The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-07

VIII be no change, anywhere"
Bottomley shook a dazed head; but
Pilgrim looked at the other woman
with kindly eyes, and presently said:
YOU'D have been a very silly girl
not TO take him, and-as I always tell
the gir1s-loyeTl come fast enough aft
erward 7"
The words came back to Harriet,
hours later, when the house was quiet,
and when, comfortably wrapped in a
loose silk robe, she was musing be-
side her fire. Nina was asleep; to
Ward. who was headachy and fever
ish, she had paid late visit. Madame
Carter had not come down to dinner,
and when Harriet had sent IN q mes
sage, had asked to be excused from
any calls, even from Nina and Miss
Field, this evening.
Nina had chartered constantly dur
ing the meal. Granny had had ter
rible time with them all. And Ward
and Nina and "Royal"-the name sud-
denly Ieaped between them again
had been arrested for speeding. And
Daddy had threatened Nina with q
boarding school, and Granny had
cried.
"Where is Mr.. Blondin now, Nina p
Harriet had asked.
"Oh, he's roundr' Nina had said,
airily. Il suppose you put Daddy up
to saying that / wasn't to see so much
of him" she had added, with her
worldly wise drawl.
mot at ALL" Harriet had said.
"Ladybird and l are planning q
| trip" Nina had further conflded. 81
| shall be eighteen in February, you
! know, and we want to go round the
| world. Wouldn't it be wonderful to
| go with her, for she's been about fifty
| timesi'
Wonderful ~ Harriet had been
obliged to concede.
"But, dearest child, what does your
father think?'
Father" Nina had shrugged re-
| gretfulIy. "But / shall be Of age -
she had reminded her companion.
Il. Eyes, / know, dear, but Fathers
ward for another three years, you
/ know!"
"Why, Ladybird says"-the girl had
been ready, and had spoken with
flushed cheeks-'Lad says that
in that case Wen go anyway, and
she'll pay all expensesl That's the
kind Of friend she is u
Lowell come fast enough after
ward ~ Pilgrim had said, and Harriet
thought Pilgrim was rather q wise
woman, in her homely way. The girl
stirred the fire and settled herself to
watch it.
After what? Well, certainly not
after anything so short, simple and
uncOnvincing as that three minutes
with the clergyman today. The utter
unreality Of that had seemed to blend
with the silent, snowy day, and with
the dulled and dreamy condition Of
her own brain. Snow was falling
softly when she had met Richard Car.
ter at the Office, at half-past ten, and
snow lisped against the windows OF
the limousine as they two, with
Irving Fox, Richards kindly, middle
aged, confidential clerk, were whirled
out of the city, and on and on through
the bare little wintry towns. Fox had
had some papers to which they occa
sionaIly referred; the old clerk was
the only person to congratulate Har
riet warmly when the brief and be
wildering business was over and she
had her wedding ring. 1t was alone
with Fox that she. made the return
trip. Richard 9 came back by train
saving an hour, and was at the Office
when they got there. Harriet did moi
see him again; he was In conference
and presently she quietly got bach
into the motorcar, and on her way tt
meet Nina she slipped the plain circle
of gold into her handbag.
She had 1t out tonight, and put 4
on her bare, pretty hand, and held 4
to the fire, and slowly the events o.
the bewildering and firing day wheeled
before her, and only the reality Of TIT
ring assured her that 1t was not all ,
confused dream. Married! And al
alone before the glowing Goals, wear,
from hostile encounters, on her mar
riage night!
She had intended to write to Lind
[ tonight; Linda was vexed with hel
and small wonderl For Harriet ha,
, left the little New Jersey house al
most without farewells, had com
/ down to an earlier breakfast evel
than Fred's, and had said briefly tina
} she was returning to the Carriers, an
: would see them all soon.
Why hadn't she told Linda7 We'll
; for one reason, she had hardly be
| | 1ieved her own memory Of the talk o
! Christmas day with Richard. The