Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-01-05

wnen sue WIS 80 secure anu nappy !
She had flung her arms across the
railing. and buried her hot face on
them, and had wept desperate and an
cry tears into the siiken and golden
tangle that shone duly In the star
light
She did not refuse him her hand
when he came to the tea table, or her
eyes, and there was friendliness. o.
the semblance Of II, in the voice with
which she said his name. That he was
waiting. perhaps ~ fearfully AZ she.
for his cue, was evidenced by the
quick relief with which he echoed the
old familiarity.
Harriet I find you again. I've
been waiting all this time to ind you'll
I'd heard Ward speak Of Miss Field
of counsel But 1t never meant you.
to me. I've been thinking Of you all
night"
ave been thinking. too" she said,
simply.
"It's after six." Blondin said with
q glance about. I'VE can't talk here.
Can yOu get awayf Can We 90 some
wheref"
without another word she deserted
her seat. pinned OO her hat and
picked up her gloves,
there's q very quiet back read
straight down to CrowniRnds." she
said. considering. ave might walk"
Anything I" he sssented. briefly.
Guided by Harriet, who was familiar
with the place. they clipped through
the hallway, and out a side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soil
tude than the man began deliberately:
Harriet, 1 have not thought Of any
thing else since l came upon you yes
terday, after all these years. I 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 1 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 a away from mel" he
accused her. when I went to find
you. they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
/ felt terrible-that I walked the
streets, Harriet, praying-prayingl-
that / might catch a glimpse Of you.
1t was the uppermost thought for
years-how many years1 Severn"
more than eight" she corrected,
IN a somewhat lifeless voice. =, Il was
eighteen. Ny one thought, my one
hope, when I 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 q gentler
tone. I'm glad you-felt sorry. Our
going away was q mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered o position on
. Brooklyn paper. and re all moved
from WATERFOWL to Brooklyn. I was
grateful for It; I only wanted to dis
appear! Linda stood By me, her chill
dren saved my life. I was = nursery
maid for q year or two--I never saw
anybody or went anywherei I look
back" Harriet said, talking more 30
herself than to him. and walking
swiftly along in the golden sunset that
streamed across the old back road,
"and I wonder / didn't 20 stark, star
ing madw
"Don't think about it," he urged.
with concern.
"No; I'll not think about 1t. Royal.
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. I thought Of you, too. /
missed you. Truly. / missed what you
had given my life"
A dark flush came to the mans face,
and when he spoke it was with an
honest shame and gratitude in his
voice that would have surprised the
women who had only known him in
I, his later years.
"You are generous, Harriet" he
said. @You YER always the most
generous girl in the worldi"
More stirred than she wished Ia
show herself, Harriet walked on, and
there was a silence.
LINDA and Fred made &c hard for
your he asked.
"0h, mol They were angels. But Of
course In their eyes, and mine, too
I was marked"
Silence. Royal Blondin gave her {
glance full Of distress and compunc
tion. But he did not speak. and Il
wal Harriet who ended the pause.
swell that's what a little girl d
eighteen may do with her lifei" shs
said. II have been a fooE-I have
made a wreck Of MINER
you are the most beautiful w0rna,
In the world" Royal Blondin said
steadily, "you + established here
they all adore yOui why do you sa,
hat your life 10 q wreck"
Il am the daughter Of Profess0
9ield.n said Harriet. 'and at twenty
even ! am the paid companion o
Ira. Richard Carriers daughter Oh
yell--I was happy enough to have tn
opportunity. What Of y~ourselfi Wher
ave you beenTr
But ne was not quite ready to dro
the personal note.
Harriet, now that we have me
wen be friends7 My lie now IL amon
these people; ysS1l nss be sorry u "
occasionally meetS'
@IA this eagsai Wayne. we e.
stand thaAl~ she agreed. The fear
Of the night rose like mist, Melte
away. II win bad enough. but It wa
not what her infaaInsd and fantssti