Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-06
CHAPTER VI.

A most Opportune lull followed,
when Harriet Field had time to collect
her thoughts, and get a true perspec-
tive upon the events Of the past week.
Nina was leaving for a visit to Amy
Hawkes., at the extremely dull and en-
tirely safe Hawkes. mansion, where
four unmarried daughters constituted
chaperOnage beyond all criticism.
Isabelle Carter was giving and attend
ing the usual lunCheons and dinners,
her husband absorbed in an especially
important business deal that kept him
alternate nights In the city. The house
was quiet, the domestic machinery
running smoothly, the weather hot,
sulphurOus and enervating.
She dined as usual alone, that eve
ming, and was surprised, at about eight
o'clock, to receive the demure notifica-
ton from Rosa that Mrs. Carter would
like to. see her. With hardly an In
stant's delay she went downstairs.
On the terrace outside the drawing
room windows they were at a card ia
BILE: Richard, looking tired and hot in
rumpled white, Isabelle exquisite in
silver lace, and young Anthony Pope.
Near by, Madame Carter majestically
| fingered some Illustrated magazines.
1t appeared that they wanted bridge;
it was too hot to eat, too hot to dance
at the club, too hot-said Isabelle
pathetically-tO live
Obligingly, Harriet took her place,
cut for the deal. But her eyes had not
fallen upon the group before she
sensed that something was wrong, and
she had a moments flutter of the heart
for fear some one suspected heF, that
she was under surveillance. Had
ROyal-had Ward
She turned a card, took the deal,
found Anthony Pope her partner and
entered into the game with spirit
Richards first words to her were reas-
surfing; If there was constraint here,
she was not involved in 1t.
mo trump-says little Miss Field.
| Well, that doesn't seem to brighten me.
Two spades"
II think we might try three dia-
monds, Miss Field" Anothony said,
gravely and pleasantly, and Harriet
felt herself acquitted of any apprehen-
sion in that direction as well. 1t only
remained for Isabelle to show friend
illness.
'Du hast diamonten and perlen,
you two. can see that You're
down, Harriet" Mrs. Carter said,
thOughtfully. Harriet began thorough
ly to enjoy herself. If they were all
! furious, at least it was not with her.
/ She speculated, as she gathered in
| her tricks. Was 1t conceivable that
| Richard did not enjoy the discovery
Of the tete-a-tete dinner? But Isabelle
had often been equally indiscreet, and
he had never seemed to resent 1t be-
fore. Harriet knew that Isabelle was
i'll at ease; she suspected that Tony
was furious. The old lady was OBJ
viously quivering with baffied inter
est and curiosity.
After three rubbers the game ended
suddenly; Richard said he had some
letters to write, and was keeping Fox
waiting in the library; Anthony scrlb-
bled a check, said brief and unfriend-
| ly goOd-nights; Isabelle merely raised
passionate dark eyes to his. She was
Ianguidly gathering in her spells
when the lights of his car flashed yell
low on the drive and he was gone.
Immediately afterward Richard
Carter said goodnight to his mother
and wife, and went In to his study
Madame Carter followed him in, and
went upstairs, but Isabelle sat on
moodlly shutting and reshuffllng the
cards, in the bright soft light of the
terrace lamps.
''Wait a minute, Harriet" she said,
briefly, and Harriet obediently lOitered.
But Isabelle seemed to have nothing
70 say. Her eyes were on the cards,
her beautiful breast, exposed in the
low-cut silver gown, rose and fell
stormily, and Harriet saw that she was
biting her full under lip, as If anger
/ spnthad strong within har