The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-23

moving, Qark-eye0 woman some ten
years older than she was herself:
Mary Putnam, one Of the real friends
the girl had gained In the last four
years. Young Mrs. Putnam, Harriet
used to think, with N little natural
jealousy under her admiration, had
everything. She was not pretty, but
hers was q distinguished appearance
and lovely face: she had the self
possessed manner Of q woman whose
whole life has been given to the social
arts; she had a clever, kindly, silent
husband who adored her; her home,
her garden, her clubs and her chart
ties, and finally she had her nursery.
where Billy and Betty were rioting
through an ideal childhood.
"Harriet-you dear child T. said the
rich and pleased voice, as Mary's fine
hand crossed the tea table for a well
coming touch. But how nice to find
you herel I've just been trying to
think how long 1t is since I've seen
you"
"Not since the day you lunched with
Mrs. Carter, and that was almost two
weeks agoP
Mrs. Putnam settled herself In the
neighboring chair.
"Tm chaperoning little Lettice Ora
ham for q week." she began, In the
delightful voice upon which Harriet
had modelled her own. But Lettice
is trying her little arts upon Ward
Carter. Dear boy, thatT"
Ward? He Ii a dearw Harriet
said, innocently.
"No blushing" Mary Putnam asked,
with a smiling look. The color came
into Harriet's lovely face, and the
smoky blue eyes widened innocently.
"Blushing-for WardT" she asked.
| Mrs Putnam stirred her tea thought
| fully.
81 didn't know" she said. You're
young, and you know him well, and
you're-well, you have appearance, as
1t werel Ward has fine stuff In him,
and also, 1 think, he is beginning to
care. It would be an engagement that
would please the Carriers, / imagine"
The word engagement brought a
nlmy vision before Harriet's eyes, born
of the fragrance and sunshine OF the
summer. She saw n ring, laughter
and congratulations, dinner parties
and receptions, shopping in glittering
Fifth avenue.
"A boy In Wards position may do
much worse than marry q lovely and
sensible woman" Mrs. Putnam said.
'Wen. 1t just occurred to me. II is
your affair, OF course. But looking
back one sees how much Just the
well, the lack Of tiny push has
meant In ones Hfe!'
"And this is the push" Harriet said
her heart full Of the confusion and
happiness that this unusual mood OF
confidence and affection on Mary Put
mans part had brought her.
"Perhapsi" The smooth, cool hand
touched hers for a second before Mrs.
Putnam went upon her gracious way.
Harriet hardly heard the hustle and
confusion about her for q few minutes.
She sat musing. with her splendid eyes
fixed upon some point invisible to the
Joyous group about her.
| To Nina, meanwhile, had come the
most extraordinary hour Of her life.
She had sauntered to q green bench.
under great naples, with Lettuce Ora
ham and Harry Trout and Anna
Poett. And Joshua Brevoort had come
for Anna, and they had sauntered
away, with that mysterious ease with
which other girls seemed to manage
young men. And then Harry and Let
tice had in some manner communi-
Gated with each other, for Lettice had
jumped up suddenly, saying: "Nina,
win you excuse usi Wen be back
directly" and they had wandered of
I'm the direction of the river, giggling
as they went Nina had smiled gal
lantly In farewell, but her feelings
were deeply hurt. She hated to sit on
here, visibly alone, and Jet there was
small object In going back to the alb
sorbed groups nearer the house.
Then came the miracle. For as she
uncomfortably waited, Wards friend,
the queer man with the black eyes and
thick hair, suddenly took the seat be-
side her. Nina's heart gave a plunge
for II she was I'll at ease with "ktds''
like Harry and Joshua, how much less
could she manage q conversation with
the lion of the hour! But Royal Blon.
din needed no help from Nina.
You're little Miss Carter, aren't
youf" he said. I'VE were introduced,
back there, but there were too many
young men around you then for me TO
get a word in! Nice boys. all of them !
But not worth your while!''
Nina murmured a confidence.
what did you say?'. Blondin said.
But come" he added, frankly, you're
not afraid of me. are you? My dear
little girl. I'm old enough to be your
father! Look 81 want to see those