Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1922-02-02


tied glance at the lawns and gardens
of the Jay mansion already dotted
with awnings and chairs, and sprinkled
with the bright gowns OF the first
arrivals. They were early, and their
hostess, a handsome, heavily built
woman with corsets like armOrplate
under her exquisite gown, and a
blonde bang covering her forehead
came forward with her daughter to
meet them. Francesca was as slight
as a willow, with a demurely dropped
little head and a honeyed little self
possessed manner.
VERY decent Of you, Miss FfeidF'
breathed Mrs. Jay, in a voice like that
Of horn. you girls run along now
people will be comm at any minute.
I'm going to take Miss Field to the
table. Three hundred people comm"
she confided as Harriet followed her
across the lawn, and to the rather
quiet corner Of the awninged porch
where the tea table stood. "Tl leave
you here, and you just ask for anything
you need"
The matron melted away; Harriet
back indifrerently. She would have
Loaned Harriet any amount of money.
the girl reflected, Smoldering, she
would have shown her genuine friend
ship and generosity in crisis. But
she would not introduce people to
Harriet this afternoon, and In q day
or two she would send Harriet bit
of lace, or a dainty waist, as delicate
reminder that the courtesy had been
business one, after all.
Presently the sun came out for Har-
riet in the arrival of a tall, swiftly
moving, dark-eyed 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 a little natural
| jealousy under her admiration, had
everything. She was not pretty, but
hers was a distinguished appearance
| and lovely face; she had the self
| possessed manner of a 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 ans Betty were riotine
through an ideal childhood.
'Harriet-you dear child I" said the
rich and pleased voice, as Mary's fine
hand crossed the tea table for a wei
coming touch. "But how nice to f1nC
you herel I've just been trying t
think how long 1t is since I've seer
you"
mot since the day you Iunched witt
Mrs. Carter, and that was almost two
weeks agoI"
Mrs. Putnam settled herself in the
neighboring chair.
'Tm chaperoning little Lettice Ora
ham for a week." she began, In thu
delightful voice upon which Harrie
had modelled her own. "But Lettic'
Is trying her little arts upon Ware
Carter. Dear boy, thati"
"Ward3 He Is a dear" Harrie
said, innocently.
"No blushing7" Mary Putnam asked
with q smiling look. The color cam
into Harriet's lovely face. and tn
smoky blue eyes widened lnnocently.
"Blushing-for Ward7" she asked.
Mrs. Putnam stirred her tea thought
fully.
81 didn't know" she said. 'You'r
young. and you know him well, an
you're-well, you have appearance. "A
1t werel Ward has fine stuff In hin
and also, ! think. he is beginning I
care. It would be an engagement th8
would please the Carriers, imagine.
The word engagement brought
hlmy vision before Harriet's eyes, Dor
of the fragrance and sunshine of tn
summer. She saw q ring, laughtG
and congratulations, dinner partiC
and receptions. shopping in glitterin
Fifth avenue.
"a boy in Wards position may 4
much worse than marry a lovely ar
sensible woman" Mrs. Putnam sal
well, 1t just occurred to me. It
your affair, Of course. But lookiI
back one sees how much just the
meant In ones life r.
"And this Is the push3'' Harriet sal
! her heart full OF the confusion an
! happiness that this unusual mood
4 confidence and affection on Mary PU
MANS part had brought her.
. 'Perhaps" The smooth, cool haI
"a touched hers for a second before MI
Putnam went upon her gracious wa
Harriet hardly heard the hustle al
confusion about her for few minute
She sat musing. with her splendid ey
!. fixed upon some point invisible to t
: joyous group about her.
To Nina. meanwhile, had come {
= most extraordinary hour of her Iii
r. She had sauntered TO green benz
a under great naples, with Lettice Oh
ham and Harry Trout and An
- Poett. And Joshua Brevoort had COZ
for Anna, and they had saunter
!, away, with that mysterious ease wi
which nfhar Girls annnnad To mana