, 1922-07-12

dulged Nina in long talks, and encour-
aged her to associate with the young
people she met.
Harriet wrote once a week to Rich
ard, making a general report, and In
closing receipted hotel and miscellane-
GUS bills. His communications usually
took the form of cables. although once
or twice she received typewriter let
tiers.
In mid-April they all came home
again, and C~rownlands, in the years
first shy filming of green, looked Won
derful to Harriet's homesick eyes.
Richard was to join them at dinner;
it had been impossible for him to
meet them when the boat arrived, but
Fox had been there and attended to
the formalities. 1t had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
to dress accordingly. Nina looked her
prettiest in a white silk, and the old
lady vas magnificent in diamonds and
brocade. Harriet deliberately selected
her handsomest gown, q severe black
satin that wrapped her slender body
with one superb and shining sweep,
and left her white arms and firm,
flawless shoulders bare. The firm
young lines of chin and throat, the
swelling white breast hat met the IN
twinkling buckles-she could not but
find every detail pleasing, and her
scarlet mouth, firmly shut, was
twitched by a sudden dimple.
She glanced at the clock, went slow
ly to the door, and slowly down the
big square stairway. Richard and his
children were in the lower hall, and
they all glanced up.
Down in the soft glow of light came
Harriet, smiling as she slipped her left
arm about Nina, and gave. the free
hand to Nina's father. She was ap-
parently cool and unself-conscious in
wardly she felt feverish, frightened
and excited and happy, all at once.
Richard was in evening dress, too; he
looked his best; his dark hair brushed
TO a shining crest, and his gray eyes
full of pleasure.
well, Miss Field" he said, a lit
tie .breathlessly. "WeIll Your vaca
ton hasn't done you any harm ~
"We had to make an occasion of
our coming home !" Harriet said. with
a nervous laugh, trying not to see the
admiration in his eyes.
you. look wonderful" Nina. said.
"Why, you saw this gown at Mas
sau," Harriet protested.
"Louise-or whoever she was of
Prussia, or whatever you call it,
turned in the family vault when you
walked down those stairs - Ward
said. "Oo-oo-caught you under the
mistletoe-oo-oo, you would" he
added, with an effort to enysiop her
in his embrace.
"Ward, behave yourselfl' Harriet
said, evading him, and walking toward
the dining room with his grandmother,
who came downstairs in her turn, and
Joined them.
Richard Carter watched her, the in
carnation of young and beautiful
womanhood. Clever he knew her to
be, capable and conscientious, but to-
night she was in u new roIe. He liked
to see her there at the other end of
the table be realized that she was the
center of things, here In his house,
and that he had missed her.
After dinner it CHANGED that Bot
tomley called her to the telephone,
ana mat a moment later she passed
the can on TO hichard.
IT'S Mr. Gardner Mr.. Garter. He
dioht know ina you were mere. but
ne would rather speak TO you Har-
ret SAID hHcharo went TO the tele-
phohe' ana as she moved to make
room 1or him' ana gave MIN the re-
ceiver' ne mad a sudden breath OF the
sweetness ana freshness OF her, OF
hair ana young hrm skin OF the
rnstilng SATIN gown. ana the little
h~andkercDle that she dropped ana