The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-08


to speak TO you" she said, suavely,
bringing her distant glance TO rest dis
passionately for a moment upon Har-
riet's face.
Harriet waited, amused, annoyed,
impatient
II understand" Madame Carter
said, ''that you and my son-for some
reason best known TO yourselves
have entered into a secret marriage?"
''Your first object, my dear. is not to
antagonize his mother!" Harriet re-
minded herself. Aloud she said mild
Iy: You have no reason to disbe-
neve 1t, have your
NO reason TO disbelieve my son I'
his mother echoed. scandalized. why
should have! Mr.. Carter is the soul
of honor-absolutely the soul. Upon
my word, / don't understand your
II said you have no reason TO disbe-
Heve him." Harriet repeated. you
said that you understood that we had
been married 1t is true"
And she looked off toward the river
with an expression as composed as
that of Madame Carter herself.
81 suppose you know that old say
ing: a secret bride has a secret to
hide r" the old woman pursued, pleas
antly.
81 never heard 1t. I did not play
much with the children of the neigh
borhood when i was child" Harriet
answered. MY father was very anx-
ious to protect us from picking up ex-
pressions of that sort %
There was a silence Harriet, be-
ginning to be ashamed of herself, did
not look at her companion.
"a girl Of your age has great deal
of confidence when she marries into q
family like mine." the old lady said.
presently, in q tone that trembled a
little. "My son is a rich mamie is
prominent man. He has used his
own judgment, of course But / con-
fess that In your place / should not
carry myself with quite so much an
air of triumph 1t seems to me-"
Harriet determinedly regained her
calm, and taking the chair next to the
enraged old lady, quietly interrupted
the flow of her angry words.
81 hope I have shown no air OF
triumph, Madame Carter" Harriet
said. you yourself-and most wisely
pointed out to us few months ago
that the arrangement here was un-
conventional"
every one was talking, IL you mind
THAR the old lady snapped. But she
was slightly Modified, none-the-less
But upon my word, you'd think mar
rying into the family was something
to be done every day she was be.
ginning again, when Harriet inter
rupted again.
Mono she said, soothingly, con
| ceding the last words an amused
smile that itself rather helped to pla'
cate her companion. SIT is. of course
| the most serious step of my life! But
| the secrecy-as of course you will ap
| preciate-was because there has beer
so much terrible notoriety this year
/ Why, Mr. Carter tells me that never
/ in the history of all the Carters-"
! This fortunate lead was enough
| Madame Garter Launched fortn superb
| ly upon description Of the usual Car
ter weddings, the ceremony, the state
/ In perhaps twenty minutes she wa
blandly patronizing Harriet, gfvinl
her encouraging little taps with he
eyeglasses, warning her Of mistakes
that Isabelle had made with Richard
Harriet knew that before three day
were over her terrible mother-in-lav
would be telling the world just how
wise. under the trying circumstances
! the whole thing was, and just how
| clearly she had foreseen 1t. She wa
still listening respectfully, If trifi'
confusedly, when Ward bounded from
the house, and gave her an effusiy
| embrace.
Continued Monday