The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-04-20
CHAPT Err TX.

quickly and quietly, and lazy weeks
followed 10 Harriet weeks II alrnost
cloudless content Ward. early I'm Au-
gust after serious talk with Harriet.
Joined some friends for a motor run
OF three thousand miles. and presently
was sending them post cards from
Monterey and Tahoe
They had been In the new home only
few days when Harriet had reason
TO stop short In busy morning If
unpacking with one hand upon her
heart and great satisfa ctiOn I'm her
eyes. Nina. reading from "a note from
Royal BlOndin, announced the sensa-
lonal news that he had broken his
ankle. He was with friends AT New
port. and must remain there now for
weeks. perhaps a month. Nina was
please TO write To him, and to give
his regard 10 Miss Fieid. and ask her
not To forget him.
For several weeks they were safe
Nina did not know the family Royal
had been visiting. there was long
interval before she could possibly see
him again. He would write to the girl,
OF course. and Harriet knew with what
absorbing emotion she would look for
his letters. But Nina was young and
Nina wrote wretchedly. and anything
might happen. thought Harriet. con-
selling herself with d vague argument
that was in itself youthful, too.
With September came changes
Blondin wrote that he was liInping
about with stick. and wanted To limp
down to them as soon as they would
ask him. Ward was home again, as
always irresponsible. a little Older and
in some vagus way a little coarser.
Harriet thought. but still a most en-
Evening element In the quiet house
hold. Madame Carter had brought
with her. for several weeks ST >. a
friend of Isabelle's. a pretty. dashing
little grass widow, Mrs. Tabor. The
resolute brightness and sweetness
with which Ida Tabor attempted TO
amuse Richard gave Harriet some hint
of the plan which was taking shape in
the back of his mothers head. But
she could only make Mrs. Tabor com
Portable and fit her somehow into the
youthful plans Of the household.
Nina. Ward and Harriet fairly lived
in the water. and Ward had uncon-
sciously served his fathers cause by
bringing home with him tongue-tied
pleasant youth named Saunders
Archer. whose presence in the house
had helped to keep Nina pleased and
amused. She had already impaired to
Harriet the valuable information that
Saunders had never known his mother,
and had never had sister, land Of
course have always been such an
oddly In the family" said Nina. that
| got right at his confidence In that
dreadful way of mine He said he
didn't know why he talked to me so
frankly"
Harriet had seen to II that variety
of delightful plans awaited the young
people at every turn. The retirement
natural after the recent domestic ca
tastrophe was too dangerous to risk
now. And Harriet hoped. hoped, hoped.
| feverishly, necessarily, wearyingly.
| that the danger was past.
But Amy came down. mild and col
| orless as ever. yet still more poised.
more socially adept than Nina, and
| with Amy innocently diverting Saun-
| ders' bashful alterations. Nina re-
turned to thoughts Of Royal. He was
coming down with Madame Carter and
| Mrs. Tabor In her car, Richard was
bringing two men down for golf this
weekend, and with Saunders and
Amy, Royal and MAZDA me Carter and
Mrs. Tabor. the house would be filled.
She had plenty TO do with the man
aging. the endless details that were
brought her mercilessly, hour after
hour by maids and housekeeper. And
yet under her quiet BUSINESS and her
happy hours with the young people
there lurked necessarily a fretted
sense Of danger approaching.
Something of this was In her mind
as she and Nina basked on the gently
heaving float, in the sunshine. Nina
talked necessarily of Blondin. Har.
riet fancied she saw an opening for 9
little talk she felt extremely timely.
Mr.. Blondin likes you, Nina. Jus
because you aren't hirtatisus and silly
Nke the other girls. But he isn't thu
sort OF man to get very deeply inter
ested In any woman. dear"
No, / know he's notw Nina SAT-
quickly. turning suddenly red, ant
looking attentively at the print of he
wet hand on the dry, hot boards.
And / would be sorry II he were,
Harriet pursued, not too seriously
for / want you to marry a man o
your own age, when you do marry
and not a man who has had-well
!. other affairs. who has thai confiden
! tial. f1attering manner with all womeI
You will llbe rich, Nina"
why don't you say that Royal