The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-01-20

'rye been thinking. too" she said
simply.
''It's after SIX" Blondin said with
glance about. "We can't talk here
Can you get away7 Can we go some
| where?
Without another word she deserted
her seat. pinned on her hat, and
picked up her gloves.
"There's very quiet back road
straight down to Crownlands," she
said. considering. 1--WE might walk"
"Anythingr' he assented. briefly.
Guided by Harriet. who was familiar
with the place. they slipped through
the hallway. and out a side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soIi-
tude than the man began deliberately :
Harriet. have not thought of any
thing else since came upon you yes
terday, after all these years. want
you to tell me that you-yOu aren't
angry with me. You knew--you knew
how desperately I tried to find you,
Harriet? What a hell went through"
If she had steeled herself against
the possibility of his shaking her, she
failed herself now. 1t was with an
Involuntary and bitter little laugh that
she said
"You had no monopoly of that,
Roy"
'But you ran away from mel" he
accused her. "Nyhen I went to find
you. they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
| felt terribe-that I walked the
streets. Harriet, prayfng-praying =
that | might catch glimpse OF you
1t was the uppermost thought for
years-how many years? Segen?"
''AIore than eight" she corrected,
in a somewhat lifeless voice. 81 was
eighteen. My one thought, my one
hope, when l last saw you. In Linda's
house." she went on, with sudden pas
sion, twas that would never see you
again. But I'm glad to hear you say
this, Roy" she added. In a gentler
tone. ''Tm glad you-felt sorry. Our
going away was mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered a position on
a Brooklyn paper. and we all moved
from WATERFOWL to Brooklyn. l was
grateful for 1t; l only wanted to dis
appearI Linda stood by me, her chill
dren saved my life. l was a nursery
maid for a year or two-I never saw
anybody or went anywhere | look
back" Harriet said. talking more to
herself than to him, and walking
swiftly along in the golden sunset that
streamed across the old back road,
"and I wonder 1 didn't go stark, star
ing mad :"
Don't think about it." he urged,
with concern.
"No; I'll not think about It. Royal,
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. l thought of you. too. I |
missed you. Truly, missed what you
had given my lifel"
A dark flush came to the mans face,
and when he spoke 1t was with an
honest shame and gratitude in his
voice that would have surprised the
who had only known him In
his later years.
you are generous, Harriet" he
said you we're always the most
generous girl in the world !"
More stirred than she wished to
how herself Harriet walked on, and
here was a silence.
LINDA and Fred made it hard for
rou?" he asked.
"Oh, MOI They were angels. But Of
curse In their eyes, and mine. too
was marked"
Silence. Royal Blondin gave her
lance full of distress and compunc-
ion. But he did not speak, and IT
vas Harriet who ended the pause.
"Well, that's what little girl OF
Eighteen may do with her lifer" she
aid. 81 have been fool--I have
iade wreck of miner
''You are the most beautiful woman
! the world" Royal Blondin said,
teadily. you are established here
ley all adore youl Why Cd you say
nat your life is wreck?"
81 am the daughter of Professor
ield,r said Harriet, "and at twenty
even | am the paid companion of
RS Richard Carriers daughter Oh,
ELL was happy enough to have the
What of yourself? Where
ave you been?"
But he was not quite ready to drop
lie personal note.
Harriet. now that we have met, {
ell be friends? My life now is among
ese people; you'll not be sorry If we a
meet?" a
an this casual way-no. we can
and that" she agreed. The fears a
the night rose like mist, melted /
way. 1t was bad enough, but it was
It what her infiamed and fantastic e
,prehension had made 1t. He was
revengeful villain, after all. He
not mean to harm her. o
'Tve been everywhere" he said, an -
-ering her question. 81 made two
ps to China from San Francisco. l b.
Is interested In Chinese antiques. Ia
zen went into Persian rug thing, II
tn q dealer. We handled rugs; / d
mt all over the Union. After that, il
IT years ago, l went TO Persia and \
dIa, and met some English people, If
d went with them to London tn