The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-03-23
CHAP TER ~.

Madame Carter. gathering her drap
cries about her. was one OF the first
10 leave the terrace. Dressing for
dinner was Il slo< and serious bust
ness for her. She gave Harriet cold.
appraising glance a she passed her:
Richard Carter had risen 10 escort his
mother. hut she delayed him for mo
ment.
Miss Nine gone In. Miss FieldT
Harriet. whose manner with all old
persons was the essence OF scrupulous
Formally. rose III once TO her feet
nina has gone TO change her dress.
Madame Carter"
'She took IL upon herself to ask
you to help Us out this afternoonT'
the old lady added. with the sort Of
gracious cruelty of which she was mis-
tress. Richard Carter gave his daugh-
ter's companion "a look that asked In
diligence.
Harriet said nothing. and resumed
her seat as the old lady rustled slowly
away. who's comingf" she asked In
an undertone, TO Ward. as one more
motor swept about the carriage drive.
what Is II. Beautifully" Ward
laughed. Harriet's glorious eyes Wild
ened into smiling warning. His open
and boyiSh admiration was "a sort Of
Joke between them. Yet In this sec
Ond, as he craned his neck 10 get
| glimpse Of the approaching guests,
| sudden thought was born In her.
| Honor had compelled her to a gen.
erous policy with Ward. She had held
his admiration firmly In check: she
had maintained a big-sister attitude
| that was "a wholesome for herself as
| for him.
But here, she thought with sudden
| satisfaction, might be the realization
| OF her own ambition. after all. Ward
was but four years her Junior, and
| Ward would be Richard Carriers heir.
| Its the Beliamys and their crowd. =
said Ward. watching the approach of
newcomers. Look at that man with
them, that fellow with the hair
that's Blondin, That's the man 1 was
telling YOU about the other night. the
man whose name l couldn't remem-
berr'
~Who?"
| Harriet did not know whether she
said II or screamed IL. She lost all
consciousness Of her surroundings and
her neighbors for IA few terrible sec
Onds: her mouth was dry, her throat
CONSTRUCTED, and a hideOus weakness
ran like nausea through her entire
body. The hand with which she
touched the sugar tOngs was icy cold
pain split her forehead. and she felt
suddenly tired and broken.
Ward had gone across 10 greet the
Bellamys; Harriet fixed her eyes
with sort of fascination upon the
man 10 whom she presently saw him
talking. Almost everyone else In the
group was looking ut him, too: Royal
BlOndin was used TO IL; one of his
favorite affectations was an apparen;
Inconsistencies of being observed.
Well over six feet In height. he had
dropped his leOnine head with its
thick locks of dark hair, a little on
one side: his mobile, thin lips were
set. and his piercing eyes searched the
boys face with sort of passionate
attention.
IntrOductions were in order. every.
friend, and Harriet saw that II pleased
him, for some inscrutable reason. 10
continue his ridiculous conversation
with the fiattered Ward. and to accept
names and greetings absently. In an
aside, as IL were. smiling perfunctorily
and briefly nj the eager girls and
women. and returning Immediately 10
his concerned and passionate under.
tones with the boy.
IL was Isabelle who brought him "a
the tea table. Harriet had felt, with
sure premonitiOn of disaster. that /,
must be. She might not escape. there
was nothing for il but courage now
Her breath was behaving badly. and
the muscles contracted In her throat
but she managed a smile.
And this is Miss Field. Mr.. Blon
din," said Isabelle. "She will give you
some tea
Miss Field" said Royal BlondIn
and his dark hand came across tbe
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.
4 A few seconds later Harriet Field
slipped from her place. crossed the
/ terrace with her heart beating xck
and fast with fright. and made her
escaDe