Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-04-06
GiIIlIIIIIJIJIIIs

CdIhe mere 10 discuss my OWE
plans, Miss Field" he said at the gate,
but hint from your sister has made
me fear that perhaps l am too late.
She tells me that you may be making
plans of your own"
"David?' Harriet said, resentfulIy.
Il have no plans with David!" she
said, simply.
Il didn't know" Richard answered
Il came to ask you to come back.
Things are in an absolute mess with
us. We have not had serene moment
since you left us-three weeks ago"
To go back-back to Crownlands
Harriet's spirit scared. She knew she
must go back She had only despaired
of their ever needing her again. Every
fiber of her being strained toward the
old life.
Linda, my sister, thinks it would
be unwise," she began. The nah in
terrupted her.
There has been a new turn of
events, Miss Field. l had some infOr-
nation last night which may make
difference" he said, gravely. 81 rn-
ceived a wire from Pope, in France.
My wffe-lsabelle-died on an operat-
ing table yesterday afternoon, in
Paris"
Harriet, stupefied could only look
at him tiXedly for long minute. Her
lips parted, but she did not speak.
"Died?" she whispered sharply. The
nnd6n6 wit D,1t-
but what was it?" Harriet said.
For answer he gave her the crum-
pied cable, with the bare statement of
fact. She read it dazedly, looked at
his somber face, and read it again.
81 can't believe it ~ she said.
"Well, now," Richard began present
ly in a different tone, 1--WE are, as
said Miss Field. in a mess. l haven't
| told the children this; they have lot
of young people there over Christmas
My mother and Nina are planning
some entertainment for New Years
night, and l suppose this will end all
that; l should suppose that Nina and
her brother must have period of
mourning. l am Geeply involved in q
big project in Brazil, committee meet
| ings all through january can't
| swing it, that's all.
'Now, when we last talked of the
subject together" Richard pursued in
businesslike way, you objected to
the suggestion of marriage. because
my wife was then Still alive. Am
cOrrect?"
"Yes, that's correct !' Harriet said,
voicelessly. She felt herself beginning
to tremble.
my purpose in coming today was
to suggest that, If that was your sole
objection" the man continued, palms.
takingly, ''you might feel the situation
| changed now. l need you. We all do.
If it is my mother who makes it i'm
possible, or some other thing that
cannot change-why, must get along
as best l can. But my proposition is
that you and l are quietly married
] tomorrow; you come back tomorrow
night and announce 1t whenever you
see fit. may seem a little matter-of-
fact about this, Miss Field, but / am
hoping you understand. / am making
you an unsentimental business offer.
1 need you in my life and offer you
certain advantages which 1t would be
silly and schoolboyish for me to deny
possess. | have a certain standing
in the community which even Mrs.
Carter'S madness has not seemed to
impair seriously. The boy and the
| ~ nd
warmest friendship. Your position in
my household will be as free and in.
dependent as was Isabelle's. l do not
know whether you will consider this
a fair return for what l ask, for after
all you are giving your services fol-
life to the Carter household
"Now. this is of course entirely sub
ject to what pleases you in the mat
ter" he broke off, to say, emphatically
II merely throw it out as a sugges
ton. 1t would please me very much
l would draw a long breath Of relic;
to have it settled. Mrs. Tabor is
there-stays there; takes the head oi
my table. l spent last night at the
club; had cabled Pope-and expected
an answer, but my mother telephOneC
me at three o'clock this morning t.
say that Ward and some of his friend:
had gone out ice-Skating. Wards
been dropped from his university.
can't have that sort of thing, yor
knowr'
"When-did you want mel" Harrie'
brought her beautiful eyes back from
some far vista.
81 thought that If you could NEE
me at my Office tomorrow l woul(
have all the arrangements made
Nina is to be at the Hawkes. l sent
the car for her at three. l though
that you and she could go home to
gether to CrownIands. I'll have 10 b.
in town that night"
@Home-to Crownlands! !" Suddenl,
Harriet's lip quivered and her eye
brimmed with tears. "I'll be yer!
glad to go back" she said in lov
. voice.
"Good!" he said. 81 needn't tel
you how feel about it; it helps mt
out tremendously. Now, about tomor
row, HOW NOulu AOu iINC liis'A w ~
"Well," she laughed desperatel,
through her tears. "We're Church o
, England! :" She laughed again whel
he took O4t his notebook apd wrot
r the words down.
"Once it's DONE" he said, reassur
' ingly, you'll see my mother and al
! the rest of them come into line!
puts YOU in a definite position, an,
| although l may seem to be rushing an
confusing you now, there is NOR
peaceful time to come-we'll hope
he added grimly. Here's Hanse
+ now. Lovely children" he added, O
a the young Davenports and some int
mates who were tumbling out of tn
: car, lovely mother"
:, "You'll not speak of this yet?" Hal
t riet said, suddenly thinking of Davi
q and Linda. MY sister might thin
it lacked deliberatioD-so close upO
= / Co,+or,c 1ootI I'll rofbay. how