Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-03-30

10 me. I've Deen thinking OF you all
night"
1--WE been thinking, too" she said,
simply.
tits after six" Blondln said with
glance about 1--WE can't talk here.
Can you get awayl Can we go some
whereT"
Without another word she deserted
her seat, pinned on her hat, and
picked up her gloves.
There's a very quiet back road
straight down to Crownlands," she
said, considering. 1--WE might walk"
"Anything!" he assented, briefly.
Guided by Harriet, who was familiar
with the place, they slipped through
the hallway, and out side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soil
tude than the man began deliberately:
Harriet, have not thought Of any,
thing else since came upon you yes
terday, after all these years. 1 want
you to tell me that you-you aren't
angry with me. You knew-yOu knew
how desperately tried to find you,
HARRIET What hell went through ?"
If she had steeled herself against
the possibility of his shaking her, she
failed herself now. 1t was with an
involuntary and bitter little laugh that
she said:
'You had no monopoly Of that,
Roy"
'But you ran away from mel" he
accused her. "When l went to find
you, they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
felt terrible-that l walked the
streets, Harriet praying-praying -
that 1 might catch a glimpse of you.
1t was the uppermost thought for
years-how many years? SegenT"
"More than eight" she corrected,
in somewhat lifeless voice. 81 was
eighteen. My one thought, my one
hope, when last saw you, in Linda's
house." she went on, with sudden pas
sion, twas that would never see you
again But I'm glad to hear you say
this, Roy" she added, in a gentler
tone. 'Im glad yOu-felt sorry. Our
going away was mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered a position on
Brooklyn paper, and we all moved
from Watertown to Brooklyn. l was
grateful for it; l only wanted to dis
appear Linda stood by me, her chill
dren saved my life. l was a nursery
maid for a year or two--I never saw
anybody or went anywhere! 1 look
back" Harriet said, talking more to
herself than to him, and walking
swiftly along in the golden sunset that
streamed across the old back road
land I wonder 1 didn't go stark, star
ing mad!'
Don't think about IT," he urged,
with concern.
mo; I'll not think about it. Royal
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. l thought Of you, too.
missed you. Truly, missed what you
had given my lifeW
A dark flush came to the mans face,
and when he spoke 1t was with an
honest shame and gratitude in his
voice that would have surprised the
women who had only known him in
his later years,
you are generous, Harriet" he
said. "You were always the most
generous girl in the world !"
More stirred than she wished to
show herself, Harriet walked on, and
there was a silence.
LINDA and Fred made 1t hard for
your" he asked
ooh, no They were angels. But Of
course in their eyes, and mine, too
was marked"
Silence. Royal Blondin gave her a
glance full of distress and cOmpunc-
ton. But he did not speak, and it
was Harriet who ended the pause.
"Well, that's what a little girl of
eighteen may do with her life :" she
said. 81 have been a fool have
made wreck of minel"
you are the most beautiful woman
in the world" Royal Blondin said,
steadily, "yOu are established here,
they all adore you Why do you say
that your life is wreck?"
81 am the daughter of Professor
Field" said Harriet, "and at twenty
seven I am the paid companion OF
Mrs. Richard Carriers daughter! Oh, |
well-I was happy enough to have the
opportunity. What of yourself? Where |
have you been?"
But he was not quite ready to drop |
the personal note.
Harriet, now that we have met,
wen be friends? My life now is among
occasionally meet?"
an this casual way-nO. we can
stand thatt" she agreed. The fears
of the night rose like mist melted
away It was bad enough, but it was
not what her infamed and fantastic
apprehension had made It, He was
no revengeful villain, after all. He
did not mean TO harm her.
1--WE been everywhere" he said. an
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