The Jasper news., 1922-03-30


faltering accents stopped. "No, my
dear, It's out Of the question: In the
first place, she is not the sort OF com
panion would CHOOSE for any girl,
and In the second place would never
know where you and your grandmoth-
er were, or what was happening to
you'll While Miss Field IS in charge /
shall feel entirely safe. OF course, II
Mrs. Tabor chooses to invite herself,
that's her AFFAIR."
"Then don't want to goi" Nina
stormed. But In the end she did 90.
Madame Carter, Nina and Harriet duly
sailed, In the second week OF January,
and Ward Joined them almost q month
later, in Nassau. And here Harriet
had the brother and sister at their
best free to show the genuine childish
ness that was in them. to swim and
picnic and tramp, and here she In
dulged Nina In long talks, and encour-
aged her to associate with the young
people she met,
Harriet wrote once a week TO Rich
ard, making general report. and In
| closing receipted hotel and miscellane-
Gus bills. His communications usually
took the form Of cables, although once
or twice she received typewriter let
| ters.
In mid.April they all came home
again, and Crownlands. In the years
first shy filming OF green, looked won
derful to Harriet's homesick eyes.
Richard was to join them at dinner;
II had been impossible for him to
meet them wGen the boat arrived. but
Fox had been there and attended to
the formalitles. 1t had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
to dress accordingly. Nina looked her
prettiest In white silk. and the old
lady was magnificent in diamonds and
brocade. Harriet deliberately selected
her handsomest gown, severe black
satin that wrapped her slender body
with one superb and shining sweep,
and left her white arms and firm.
fiawless shoulders bare. The firm
young lines of chin and throat. the
swelling white breast that met the en-
casing satin, the slippers with their
twinkling buckles-she could not but
find every detail pleasing. and her
scarlet mouth, firmly shut. was
twitched by sudden dimple.
She glanced at the clock, went slow
ly 10 the door, and slowly down the
big square stairway. Richard and his
children we're in the lower hall, and
they all glanced up.
| Ilnurn hn M
Harriet, smiling as she slipped her left
arm about Nina, and gave the free
hand to Nina's father She was ap-
parently cool and unseIf-conscioGs; In
wardly she felt feverish, frightened
and excited and happy, all at once.
Richard was in evening dress, too; he
looked his best; his dark hair brushed
10 shining crest. and his gray eyes
full Of pleasure.
swell, Miss Field" he said, a lit
tie breathlessly. "Well Your vaca-
'tion hasn't done you any harm!"'
I'VE had TO make an occasion of
our coming home!" Harriet said. with
nervous laugh, trying not TO see the
admiration in his eyes.
|
'Why, you saw this gown at Mas.
sau," Harriet protested.
"Louise-or whoever she was OF
Prussia, or whatever you call 1t
turned In the family vault when yOJ
walked down those stalrs!" Ward
, said. "Oo-OO-caught you under the
: mistletoe-oo-oo. you wouldw HI
al IN. ha,
in his embrace.
"Ward, behave yOurselfr Harrie
said, evading him. and walking towarS
the dining room with his grandmother
}. who came downstairs IN her turn, an,
4 Joined them.
o Richard Carter watched her. the in
carnation Of young and beautiful
e womanhood. Clever he knew her {,
= be, capable and conscientious. but to
+ night she was in a new role. He like,
e TO see her there at the other end O
D the table; he realized that she was tn
i center of things. here In his house
and that he had missed her.
r After dinner II ehanced that Bot
+" tomley called her to the telephone
;. and that a moment later she passe
O the cnll on 10 Richard.
l. "It's Mr.. Gardiner, Mr.. Carter. n
Il didn't know that you were here. bu
d he would rather speak TO you," Hal
riet said. Richard went TO the tel,
k phone, and as she moved to max
room for him. and gave him the r,
IS celver, he had a sudden breath OF III
v sweetness and freshness of her. {
A. hair and young Arm skin, Of I'll