Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-13


"Oh, surely" The companions
voice was light and cheerful; she
went upstairs only pleasantly excited
and thrilled. And at the breakfast
table next morning Harriet could show
the head Of the house the same bright
assurance. Richard had come down
stairs early, and they had their coffee
alone.
"Nina?" asked her father.
"She comes back today" Harriet
said. MRS. Carter is going to have
her masseuse, so she won't be down.
She asked you to remember that you
are dining at the Jays tomorrow.
There's to be tennis at about four"
Finals" he said, nodding, and went
out to his car apparently well pleased
with himself and his life. Harriet
started for the Hawkes. with a philo-
sophie reflection or two as to the
ephemeral quality Of married quar-
rels,
She brought Nina back at noon, a
garrulous and complacent Nina, who
could pity the elder Hawkes. as girls
who never had admirers" When
they reached the driveway of Crown
lands, Harriet recognized the car that
was already there, and said to her
self that Anthony Pope would join
them for luncheon. But just as she
and Nina were about to enter the
cool, wide, dark doorway, Anthony
himself passed them. He was al
most running, and apparently did not
see them. He ran down the shallow
steps and sprang into his car, which
scattered a spray Of gravel as he
jerked it madly about, and was gone
before she and Nina had ended their
look Of surprise. Harriet went slowly
upstairs, with a dim, foreboding far
back in her heart.
At about three, when Harriet and
Nina were idling on the shady ter
race, with the hound, the new maya
zines, and their books, Hansen brought
one Of the small closed cars to the
side door. Five minutes later Isabelle,
in a thin white coat, a yelled white
hat, and with a gorgeous white-furred
wrap over her arm, came out. Ger
maine was with hep carrying two
shiny black suitcases. Isabelle, Har-
riet thought, looked superbly hand
some, but Germaine had evidently
been scOlded, and had red eyes.
Isabelle came over to give her
daughter a farewell kiss.
"Mrs. Webb has telephoned for me,
ducky. Your father isn't coming home
tonight, but have a happy time with
Miss Harriet, and I'll be back in a
day or two. Good-by, both of you.
All right, HansRnl"
They swept away, leaving Harriet
with a strange sense of nervousness
and suspense. The summer air seemed
charged with menace, and the silence
that followed the noise Of the car odd
ly ominous.
Madame Carter was on the terrace
when they came back at five from an
idle trip to the club, reporting that
her son had just returned unexpect-
edly from the city, and had gone in
to change for golf.
Nothing alarming here, yet Harriet
experienced sick thrill of apprehen-
sion. Something abnormal seemed to
be the matter with them all this after
nOonl
''Did you call me, Mr.. CarterT" She
hardly knew her own voice, as he
came down the three broad steps from
the house Her hands felt cold, and
che was trembling
do you happen to know where
Hansen is, Miss Field?"
''Driving Mrs Carter to the Webbs'
at Great Darlington" the girl an
swered, readily. Mrs. Carter left in
a hurry She did not expect you to-
night. Hansen ought to be back at
about seven, should think"
He was not listening to her; alb
ruptly left her. When Harriet went
into the house she saw nothing of
him. She made her usual little round,
spoke briefly to a maid about some
fallen daisy petals, consulted with the
housekeeper as to the new cretonne
covers. A man was to come and
measure those covers this very after
nOOn-perhaps this was he, modestly
waiting at the side door.
But no, this man briefly and sim
ply asked to be shown to Mr.. Carter,
remarking that he was expected. He |
disappeared into the library; Harriet
saw no more of him for an hour, when
he silently appeared beside her, and |
asked to sec the chauffeur Hansen
as soon as he came.
Richard brought the strange man
to the dinner table; but there was
nothing in that to make the dinner
so unnatural. To be sure Richard ate
little, and spoke hardly at ALL but |
this Mr.. Williams was quite entertain
ing, and the old lady in good spirits.
At eight Hansen was back, present |
ing himself in his dusty road-coat |
Mr.. Carter Immediately drew him with
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