The Jasper news., 1922-04-20
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
BY
Kathleen Norris
HIssfrahoas BY
Irwin Myers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright by Kathleen Morris
CHAPTER xlv-continued.

II remember feeling that way!"
Richard commented, mildly, as she
paused.
"Well," Harriet said, 81 met Royal
Blondin one night. He lived in our
tOwn-Watertown. He had a dreadful,
artificial sort Of mother. My sister
didn't approve of her at all. A friend
ef his named Street was an artist, and
he had a nice little wife, and a baby,
and they lived in a big, barnlike sort
Of studio. 1t seemed wonderful TO me.
They loved each other, and their baby,
but they were so free! They would
have the whole crowd to dinner.
twenty of us, bread and red wine and
macaroni and music and talk; it was
wonderful-or l thought sol 1t was
so different from Linda's ideas. of
frosted layer-cake, and chopped nuts,
and Five Hundred. loved the studio.
and they-they all loved me, and he
--Royal-loved me especially. He used
to talk about Yogi philosophy and
Oriental religions and poetry, and aft
or awhile ii was understood among
them all that he loved me, and him.
And we were engaged. OF course
Linda suspected. and there was oppo-
sition at home, but in the studio, help
ing the Streets get their suppers, It
seemed so right-so simple! Royal
said he did not believe in the orthodox
ceremony of marriage. He argued that
no one could live up to its promises,
and / believed him. Miriam Street,
the artists wife, was a poet, and she
wrote the ceremony by which we were
married. We had big supper, and
they were all there, and this poem
this marriage pOem-was beautieIl. 1t
was published in a magazine, after
ward, and called a Marriage for True
Lovers 1t had part for the woman
to say, and part for the man, and
Royal and l said those, and then II
had a part for the wOman's friend,
and the mans friend. and for all their
friends. And then there was promise
that when love failed on either side,
the two were free, to keep the memory
of the perfect love unstained by the
ugly years"
She paused; Richard did not speak.
She had told him this much in a sim
pie childish voice, a voice that was an
echo of that old time, he knew. Pres
emily she went on:
"There was music, and then they all
kissed me. and we had supper, and
they drank our health. I went back
that night to my sisters; Royal
stayed with his mother We planned
TO so away on our honeymoon the next
day. l did not tell Linda and Fred
that ] considered myself married !
knew they would not understand and
would try to interfere.
"The next morning I slipped away
from the house with my suitcase, and
] met Royal Blondin downtown. We
mOtored to Syracuse and took a train
there for New York. / had felt sick
when l awakened-it was partly ex.
cltement, and partly the supper the
night before, when We had all eaten
and drunk too much. But / was very
sick In the train, l thought was going
10 die. Royal persuaded me to eat ms
lunch In the dining car, and that only
made me worse. There was a nice
woman in the train, with two little
girls, and she took care of me. And
when she got to New York. had told
her that was on my wedding journey
and perhaps that made her kind-sht
took us to her boarding house In West
FOrty-sixth street. The landlady wa:
a dear, good woman, a Mrs. Harring
ton, and-I was very sick by this time
she put me into her own room, be
cause the house was full, and sent fol
her own doctor.
at was a time OF horror" HarrIe
said, smiling a little, after a moment o.
thought. "The strange women and tn,
strange room, and Royal coming II
with flowers, and sitting beside me
The doctor said 1t was a touch OF moi
sOning, and was Ill only few days
But the inconsistencies, and the strange
ness Somehow, didn't feel married
i felt like a lost little girl. / wante,
10 be back In Linda's kitchen again
safe, and scOldlng because nothing in
teresting ever happened.
"Well, l was sick for three or fou
days. 1t was the fourth day when
was we'll enough TO 60 out. Royn
thanked them, and paid Mrs. HarrIne
ton and the doctor and we went I
lunch dOwntOwn-it vas at Martins
j remember, aud Royal was so excite
and interested In everything. But