The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-04-06
CHAPTER IN

ia AF&|t 'Ss EwF -AA .bHs ta. E8SNsS7 49,"
Madame Carter, gathering her drap-
cries about her, was one of the first
to leave the terrace. Dressing for
dinner was a slow and serious bust
ness for her. She gave Harriet a cold,
appraising glance as she passed her :
Richard Carter had risen to escort his
mother, but she delayed him for a mo-
ment.s XII >y=% E2s a. 7
Miss Nina gone In, Miss Fieldf"
Harriet. whose manner with all old
persons was the essence of scrupulous
tormality, rose at once to her feet.
Nina has gone to change her dress,
Madame Carter t:t'4@# 4ae@@s@esaa
.'she took It upon herself to ask
you to help us out this afternoon2'
the old lady added, with the sort of
gracious cruelty Of which she was mis-
tress. Richard Carter gave his daugh-
ter's companion Q look that asked in
diligence. l. "
Harriet said nothing, and resumed
her seat as the old lady rustled slowly
away. "Who's coming2" she asked In
an ~undertone, to Ward, as n o
motor swept about the carriage drive.
what is 1t, Beautiful" Ward
laughed. Harriet's glorious eyes wild
ened into smiling warming. His open
and boyish admiration was a sort OF
joke between them. Yet in this sec.
ond, as he craned his neck to get "a
glimpse, Of the approaching guests. a
sudden thought was born In her,
Honor had compelled her to a gen.
erous policy with Ward. She had held
his admiration firmly in check she
had maintained a big-sister attitude
that was as wholesome for herself al
for him. ar< j.
But here, she thought with sudden
satisfaction, might be the realization
Of her own ambition, after all. Ward
was but four years her Junior, and
Ward would be Richard Carriers heir.
"It's the Bellamys and their crowd.
said Ward, watching the approach of
newcomers. Look at that man with
them, that fellow with the hair
that's Blondin! That's the man I was
telling you about the other night, the
man whose name l couldn't remem-
bert" sl.
aWho?" sss2
Harriet did not know whether she
said 1t or screamed 1t. She lost all
consciousness Of her surroundings and
her neighbors$ for q few terrible e c
onds; her mouth was dry, her throat
CONSTRUCTED, and hideous weakness
ran like nausea through her entire
body. The hand with which she
touched the sugar tongs was Icy cold.
q pain split her forehead. and she felt
suddenly tired and broken.
Ward had gone across to greet the
Bellamys; Harriet fixed her eyes
NTH SORT or fascination Qp0ns The
man to whom she presently SAM him
talking. Almost everyone else In the
group vas looking ait him. too; Royal
Blondin was used to It: one of his
favorfte afectations was an apparent
Inconsistencies OF being observed.
Well over six feet In height, he had
dropped his leonine head, with Its
thick locks OF dark hair, q little on
one side his mobile, thin lips were
set, and his piercing eyes searched the
boys face with q sort Of passionate
attention.
Introductions were Ia order. every
one wanted to meet the Bellamys'
friend, and Harriet saw that II pleased
him, Tor some inscrutable reason. to
continue his ridiculous conversation
with the fattered Ward, and to accept
names and greetings absently, lii an
sside, M II were, smiling perfunctorily
and briefly at the eager girls and
women, and returning Immediately 10
biz concerned ana passionate under
tones with the boy.
II was isabelle who brought him to
the tea table. Harriet had felt, with
I sure premonition OF disaster, that ii
must be. She might not escape; there
was nothing for It but courage now.
Her breath was behaving badly. and
the muscles contracted In her throat,
but she managed smile.
. And this III Miss Field, MI. Blon-
din, Z said Isabelle. she will give you
some tea
Miss Field said Royal Blondin.
and his dark hand came across the
teacups. Harriet, ii his thin mouth
tWftched with Just the hint OF i smile,
looked straight into his eyes. ana she
knew ne was as frightened as she