Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-02-16
CHAPTER II.

Madame Carter, gathering her drap-
cries about her, was one of the first
to leave the terrace. Dressing for
dinner was slow and serious busi-
ness for her. She gave Harriet q cold,
appraising glance as she passed her !;
Richard Carter had risen to escort his
mother, but she delayed him for q mo-
ment.
Miss Nina gone in. Miss Fieldf"
Harriet, whose manner with all old
persons was the essence of scrupulous
formality, rose at once to her feet.
nina has gone to change her dress,
Madame Carter"
"She took it 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 coming?" she asked In
an undertone, to Ward, as one more
motor swept about the carriage drive.
"What is It, Beautifully" Ward
laughed. Harriet's glorious eyes wild
ened into smiling warning. His open
and boyish admiration was sort of
joke between them. Yet in this Sec
rnd. as ne craned his neck to get a
glimpse of the approaching guests, a
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 as 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 Carter's heir.
"It's the Bellamys and their crowd
said Ward, watching the approach of
newcomers. Look at that man with
them, that fellow with the hair
that's Blondini That's the man 1 was
telling you about the other night, the
man whose name l couldn't remem-
berl"
"WhoT
Harriet did not know whether she
said 1t or screamed it. She lost all
consciousness of her surroundings and
her neighbors for a 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
a pain split her forehead, and she felt
suddenly tired and broken.
Ward had gone across to greet the
Bellamys; Harriet fixed her eyes
with sort of fascination upon the
man to whom she presently saw him
talking. Almost everyone else in the
group was looking at him, too; Royal
Blondin was used to it; one of his
| favorite affectations was an apparent
unconsciousness Of being observed.
Well over six feet in height, he haG
dropped his ieonine head, with it.
thick locks of dark hair, q little or
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
one wanted to meet the Bellamys
friend, and Harriet saw that it pleased
him, for some inscrutable reason, t.
continue his ridiculous conversation
with the flattered Ward, and to accep
names and greetings absently, in al
aside, as it were, smiling perfunctoril.
and briefly at the eager girls ant
women, and returning Immediately t.
his concerned and passionate under
tones with the boy.
It was Isabelle who brought him t,
the tea table. Harriet had felt, witt
sure premonition of disaster, that /
must be. She might not escape; ther