The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-05-18

year. We then, / remember distinctly,
began to wear white and lavender
Nina broke In pettishly: II don't see
why ! have to wear blackI"
why should your" Ward said with
bitter scorn. tits only your mother r
Nina began to cry. sa#
"You and / will go down to Land
mann's early tomorrow, Nina" Har-
riet suggested, "and well have some
one show us what Is simple and nice
mot Grape, you know" Harriet said.
with a glance at Richard Carter, "but
black, for a few months, anyway" J.
II think that would be the least,
Richard" his mother approved. II be-
lieve I will go with you," she conde-
scended to Harriet, latter all, Isabelle
vas my daughter-in-law, and the
mother of my grandchildren
"And 1 won't 60 to California or Ber-
muda Or anywhere else unless Lady
bird comesr" Nina burst out, with q
broken sob.
Nonsense" her father began harsh
ly. Harriet said:
Bermuda? Is there q plan for Ber-
mudaT"
II suggested it for a few weeks"
Richard said, frowning, "but I don't
propose to have Nina invite a group of
friends. That isn't exactly the idea"
"We could ask Mrs. Tabor" Harriet
said, soothingly; ut Is right in the
middle Of the season, and perhaps she
will feel she can hardly spare the time.
But I'm sure that If she can"
IF I ask her, she'll CO." Nina said,
in a sulky, confident undertone.
Harriet had her doubts, but she did
not express them. A month at Mas
sau, in the undiluted company Of Nina
and her grandmother, was enough to
appall even Harriet's stout heart.
The event proved her right, for while
Ida Tabor flew at once to her discon-
solate little friend, and assured Rich
ard with tears In her eyes that she
would do anything In the world to help
him, she weakened when the actual
test arrived.
IF just you and I and your dear
grandmother were going, dearest girl"
she said to Nina, then it would be per-
feet. But as long as Miss Field, who
is perfectly charming and conscien-
t1ous and all that, feels that she must
accompany us, why-you and I would
never be a moment alone, sweetheart,
you know that! I don't like to think
that it's Jealousy"
"Of course it's jealousy" Nina was
pleased to decide, gloomily. Granny
says that we don't need her, but Fa-
Their just sticks to it that she must
manage everything"
Ida Tabor smiled automatically.
II don't suppose your father sees any
thing in Miss Fie1d?" she submitted,
lightly.
"Oh, Heavens, nor Nina said,
studying herself in a handglass. There
was a rather steely look in the eyes
Of her friend Ladybird, but she did not
see 1t. Her smile Of pleasure gradual
ly gave place to a pout. SIN going to
ask Father If we need Miss Harriet !"
she said.
And that evening she did indeed at
tack Richard on the subject, although
not as decidedly as she had planned.
He listened to her ~interestedly enough,
with his evening paper held ready for
his next. glance. -
"Let you about the country
with Mrs. Tabor" he said, al the girls
falterfng accents stopped. mo, my
dear, it's out Of the question! In the
first place, she is not the sort Of COM
panion 1 would Choose for any girl,
and In the second place I would
know where you and your grandmoth-
er were, or what val happening to
youl While Miss Field Is in charge I
shall feel entirely safe. OF course, If
Mrs. Tabor chooses to invite herself,
that's her affair.""
"Then I don't want to go!" Nina
stormed. But In the end she did go.
Madame Carter, Nina and Harriet duly
sailed, In the second week Of January,
and Ward joined them almost a month
later, in Nassau. And here Harriet
had the brother and sister at their
best, free to show the genuine childish
ness that was In them, to swim and
picnic and tramp, and here she In
dulged Nina in long talks, and encour-
aged her to associate with the young
people she met.
Harriet wrote once q week to Rich
ard, making a general report, and In
closing receipted hotel and miscellane-
~ bills. His communications usually
took the form Of cables, although once
or twice she received typewriter let
tiers. 'r', r-r .-
In mid-Aprn they all came home
again, and Crownlands, 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. It had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
to dress, accordingly. Nina looked her
prettlest In a white silk, and the old
lady was magnificent In diamonds and
brocade. Harriet deliberately selected
her handsomest gown, q severe black
satin: that wrapped her slender body
with n superb and shining sweep,
and left her white arms and firm,
1awless shoulders bare. The frm
young lines Of chin and throat, the
swelling white breast that met the n
casing satin, the slippers with their
tWinkling b~uckles-she could not but
find every detail pleasing, and her
scarlet mouth, firmly shut, va
twitched by q sudden dimple.
Cha O9anrod ~ tho clnck ruonf s1nxr.