The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-03-30


Carter. Dear boy, that"
Ward? He is dear" Harriet
said, innocently.
mo blushihg?" Mary Putnam asked.
with a smiling look. The color came
into Harriet's lovely face, and the
smoky blue eyes widened innocently.
"Blushing-for Ward?" she asked.
Mrs. Putnam stirred her tea thought
fully.
81 didn't know" she said. you're
young, and you know him well, and
youre-well, you have appearance, as
it werel Ward has fine stuff in him,
and also, / think, he is beginning TO
care II would be an engagement that
would please the Carriers, | imagine
The word engagement brought a
! filmy vision before Harriet's eyes, born
of the fragrance and sunshine of the
summer. She saw ring, laughter
and congratulations, dinner parties
and receptions, shopping in gittering
Fifth avenue.
"A boy in Wards position may do
much worse than marry lovely ana
| sensible woman" Mrs. Putnam said.
well. it just occurred to me. 1t is
your affair of course. But looking
back one sees how much just the
well. the lack of tiny push has
meant in ones life"
"And this is the push?" Harriet said.
her heart full of the confusion and
happiness that this unusual mood of
confidence and affection on Mary Put
mans part had brought her.
perhaps !" The smooth, cool hand
touched hers for second before Mrs.
Putnam went upon her gracious way.
Harriet hardly heard the hustle and
confusion about her for a few minutes.
She sat musing, with her splendid eyes
fixed upon some point invisible to the
joyous group about her.
To Nina, meanwhile, had come the
most extraordinary hour of her life.
She had sauntered to a green bench,
under great naples. with Lettice Gra-
ham and Harry Trout and Anna
Poett. And Joshua Brevoort had come
for Anna, and they had sauntered
away with that mysterious ease with
| which other girls seemed to manage
young men. And then Harry and Let
Gated with each other, for Lettice had
jumped up suddenly, saying: nina,
will you excuse us? Wen be back
directly" and they had wandered off
in the direction of the river, giggling
as they went. Nina had smiled gal
lantly in farewell, but her feelings
were deeply hurt. She hated to sit on
here, visibly alone, and yet there was
small object in going back to the alb
sorbed groups nearer the house.
Then came the miracle. For as she
uncomfortably waited, Wards friend,
the queer man with the black eyes and
thick hair, suddenly took the seat be-
side her. Nina's heart gave plunge,
for if she was i'll at ease with kids"
like Harry and Joshua, how much less
could she manage a conversation with
the lion of the hour! But Royal Blon-
din needed no help from Nina.
You're little Miss Carter, aren't
your" he said. 1--WE were introduced,
back there, but there were too many
young men around you then for me to
get word in Nice boys, all of them
But not worth your while!"
Nina murmured a confidence.
"What did you say?" Blondin said.
But come" he added, frankly, you're
not afraid of me, are you? My dear
little girl, I'm old enough to be your
father! Look up-I want to see those
eyes. That's better. Now, that's more
friendly. Tell me what you said2"
II said-that mother expected me
TOTO like them"
ITO? oh, to like the boys. Mother
expects it? OF course she does And
some day she'll expect to dress you in
white, and bid us all to come and
dance at the wedding! But in the
meantime, Mother mustn't blame some
one who has just little more discern
ment than-well, young Brevoort, for
example, for seeing that her tame
dove is really wild little seagull
starving for the sea. And you don't
want to fall in love with one of these
lads for year or two, anyway
"Oh, my, nor Nina felt the expires
sion inadequate but her breath had
been taken away. The man had
turned about little, his eyes were
all for her, and his arm, laid carelesslN
along the back of the green bench
almost touched the white ruffes They
were in full sight of the house, too
and If Lettuce or Anna came back
they would see Nina in deep and last
ing conversation with the man that al
the older women were so mad about
"You don't. But-what?' He ben
his dark head.
IL said. But don't know how yot
knew it'r Nina repeated, looking
down i'm her overwhelming self-con
seriousness, but with smile of utter
, happiness and excitement.
A second later she looked up IN
some alarm. He was silent-she hat
, somehow said the awkward thing
oooini Nina'g hpart fiuttqrpd merry