The Holbrook news., 1922-01-27
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 Copyright by Kathleen Norris

dDOut tNt Cibch tuS Niiu stie"NN' mercifully in, hot and thick, but prophetic of rain. and Harriet, wan dering about to make windows fast. encountered Linda. on the same CT rand. When the worst of the crack ling and flashing was over. the girl glanced at her watch. Three o'clock. but she could sleep now. She sank deeply into dreams. not to stir until Iinda's alarm clock. hastily smoth- cred, thrilled at seven, and the small girls rose with cheerful noise. to let streams of hot sunshine upon her face.
 Immediately after breakfast the two small girls attacked their Satur- day mornings work with philosophic vigor that rather touched their aunt. Fred had hurried away after his nasty meal; the boys were turned out into the backyard, which Pip was expected to rake while The watched his small brother.
 Harriet's heart ached deeply for them all as she watched the Jersey marshes from the car window few hours later Josephine was to be a stenographer when she finished high school, and little Julia had expressed an angelic ambition to teach kinder parten class some day. Nina. at their ages, had her pony. her finishing school. her little silk stockings. and her monogrammed ivory toilet set. her trip to England and France and Italy with her mother and brother and grandmother.
 Suppose that she. Harriet. was right in suspecting that Wards feeling was more than the passing gallantry of A light-hearted hoy? It would he a nine-days' wonder. his marriage at twenty-two with his mothers secre- tary. more than four years his senior But after that? After that there would be nothing to say or do. Young lfr. and Mrs. Ward Carter would eS- tablish themselves comfortably. and the elder Carters would visit them: Isabelle absorbed as usual in her own mysterious thoughts, and Richard Carter
 
 fortable up to this point. stopped here and she flushed. She would not enjoy telling Richard that she was to marry his son. Those keen eyes would read her through and through. and while her father-in-law might love her. and see her beauty and charm with all the rest of the world. Harriet knew that she must begin an actual cam paign for his esteem on her wedding day. The prospect had an uneXpect- ed piquancy She had little fear of its outcome She would make Ward Carter a wife for whom his father must come to feel genuine gratitude and devotion There would he chill dren. there would he hospitality and music and garden. And Ward should seriously settle down to his business, whatever it might he. and show himself worthy son of his clever father.
 "Why not-why nOt?" Harriet asked herself, as she reached Madame Car ter's pretentious apartment house. and was whisked upstairs. She was to meet Nina here, and she glanced about for the big limousine at the curb. as an indication that the old lady might he ready to accompany them back to ,Crownlands But there was no car in sight. The maids first statement was that Miss Carter had gone home with her brother, and then Madame Carter came magnifcently into the room.
 "Well. our bird has flownl" said the old lady. Harriet could see that she was pleased about something.
 "Gone home with Ward:" Harriet asked. Madame Carter never shook hands with her: there was conscious superiority in the little omission. She sank into chair, and Harriet sat down.
 Ward and his friend, this Mir. Blon. din." Madame Carter said. "A very interestlng-a most unusual man. 4 very good family. tOo-excellent old family. Yes. Nina assured us that sht had To wait and go home with her Daddy. but that" Madame Carter gave Harriet deeply significant smile but that didn't seem to please Somebody very much l' she added. 'So I told Nina thought Granny would be able to make it all right with Daddy and off the young people went"
 She rocked, with a benignly tri. umphant expression, and eompIacent rustic of silken skirts Harriet, be meath an automatic smile, hid trou. bled heart. Royal was losing no time Ward his innocent instrument, and this fatuous old lady of course playing his game for himl
 Harriet saw that she was pleased and fiattered by an older mans appar ant admiration of Nina and that she ~ouit. further the girls first definite offair in every way that lay in hef power. It was maddenins; It was ey asperating beyond words. An honeS warning would have merely flattered her with its implication of her impor tance ah, no, Isabelle and Harriet might try to hold the child back-but Granny knew girl nature better than either of theml
 'Well, then, I must follow them hOMc." Harriet said, pleasantly. You don't come back tonight?'
 To this Madame Carter very point edly made no answer; her plans were not Miss Fields business.
 ''The child is growing up!' the old lady said, smiling at some thought.