The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-18

Scau Id1i EIiCiIl oil SrILlEu dONI1-
once Nina. where's Francesca? You
see" Harriet said, in rapid explana-
ton 10 Richard, Il gave the girls my
room tonight. so that they could all
be together, and this is my reward!"
The girls. entirely unalarmed by
her severity, had deserted Richard
now, and were clinging to her with
weak laughter and feeble explana-
lions.
francesca unlocked that door, and
rushed into Mr.. Carriers roomT" Amy
explained. wiping her eyes. "And
then the boys locked her in therep'
The composed temperance of Fran
cesca at this point, however, added to
the general hilarity.
you did not lock me in. Smarties :"
Francesca drawled childishly. 'They
climbed to the balcony. and we were
well. we were undressing" she said
to Richard, land here they were ham,
mering and yelling like-like ST.
washes! We grabbed our wrappers.
we wanted to"
I'VE wanted to lock them out
there Amy explained, laughing IN
comfortably. "But--"
and I snapped off the light"
Nina interposed. with deep satisfac-
ton.
"And mind you"
"And. Father"
"And the wonder was that we didn't
die of fright
''Now. look here" Harriet said. in
the babel, ''I'll give you all exactly two
minutes to quiet down. Never in the
course of my life"
Richard thought her maternal indul-
gence delightful: he thought the
young people who chung about her
charming in their apologize and
laughing promises. Ward and Bruce
Hopper mounted to their own region;
Richard went with the girls and Har-
ret to the rooms that had been at
tackled. Pilgrim. the tireless. was al
ready there. replacing pillows, straight
ening beds. untwfsting curtains. The
girls. with reminiscent bubbles of
laughter, began to help her.
After the last good-nights, Richard
and Harriet had no choice but to cross
the hall again. and they stood there
for a moment laughing at the recent
excitement.
after twelve" Harriet said with
a smiling shake of her head. aren't
they young demons However," she
added in an undertOne, cts the best
thing in the world for Nina! This
sort of nonsense will blow cobwebs
away!"
Richard was only conscious of
desire to prolong this intimate little
moment of parental consultation.
"She doesn't speak of Blondin?' he
| asked
"NOt at all The birthday came and
| Went placidly enough" Harriet an
swered suddenly intent after her
laughing. And as he did not speak for
second. she looked up at him, inno-
Gently. you don't think she's hiding
| anything?" she asked. anXiously.
"I-no, l hardly think So" Richard
answered, confusedly. Their eyes met.
| and he smiled vaguely. Then Harriet
| slowly crossed the hall to the door of
| the guest room, where she was spend
lAIS tliO hAShLs anu SStfC MN oAiy
J half-audible goodnight. Richard stood
! watching the door for moment or two
| after it had closed upon the slender,
| dimly seen figure. Then he went to
his own room, and began briskly
| enough to move about between the mir
rors and dressing room, windows and
| bed. But two or three times he
| stopped short, and found himself
! staring vacantly into space, all move
| ment arrested. even thought arrested
| for whole long minutes at time.
| Harriet, entering her room, closed
/ the door nOiselessly, and remained for
a long tiFae standing with her hands
! resting against it behind her, her eyes
| alert, her breath coming as if she had
| been running. There was only night
| light in the bedroom the covers were
still tumbled back from her sudden
| flight toward the rioting youngsters In
the hall. She got back into her bed
| and opened her book. But for long
| time she neither slept nor read; her
| eyes widened at the faintest sound of
| the summer night; her heart thumped
| madly when the curtains whispered at
the window, or the wicker chairs gave
the faintest creak. 1t had not been
only for Richard that the midnight
hour of responsibility and informally
shared had had its thrill.
One o'clock. Harriet closed her book
and snapped off her light. But first
she went to the window and leaned out
into the sweet darkness. There was
shadow unbrOken everywhere; no light
in all the big house was burning as
| late as her own.