The herald., 1922-02-09


but she managed a smile.
And this Is Miss Field, Mr.. Blon-
din," said Isabelle. "She will give you
some teal"
Miss Field" said Royal Blondin,
and his dark hand came across the
teacups. Harriet, as his thin mouth
twitched with just the hint of a smile,
looked straight into his eyes, and she
knew he was as frightened as she.
But from neither was there a visible
sign of CONSERVATION.
A few seconds later Harriet Field
slipped from her place, crossed the
terrace with her heart beating sick
escape.
She and Nina had luxurious suite
on the second floor, shut off from the
rest Of the house by single door, and
rather remotely placed in wing that
commanded a superb view of the river.
Nina, half-dressed. was sprawling
luxuriOusly on her bed when Harriet
came in. Glass doors were open upon
square porch, and the sweet after
noon air stirred the crisp, transparent
curtains.
Harriet shut the door, and leaned
against it, and the world spun about
her. What now? What now? What
now? hammered her heart. Nina
tossed aside her magazine. and regard
ed her with affectiOnate reproach.
"You ran upstairs J" she said. I'm
lying on your bed because Maude had
the laundry all over mine. Are you
going to lie DOWN."
| "No, my dearv said Harriet, in an
odd, breathy whisper.
| The terror began to flood her soul
and mind again. She went out to the
porch, and looked down into the clear
shade of the early twilight, under the
trees. The terrace was deserted;
every sign of the tea party had -an-
ished, not a crumb marred the order
Of the grass-grown bricks. The chairs
held formal attitudes, the table was
empty. All the motorcars were gone
from the drive. She turned back into
the room, breathing more easily.
At half-past seven she came up
from a little diplomatic adjusting in
the service end of the house, to peep
at Nina, who was reading In bed, and
to go on to Isabelle's room. If Mrs.
Carter was alone, she liked TO see
Harriet then, to be sure Of any last
message, or to discuss any domestic
plan.
Harriet found her, exquisite in
twinkling black spangles, before her
mirror. Isabelle's hair was dressed In
dark and shining waves and scallops.
netted invisibly, set with brilliant pins.
There was not an inch of her whole
beautiful little person that would not
have survived a critical inspection.
Her skin, her white throat, her arms
and hands and fingernails, her waist
and ankles and her pretty feet, were
all absolute perfection. The illusion
that yelled her slender arms stood at
crisp angles; the silk stockings
showed a warm skin tint through their
thinness; her lower eyelids had been
skillfully darkened, her cheeks dell
cately rouged, and her lips touched
with carmine; her brows had been
clipped and trained and penciled, heI
lashes brushed with liquid dye, and
what fragrant powders and perfumes
Icuuld add, had been added in gen
! erous measure. She wore diamonds
on her fingers, in her ears, and about
her throat, and her gown was held al
<..rl 81 NV nj finnn
bar that bore a double line Of mag
nificent stones. Harriet Away:
thought her handsome; tonight she
. had to admit that her employer wa.
truly beautiful.
Mrs. Carter was In a pleasant mood
she had good disposition, and there
, was nothing in her life now to rufs'
, It. She unused happily, her lips twitch
ing with some amusing memory. Ther
she became businesslike. Harriet, d.
you go to the city this week?"
, ''Nina and the girls are to see Rutl
: st. Denis on Friday" Harriet said. |"
, thought Madame Carter would taxi
them, but now she says no. But 1
, Nina stays with her grandmother over
! night. / thought I would like to SCI
my sister; she hasn't been very well
That can wait, Of course. Miss Jay
tea party is tomorrow; that's Thurs
3 day"
/, And that reminds me that Louis
| jay telephoned today, and asked M
: II you would take charge of the tel
: table," Isabelle said, with a shrew'
3 glance.
. Harriet hesitated, and the colo
> crept into her smooth cheeks. ION
wonders" she unused. In a most un
I promising tone, whether one is aske'
as a maid, or guest7"
o .In this case, as a mother" Isabel
: was inspired to answer. PERSONALLY
o I should very much like 1t for Nina
4 sake. But you suit YOURSELF"
. The tone denied the words; Harrie
\ knew what she was expected to dc
! "ru be delighted to help!" she said
: lfelessly. "a lot of women and chill
dren," she reflected. "and nobod
4 drinking tea anyway, this weather |!
Nina was duly dressed for the te
3 party the next day, and went to sho,
u.