The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-04-06
and felt her heart thump with deli

and felt her heart thump with deli
cious terror.
Bottomley came no:selessly. Is
creetly, across the hall. Instantly the
woman In blue and silver was all the
mistress.
''Is Mr.. Ward in, Bottomley?"
HE dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter"
"Oh, thank you! You may lock up.
then. Goodnight. Mr.. Carter, Good.
night, Bottomleyw
She was gone. The blue-and-silver
gown and the punched folds of the
furred coat vanished on the stairway
landing. The tall clock that she
passed struck eleven. And Richard.
going into his library, realized that he
was deeply and passionately in love
He could think of nothing else-he did
not wish to think of anything else.
Her face came between him and his
book, her voice loitered in his ears
her precise. pretty phrasing. the
laughter that sometimes lurked nc
meath her tones.
They were at the country club
Harriet chaperoning Nina. who was
down at the tennis court with groul
of young persons; Richard breathless
and happy from a hard game Of
eighteen holes. He had encountered
her on the porch, on his way to the
showers, experiencing. as he did so,
the thrill that belongs only to the un-
expected encounter. Now they loitered
at the railing, in the shade of the
green awnings. as entirely oblivious
Of watching eyes as if the clubhouse
were the library at home.
Mrs. Carter" said woman in
bright yellow, coming up to them sud
denly, will you be darling and come
and talk to my French officer? The
girls have all been practicing their
Berlitz on him. and he's almost losing
his mind Dick" added this matronJ
who had linked her arm about Iar-
riets waist, "for heavens sake go
clean upl Can't you find time to talk
to your wife at home? I've been
watching you for five minutes, getting
my arms burned simply back-will
poor soul. over there with Sarah. ]
don't know why I've had French gov
erness for that girl for seven years."
ITO save the life of a fellow crea
ture-" Harriet said In her liquid
French. She went off. laughingly in
the other woman's custody; Richard
looked after them moment
He saw them join the group Of smil-
ing girls and the harassed French.
Harriet was introduced. A moment
later boy with tennis racket
dashed up to them, and there WIS .
scattering in the direction of the
courts. The girls surrounded the hoy.
and streamed sway chattering. The
matron in yellow came back to her
card table. And Harriet. unfurling
her parasol. deep in conversation with
the captured soldier, sauntered slowly
after the tennis players. The after
noon sunshine sent clean shadows
across the clipped grass; the stretched
blue silk Of Harriet's parasol threw a
mellow orange light upon her tawny
hair and saffrOn-cOlored gown.
Richard had childs desperate
wish that he was dressed, and might
run after them.
But II was not at the tennis that he
looked, twenty minutes later when he
reached the courts; although bril-
liant play was being made. and there
was n spattering of applause. His
eyes instantly found Harriet's figure;
she was still talking to the French
man, whose olive face was glowing
with interest and admiration, and moi
more than eight inches. Richard
thought, from her own. Harriet's own
face wore the shadow of smile, her
lashes were dropped, and she was
gently pushing the point of her closed
parasol into the green turf The
chairs in which they sat had been
slightly turned from the court.
Richard engaged himself In conyer-
sation with two or three men and
women who were watching the young
sters' game. and presently found him.
self applauding his son for brilliant
ace. But after perhaps five minutes
he walked quite without volition
straight to Harriet's neighborhood
and she rose at once, introduced her
new friend. and with a glance at her
wrist. announced that she must go.
ward said he would drive me home
the instant II was over" said Harriet
clapping heartily for the triumphant
finish Of the set.
"Tll drive you home ~ Richard said.
instantly. I've the small car"
FRIDAY nightl" Harriet smiled. For
Friday night was the night for mems
dinner and poker game at the country
club. and Richard usually liked to be
there.
81 can come back!" he persisted
suddenly caring more for this conces
sion than anything else In the world