Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-04-29
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
By
Kathleen Norris
Illustrations BY
Irwin Myers

Copyright by Kathleen Norris
CHAPTER XVI.

hour Of II an intoxication to the mas
ter and mistress of Crownlahds. Tin
fact that their secret was all their owl
was all the more enchanting. To tn
domestic staff, to the children, to tn
outside world, life went upon It's usua
smooth way. Mr.. Carter would be II
town tonight, Mr.. Carter was detained
at the Office, Mrs. Carter was chaperon
ing the young people, there were flow
ers for Mrs. Carter. That was all Bot
tomley and Pilgrim and Ward and nj
ma saw.
But to Harriet and Richard the de
licious, secret game Of hide-and-go-seek
made everything else In the world In
significant. Harriet opened the boxes
of flowers he sent her with heart SUI.
locating with Joy. Richard consented
to be absent from the dinner table
over which she presided with an ag-
ony of remuneration that almost made
him feel Ill. When he CHANGED one day
to meet her with Nina, In breezy,
awninged summer restaurant, the
sight Of the slender figure thrilled him
as he had never been thrilled by any
woman he had ever known. He was
to speak to h hear her voice One
day he bought ner shoes; In the shop
she looked at him for approval. He
thought the shoes, low shoes with
buckles, that showed the silk-clad an
kie. very suitable and pretty. He was
thrown into sudden confusion when
the shoe clerk turned to him with a
murmured mention of the price.
Ten doilarsf Richard fumbied for
his purse. He had met her walking
alone In the Avenue: she had said that
she must get shoes. Hundreds of other
men were presumably buying their
wives shoes, up and down the bril-
liant street. But Richard found the
adventure shaking TO the soul.
They're lovely Shoes" Harriet said,
as they walked out Into the sunshine.
She told him that she was to meet
Nina at his mothers at five. Richard,
with sudden eagerness, wondered II
she would spend the interval In hay
ing tea somewhere, but, Instead they
went into a bookshop, and she carried
a new book triumphantly away. Its
a frightful dry In town." Harriet said
"and IL we're little early we may
all get away to the country that much
sonner!"
She established herself contentedly
beside him when they did finally start
for Crownlands. Ward, beside Ham
sen, did most Of the talking; Nina was
silent, and Harriet noticed that she
was very pale. Richard was repeat
Ing to himself one phrase all the way;
q phrase that he found so thrilling
and absorbing that 1t was enough TO
keep him from speaking aloud, or lis
tenlng to what the others said.
II love her--I love her--I love her!"
thought Richard. And sometimes he
glanced sidewlse at her, her beautiful
hair ripping In thick waves under the
thin veil, her face little pale from
the heat of the day, her glorious eyes
family Swallowed. When the swift
Of the car brought her
against his, their eyes met
for smiling second, and 1t seemed to
Richard that his heart brimmed with
The most delicious emotion that he had
ever known.
Nina complained Of a headache
when they reached home, and went
,arly to bed. Harriet, when she had
dubbed and changed to an evening
gown, glanced In at Nina, and thought
he girl asleep. There were men
quests for dinner and afterward there
vas bridge. Harriet sat with Madame
Carter for awhile, for the old lady had
llso dined upstairs, went about the
louse upon her usual errands, and,
,oing to her own room, found Nina
'eadlng, at about ten o'clock. Nina
lid not look up or speak as Harriet |
'ame In.
The door that led to Richards room
vas not only unlocked, but actually |
slar. Harriet gave II surprised
,lance, and spoke to Nina, In the next |
Dom.
nina. did you unlock this door,"
"What door," Nina called. ooh, |
res y she added. ~ did"
"0h," Harriet murmured. And she
stepped to the door. and looked into
Richards room.
II was sort Of upstairs sitting
Dom. furnished simply, in man
fashion. with deep leather chairs on |
ZACH side Of the fireplace broad tables
only the essential lamps and |
lshtrays, a shabby desk where Rich |
lrd kept personal papers, and book
'nelves crammed with novels. Har-
let, making timid round, saw Bal
.ac and Dickens, Dumas and Fielding,
everal Shakespeares and a complete
Meredith, Jostling elbows with modern
lovels In bright jackets, and yellow
French romances losing their paper
overs.
Suddenly her heart turned to water;
iome tiny sound In the silence warn
ng her that some one had entered.
She turned, discovered here in the
,ery center of his own private apart
aent. lie was standing not three