The Jasper news., 1922-02-09

belle, in basket chair, and the big
hound. and Tony Pope. Harriet cnst
them passing glance, and wondered
a little In her heart. The boy was
handsome. and fascinating, and rich.
but II was Just q little unusual to have
Isabelle so openly interested In any
one.
Underlined and vague, this was still
| somewhere in the background of her
| thoughts as she returned TO Crown
lands, and when she met Ward Car
ter, wrestling with the engine of his
own rather dlsreputable racing car.
out in one Of the clean, graveled
spaces near the garage.
Harriet felt little quickening Of
her pulses as she saw him. There was
no mistaking the pleasure In his eyes
as she came close.
"Spark plugs?" she asked, with the
sympathy of one to whom the pecull-
arities of the car were familiar.
"She's fixed now; We just cleaned
EN-" Ward announced, flinglng away
his cigarette and Strengthening his
back. "SLe'll go like bird, now. Say,
get in and try her, will you?" he asked
eagerly. "Come On--come on, be q
! sport" But perhaps he was as much
surprised rs delighted when she very
simply stepped into the low front seat
He gave her more than one sidewtse
glance as they went dipping smoothly
up and down the green lanes, and said
to himself, "Gosh-when she crinkles
those blue eyes of hers, and her mouth
sort of twltches as IL she wanted TO
laugh, she is n beauty-thats what she
lsw
About a week later they met for a
few moments in this very side garden.
1t was early evening, and twilight and
moonlight were mingled over the silent
roses, and the trimmed turf, and the
low brick walls.
They came straight toward each
other, and stood very close together,
and he took both of Harriet's hands.
"Now, what is it-what is it?" the
man said, quickly. "I've been waiting
long enough. / can't stand 1t any
longerl can't go away tomorrow.
perhaps for two weeks, and not
knowl"
"Ward," the girl faltered. lifting an
exquisite face that wore, even In the
faint moonshine. troubled and In
tense expression, "can't we let 1t all
wait until you get back?"
"Why. Harriet" and his arm went
about her shoulders, and he bent his
face over hers. Harriet, why not let
me go happy?" he pleaded.
"You'll see dozen younger girls at
the Bellamys' camp" Harriet rea-
soned, girls with whom 1t would be
infinitely more suitable"
; "Pleasel" he interrupted, patiently.
And almost touching her warm, smooth
cheek with his own, and coming so
close that to raise her beautiful eyes
was to find his only q few inches away,
he added, fervently. "YOu love me and
I love you-isnt that all that mat
ters?"
Did she love him? Harriet hoped.
when she reviewed it all in the rest
less, tossing hours of the night, that she
had thought, in that moment, that che
did. 1t was wonderful to feel that
strong. eager arm about her, there was
sweet and heady intoxication in his
passion, even If 1t did not awaken IN
answering passion in return. Under
all her reasoning and counter-reason-
ing in the night there crept the knowl-
edge that she had known that this was
coming. had known that only few
days Of encouraging friendliness, only
a few appealing glances from upllfted
blue eyes, and few casual touches OF
q smooth brown hand must bring this
hour upon her. And back of this hour,
and of a mans Joy in winning the
woman he loved, she had seen the hazy
future of prosperity and beauty and
ease, the gowns and cars and homes,
the position of young Mrs. Ward Car
ter.
She had let him turn her face up. In
the strengthening moonlight, and kiss
her hungrily upon the lips, and she
had sent him I'm to his dinner half-wild
with the Joy of knowing himself be-
loved. Harriet had gone in. too, shaken
and half-frightened, and with his last
whispered prophecy ringing in her
ears:
"Wait a year-rotl I'll so to. the
Bellamys'. because promised to. but
, the day I come back. and that's two
weeks from today. we'll tell everyone
t and this time next year you will have
, been my wife for six monthsv
} CHAPTER VI.