'clock that night and tell them
that they must stop talking.
There was modest knock at the
door. and Rosa came In with box.
She smiled, and put II on Harriet's
desk.
For meT the girl said. smiling In
answer. and with some surprise Rosa
nodded. and went her way, and Har-
riet went 10 the box. II was not
large, II florists box of dark green
cardboard; Harriet united the raffia
string. and Investigated the mass OF
silky tissue paper. Inside was an or
child. She opened the accompanying
envelope, and found Wards card. On
the back he had written. "Just little
worried because he's afraid you're
cross at him.
Harriet stood perfectly still. the or
child in one hand. the card crushed In
the other. Ward Carter had sent or
chids. no doubt. 10 other girls. But
Harriet Carter had never had an or
tlltu bcibTt iIblh ilhn-
She put the card into her little desk.
and the orchid into a slender crystal
vase Then she went back 10 advise
Amy and Nina as to gold beads and
the Arrangement OF hair. But little
later. when she was In the big house
keepers pantry, where several maids
were busy with last-minute manipula-
tiOns Of olives and Ice and grapefruit.
Ward came OUT and found her. soberly
busy u her old checked silk.
"Why didn't you wear itf'
Wear it you bad, extravagant
child. I'll wear II 70 town tomorrow"
sNo: hut" he sank his tone to one
u enjoyable confidences-"but were
YOU mad at me? You looked so glum
at breakfast"
We'll. you had nothing 10 do with
IT," she assured him. in her big-sis
terIy voice. And IL was the first or
child | ever had, and loved you for
IT.
II was with something Ike pain and
Impotence In his tone that Ward said
gruffiy:
Yes. YOU do, You IKE me about az
much as you ike Nina or Granny y
IT like you-sh Just little better
than | do GRANNY Harriet conrded.
Don't spoil your dinner with olives,
Ward Don't muss that-there's
dear, Dinners announced, by the
way. It's quarter past eight"
I'm goIng" he grumbled. discon'
tentedly.
AT any rate, I love the orchid :"
Harriet said, soothingly. He was
laughing. too. as ne disappeared. but
something In his face was vaguely
troubling TO her none the less, and she
remembered IL now and then with
little conjunction during Ter Quie'
evening of reading. Well. she would
see Linda on Saturday. and have Sun
day with her and the children, and
that meant always a complete change
and a shifted viewpoint, even when, a.
frequently happened. Linda took TIT
older-sisterly privilege OF scolding-
When Harriet had chaperoned Mini
and Amy to the Friday afternoon mat
inee. and had duly deposited Amy af,
had escorted Nina to her grandmoth
er's apartment, she was free to direc
Hansen TO drive her to the Jerse
tube, and to spend a hot. uncomfort
able hour In a stream OF homegoini
commuters, on the way TO Linda
house.
She mounted the three cement step
from the sidewalk level, and the fou
shabby and peeling wooden ones tina
rose to the porch On this hot sum
mer afternoon the front door wa
open, and Harriet stepped into tn
odorous gloom OF the hall. and lie
the screen door bang lightly benin
| her.
Immediately. In the open archwa
| into the parlor. a girl OF fifteen ar
peared. a pretty girl with blue eye
and brown hair. a shabby but fires
little shirtwaist beited by q shabb
but clean white skirt. and naph
| dangling from her hand.
~Oh. Mother-it's Aunt Harriet Oh
you dariing-T