The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-03

to be back In Linda's kitchen again
safe, and scolding because nothing In.
teresting ever happened.
well, was sick for three or four
days 1t was the fourth day when
was well enough to go out. Royal
thanked them. and paid Mrs. Harring
ton and the doctor and we went tc
lunch downtown--it was at Martins
1 remember, and Royal was so excited
and interested In everything. But
still felt limp and dull. We shopped
lunch, and then we went to the hotel
where he was staying. We were regis
tered there as Mr.. and Mrs. Blondin; 4,
was ali quite taken for granted"
Harriet stopped; her face was
drawn and white, her words coming
with difficulty, the phrases brief and
dry. Richard was paying her absolute
attention. his eyes fixed upon her
face.
"We had dinner upstairs" she said.
She paused. her lips tight pressed.
II can't tell you," she began again,
suddenly, Il can't tell you how 1t was
that came suddenly to know that
was too young for marriage In Miriam
Streets little studio, where they were
| laughing about the baby and the sup
per, 1t seemed different. But here, In
hotel, 1 suddenly wanted my sister, l
wanted to be home again.
1--WE were talking and planning
naturally enough. Royal was coming
and going In the two rooms; I had
plenty Of chance toto escape. Every
time let one go by my heart beat
harder"
He could tell from her voice that her
heart was beating hard now with the
memory of that old time.
''If had let them all go by" she re-
commenced, my life would have been
different. In a few weeks we would
have come back to WATERFOWL, as man
and wife, and perhaps had studio
near the Streets, and perhaps found
solution. But 1 Couldn't
II caught up my coat; left my hat
and bag. I went down the stairs, not
daring to wait for the elevator. And /
went to Mrs. Harrington's. She was
very kind and took me In; she said
that perhaps it would be better to wait
until l was older. / cried all night,
and the next day Mrs. Harrington lent
me the money and I went back to
Linda.
"Of course, 1t was terrible, at first.
But they were kind to me, In their
way. And / was-cured. 1 went into
Mysteries at the first mention of the
whole hideous thing. They saw Roy,
and they told me that need never see
him again. The papers-for 1t got to
the papers !-said that a divorce had
been arranged, but there was no need
for divorce. 1t was all hushed up
Linda and Fred never spoke of it. +
ah, well, l Couldn't
"But when Freds brother, David,
who was in dental college then, began
to like me, then they began to make
light of it." Harriet remembered.
There had been no marriage. of
course, either in law or In fact They
all knew that. And 1 suppose If had
married David 1t might have been hap
pier for me. But as it was, l angered
them. / didn't want to marry David.
And so 1t was what folly girls got
themselves into-what the world |
thought of a girl who had been talked |
about'-what the least breath of scan
dial meantr'
"And you went back to Blondln?"
Richard suggested.
~? No, never saw him again until |
a year ago in this gardenl" Harriet
said.
"You never saw him again 7" the man
CALCULATED.
mot for nine years J"
"But-my God, my dear girl, he
spoke of you as his wife!" Richard
said
'He said 1 had been. Not that was
nowr'
The man looked at her, looked away
at the river, and shrugged his Shout
1ers as If he were mystified by the
ways of women.
"But-you were never his wife?" he
said, fatty.
"Oh, no You didn't think" Harriet
said, hurt, that / would have married
you, or anyone else, If had BEEN"
you. let him blackmall you for
hat?" Richard further marveled.
Il knew-in my own mind, of course,
hat was not to blame,' the girl said,
lnxiously. But 1t sounded-horrible."
Richard bit his lower lip, looked
at his racket, slowly shook
lis head.
Il didn't mind what any one
bought" Harriet said, reading his
bought ''But they did"
''They?' Richard repeated, patiently.
Everyone" she supplied. promptly.
Your wife, your mother, Mary Put
lam Even Mrs. Tabor"
81 suppose D." he conceded after a
'ause. And beneath his breath he add
d, "Isabelle-Ida Taborl"
His tone was all she asked of ex- |
uisite reinsurance.
Il hoped you wouldn't" she said,
landing up with clasped hands and a
udden Frightening of her tired and col [