The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-10

her Joyous voice following Mollie
away.
Richard pushed back his plate and
looked irresolutely after her. Ther
suddenly he rose and walked through
the pantry. asking two startled maids
for Mrs. Carter. Etelka had been sew
eral years In the house without ever
seeing him" In this neighborhood be
fore.
Richard crossed sunshiny brick
walled yard, where linen was drying.
and went through brick gateway
that gave on neglected little lane.
The lane had once been the driveway
for a carriage and prancing pair.
but there were only riding horses at
Crownlands now, and three of these
were looking over the wall at the
grass-grown road. And Richard found
Harriet here.
She was on her knees, In the pleas
and naples; her back was toward him.
She was looking up into the face of
the old stableman, Trotter, who stood
before her, his crooked, dwarfed old
figure still further bent, as he held
two strong young ewes by their thick,
woolly shoulders.
As Trotter gave him a respectful
good morning. Harriet sprang to her
feet and whirled about and Richard
saw the woodeny stiff legs of very
young lamb dangling from her arms
and the lambs meek little black-rub-
Der face close TO the beautiful face he
loved.
"Oh. Richard - she said, carried
away by her own delight. Look at
1t Isn't 1t the sweetest darling baby
that ever wasl On, you sweet" she
said, putting her lips to the little wool
ly head.
you are r. Richard said quite with
out generalization.
Harriet laughed, surrendered the
little lamb to Trotter and followed
the old mans departure to the stables
with an anxious warning.
They're to have this little enclos-
ure all to themselves" she explained
|
Hes going to build them little
she'd" And as Richard his back lean
Ing against the low brick wall, made
no immediate attempt to move, she
looked at him expectantly. "Shal |
we go back?" she suggested.
THAT sounded very pleasant to me-"
Richard said with deliberate irrele-
vance.
Harriet looked at him in puzzled
silence.
II mean your calling me Richard"
ne said.
She flushed brightly and laughed.
did /? ] always think of you as
!" she explained.
$50 you abandon me on the Brazil
rip?" he asked, watching her seri-
'usly.
well" Harriet shrugged. 81
bought you had to 60" she added.
Tm-I'll confess I'm disappointed.
But to have Nina want to do anything
$ such relief to me that I'm only
oing TO think of thati"
"Yes, / have to CO." Richard said
lowly. II must be there for month
{ least. But Pm disappointed, too.
got thinking of 1t, in the night
ouldnt sleepl I'm disappointed, too"
lie fell silent IL WISH" he said hest
atingly, that you had not told me
nat you-you don't feel that you-are
ding to love mel I" he said. 81 love
on with all my heart and soul. It.
ell, it's all think of now. l want"
ie turned and picking an Ivy leaf
ON the wall looked at 1t intently for
moment and tore 1t apart before he
t 1t fall. However" he said phil
smiling at her, well let
lat wait"
Harriet close TO him, laid one hand
BON his shoulder.
you misunderstood me-" she saw
eadily. what / said was that /
'uld not love you more than / dol
rent you-ever-going to under
andw
For a long minute they looked
to each others eyes.
Harriet, do you mean lit" Richard /
i'd then, simply.
Yes" she answered, II mean I'll ,
re always meant 1t. I've always
we'd you, 1 think. No man could
ant any woman to love him more I"
The blue eyes so near his own were
sty with sudden tears. In the de- c
rted little lane, In the blue summer I
orning and the green shade Of the t
camores, they were alone. Richard $
{ his arms about her. y
And for moment he held all the Il
auty and fragrance and laughter h
d tears that was Harriet close to n
J heart; the soft hair tumbled, the n
own, firm young hand resting on I
; shoulder, the warm cheek against c
own. =
A breeze rustled through the ,,
anches high above them; the !,
lie river, beyond the brick wall,
wed on In an even sheet of
in; two birds looped the enclosure
a sudden twIttering flight; and
m the stable region came the plan a
e bleating of mother sheep. But "a
Harriet and Richard the world was m