The Holbrook news., 1922-02-10

like children as he flung himself drip ping on the hot boards, and proceeded to bake luxuriously in the sun.
 Its the most gorgeous thing ever saw. do you know that?" he asked. with one hand touching the river of sparkling gold that blazed and tumbled on her shoulders. Listen. Harriet, do you remember the little talk we had some weeks ago."
 Perfectly" she said, little uNwil- lingly.
 'wer. how about ftr' the boy said, after pause.
 Tt wouldn't be fair to you. Ward" the girl said. slowly. after pause. T love you. but I don't love you the way your wife will !'
 "I want you." he said, sullenly. I'm crazy about you. My God"
 Ward. please don't touch mel" she said sharply. getting to her feet with spring. as he put his arm about her. Don't. I shall tell your father if you dol"
 You didn't talk that way at Crown lands last June" the man said, sulkily. ''I don't see what has made such difference now,"
 "I think perhapATm different, Ward. The summer" Harriets voice died into silence. Her eyes were fixed upon the figure of a man who came down the little pier, and dove into the shin ing water Two minutes later, with a great gasp of satisfaction, Richard Carter drew himself up beside them.
 "Ha, That is something Ekei My Lord. the water is beautiful today. How about the buoy? Who swims with me to the buoy?'
 Come on, Harriet" Ward said. pOising.
 Harriet rose, and bundled the glory of her hair into blue rubber cap that made her look like a beautiful rosy French peasant. With no further speech she made a splendid dive, and the men followed her.
 It was one of life's beautiful hours. she thought. as in q great splash of salt water she reached the buoy, and hung laughing and panting to its rest less bulk Ward had preceded her by a full minute, Richard was half n minute behind her. With much vain glorious bOasting from the men, they all rested there before the homeward swim. Harriet hardly spoke. her cup was full to the brim with a mysterious felicity born of the summer hour, the heaving waters, and the joyous mood of father and son. When Richard praised her swimming she flushed in the severe blue cap, and the blue eyes met his with the shy pleasure of child. It was while she was hastily dressing. in the hot bathhouse little later. that n sudden thought came to her and flushed the lovely face again, and brought her to q sudden pause.
 A tremendous thought, that made her breast rise suddenly, and ner eyes fix themselves vaguely on space for long, long minute. Her palms were damp. and she put them over her hot cheeks. But that-she whispered in the deeps of her soul, that was non- sensel
 
 Blondin had been waiting for Har- rlet Ut the church door, Coming out, she had indicated without a word that he might walk beside her. The serv- ice had been Unattended, and the few women who drifted away from it did not walk iu their direction, so they found themselves alone.
 Harriet opened the conversation with d frank yet reluctant confession.
 Tin so sorry, Roy But 1t is only fair to you to say that I've changed You will have to do what you think lit about it, of course. But I can't pretend that Tm-rm playing your game any longer.'
 What game?" Blondin, falling into graceful step beside her, asked pleas antly.
 '1 mean any pOssible-idea you might have of Nina" Harriet said bravely.
 "Oh, Nina!" he shrugged his shoul- ders lightly. Don't take me too seri- Ously. Harriet" he said. Why. when ever we are alone together. should you promptly begin to cross-Question me about that little person?"
 Harriet made d faint, impatient ejaculation.
 Well, anyway. you know where l stand.' she said.
 And you know where do," he 'an- swered, after a pause. T can see Car ter has no particular enthusiasm for mel suppose that's your work"
 You know where l stand" she could only repeat They had reached the garden now, and were at the fool of the steps.
 "l don't quite see how you can takt that tone" Blondin hinted. Do you expect to marry the boy?'
 Harriet did not answer, except by faint shrug. Her heart was sick with fright, but there was no reason why he should be informed that she had definitely broken with Ward. But he had never come so near a threat before.
 ''Of course I am entirely at your mercy" she said, simply. Blondln watched her for full moment of si- lence before he said suddenly:
 Look here. I'll make bargain with you. If you will consent not to make any allusiOn lowell, to ten years ago. I'll do the same. I'll give you my solemn promise on it. Say what you please about me now. You're