The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-08
Continued from Sixth Page)
CHAPTER XII.

socially an individualist, devoting her
self TO one man at a time, and TO no.
body else, and the whole family had
necessarily accepted IsabeIle's atti-
tude. Richard had been too busy to
| notice or protest, the old lady help
| less, and Nina child.
But now there was a beautiful and
gracious woman in IsabeIIe's place,
and long before the world knew that
Harriet Field was really Harriet Car
ter, there was q very decided change
in the social atmosphere. Richard be-.
gan to bring mis- friends to the house;
he was proud of his smoothly running
establishment, and proud of the
charming woman who neither f1irted
wit. nor ignored the men he brought
home.
Always beautiful and always busy.
/ constantly in demand on all sides, she
went about his house like a smiling
worker of miracles, and Richard
watched her. When she went home
to her sister for q day or two he
missed her strangely, and wandered
about the empty rooms with a DESC
late sense of loss.
She was presently back, and amused
the young people at the dinner table
with a spirited account of her sisters
move into a new house-"really an
old house." that she and her family
had been watching for years.
Nina and Amy and Ward had rushed
from the dinner table to an early
! dance at the club, and Richard. after
talk with his mother on the terrace,
had wandered about with a vague
| hope of finding Harriet somewhere
with her book. But she was not
downstairs.
He went back, and presently accom-
| panied his mother to her door. The
old lady stopped outside of Ninas
open door, from which a subdued light
! streamed
"Oh, Miss Field" said Madame
Carter.
Eyes, Madame Carterl" The rich
ready voice responded instantly. Rich
ard hoped she would come to the door,
but his mothers message was deliv-
cred too quickly to make 1t necessary
you're waiting up for Nina"
"Oh, yes, Madame Carter!'' Harriet
answered. The two exchanged good
er's room, left her in her maids hands,
| and went back into the dimly lighted,
| spacious upper hall. He felt oddly
| stirred; there were letters downstairs.
| his usual books and amusements, but
he felt curiously impelled to try for
one more word with Miss Field
He opened the door of Ninas room,
open door within that connected it
with Harriet's room.
"Come in. Is 1t you, Pilgrim" the
| pleasant, quiet voice said. Richard
! stepped to the doorway.
Harriet, seated in a square bask ct
| chair under the soft flood of light
from a basket-shaded lamp, rose pre-
| cipitately, and stood looking at him
| with widened eyes and parted lips
without speaking. She was plainly
frightened, though she made herself
smile. The beautiful room was full OF
shadows; at the wide-open windows
thin curtains stirred In the cool night
air.
brighten your Richard said.
us there something's Her eye!
were those Of a deer that Is afraid Il
turn.
"Why, 1 wanted to suggest that We
tell our little piece of news to thu
family" Richard suggested, after (
momentary search for a suitable sub
ject. 81 came very close to telling m.
mother, just now. Is there any goot
reason for further delay?'
"Why, no, I DON'T don't suppos'
there is!' Harriet stammered. "Ther'
will be talk"
81 suppose So" he answered, simply
But what we do is our own affair
after all. I shall explain to my moth
er that for US both it seemed a prac
teal and a-well, not unpleasant so
luton There need be no change here
: but you will simply have a more as
sured position
She had been watching him, witt
all June in her face. But as he wen
on the color slowly drained away, ant
about her beautiful eyes a look O
strain and even of something lik
shame gradually deepened. When sh
spoke, it was as if the muscles of he
: throat were CONSTRUCTED
? Eyes, l see. Certainly. I see. w
. viii have to let them talk. This is
simply the best arrangement possibl
under the circumstances! :"
ut is an arrangement that a maj
, perhaps has no right to ask of a won
an" Richard said. Love means
!, great deal in a girls life. and l sup
;. pose there is nothing else that make
j up for the lack of 1t. But you ar
e not an ordinary woman, and 1 assur
\ you that In every way that L can
mean to prove TO you how deeply
appreciate what you are doing for u
ALL"
Thank your Harriet said, almos