The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-01-05
CHAPTER VII.

lHdt lSuDelleS muuneSS WOul1 rfN
Its full gamut did not occur to Harrie
until the next day. Then, as the serene
hours moved by, and there was No
word and no sign from Richard, the
possibilities began to suggest them
selves. 1t seemed to her incredible
that any woman would risk all that
Isabelle had for the sake of fiery
hand, there was the memory of Isa-
bellies suffering two nights ago, and
here were the amazing facts to prove
it.
1t was for few women to enjoy the
popularity Isabelle had known. But
any woman might run away with rich
admirer. Harriet's admiration for the
cleverness with which Isabelle con-
Quoted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared. and in its place came the
sharp conviction that old-fashioned
women like Linda had some justifica-
tion, after all; 1t was dangerous" 1t
did lead to sin." it could indeed "hap-
pen once too often"
Harriet felt her own lapsing moral
ity regaining its standard. Just now,
when Nina most needed her mother,
when Richard was struggling with diff
ficult business conditions, when Ward
was engaged
She interrupted her thoughts here.
and tried to make herself feel like a
woman engaged to be married. Some
how the fact persisted in baffling her.
FThara N ~ a n
prevented her from tasting the full
sweet. Engaged-to a rich man, and a
rich mans son. Well, perhaps when
Ward came back, 1t would seem more
believable
She had been standing at one of the
hall windows, a window deep set in
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path to
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
eyes tight. she came back to the pres
ent moment with start. Ward Car
ter was behind her. He laughed at her
confusion. and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes, he was
going back to the Bellamys', and so
was Blondin, but they had both come
in just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought reinsurance to
her. Ward was such dear! OF
course she loved him.
"But you weren't very good boy
last night ~ she said Their hands were
locked; but she had shaken negative
when he would have kissed her.
Rotten" he confessed, easily, 81
nlp vol rnl-ar. No nttubt t.i
do that when he's edged Sorry-sor-
ry-sorry Listen. When we're mar
ried it's all Off. No smoking, drinking
gambling. wine, women, or song
whaty"
You may not know 1t, but you never
spoke truer word !" the girl said. His
shout of laughter was pleasant to hear
Listen. Does Mother know it,
About us, mean?"
"Oh, Ward-nobody knows 1t
HushT' His mention of his mother
brought back realization with II rush.
and she added uncomfortably, "She's
at Great Darlington"
'Oh, darn! / wanted to see her !
She wrote me, and told me she loved
me, and that she didn't think she had
been a very good mother to mel" He
laughed. youthfully, with bewildered
widening of his eyes. II thought she
was sick. Well. maybe we can stop
there going back"
"Where did you leave Mr.. Blon-
din?"
HE beat 1t down to the tennis
court. Say, listen, is there a chance
that he's stuck on Nina? 1t looks to
me like what the watch comes inl"
Harriet glanced at her wrist before
she answered him. Her heart was
sick within her. Close upon her radi-
ant dream had come this shadow, far
more shadow now, when her respon-
sibility had Infinitely increased, and
when she had had proof of the love
and respect In which they held her
here.
II don't think sol" she said, briefly
.I'll find Bottomley, and have lunch
put ahead"
''You dent like himr" Ward said
watching her closely.
II don't like him for Nina!" she
amended.
The boy followed her while she gave
her order. Then they went out into
the blazing day together.
"Nina isn't going to have more
than a scalp day." said her brother.
fraternally.
"Nina has fortune !" the girl re-
marked, dryly. opening her wide white
parasol.
"I ord he could marry N Girl with
ten times that Look here, you don't
think a man like Blondin would con-
slider thatr he protested
II would rather see Nina dead and
buried" The words burst from Har-
riet against her will, against her prom
Use to Royal. There was no help for
1t, her essential honesty would have