The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-08
HARRIET AND THE PIPER
CONTINUED from Sixth Page)

al think that would be the least.
Richard" his mother approved II be-
Iieve / will go with you" she tonde-
scended TO Harriet. after all, Isabelle
was my daughter-in-law. and the
mother Of my grandchildren -
'And / won't go TO California or Ber-
muda or anywhere else unless Lady
bird comes, 90 Nina burst out. with a
broken sob.
Nonsense !" her father began harsh
ly. Harriet said:
Bermuda? Is there plan for Ber-
muda?''
ST suggested it for a few weeks"
Richard said, frowning, "but / don't
propose to have Nina invite group Of
friends. That isn't exactly the idea"
1--WE could ask Mrs. Tabor" Harriet
said, soothingly; sit is right in the
middle of the season. and perhaps she
viii feel she can hardly spare the time.
But I'm sure that IL she can"
eff / ask her, she'll CO." Nina said
In a sulky, confident undertone
Harriet had her doubts, but she did
not express them. A month at Mas
sau, In the undiluted company of Nina
and her grandmother, was enough to
appall even Harriet's stout heart.
The event proved her right. for while
Ida Tabor flew at once to her discon-
solate little friend, and assured Rich
ard with tears In her eyes that she
would do anything in the world to help
him, she weakened when the actual
test arrived.
IF just you and I and your dear
grandmother were going, dearest GIRL"
she said to Nina, then 1t would be per-
feet. But as long as Miss Field, who
is perfectly charming and conscien-
tious and all that, feels that she must
accompany us, why-you and would
never be a moment alone, sweetheart,
you know that! I don't like to think
that it's jealousy"
"Of course it's jealousy" Nina was
pleased to decide, gloOmily. Granny
says that we don't need her, but Fa-
Their just sticks to 1t that she must
manage everything!"
Ida Tabor smiled automatically.
81 don't suppose your father sees any
thing in Miss Field?" she submitted,
lightly.
"Oh. Heavens, MOI" Nina said,
studying herself in a handglass. There
was rather steely look in the eyes
of her friend Ladybird, but she did not
see it, Her smile of pleasure gradual
ly gave place to pout. I'm going to
ask Father if we need Miss Harriet !"
she said.
And that evening she did indeed at
tack Richard on the subject, although
not as decidedly as she had planned.
lie listened to her interestedly enough,
with his evening paper held ready for
his next glance.
LET you roam about the country
with Mrs. Tabor" he said, as the girls
faltering accents stopped. "No, my
dear, it's out of the question! In the
first place, she is not the sort of COM
panion l 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, IL
Mrs. Tabor chooses to invite herself,
that's her affair."
Then don't want to go!" Nina
stormed. But in the end she did go.
Madame Carter, Nina and Harriet duly
and Ward joined them almost 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 a 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
tiers.
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 !;
it had been impossible for him to
meet them when the boat arrived, but
Fox had been there and attended to
the formalities. 1t had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
to dress accordingly. Nina looked her
prettiest in a white silk, and the old
lady was magnificent in diamonds and
brocade. Harriet deliberately selected
her hands0mest gown, a 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.