The herald., 1922-03-02
| HARRIET and TIE PIPER
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS



Quoted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared. and in its place came the
sharp conviction that old-fashiOned
women like Linda had some juStifica-
tion. after all; it was dangerous" il
did lead 10 sin" it could indeed hap
pen once too often"
Harriet felt her own lapsing moral
ity regaining its standard. Just now,
when Nina most needed her mother,
when Richard was struggling with diff
ficult business conditions. when Ward
| was engaged
She interrupted her thoughts here,
and tried TO maze herself feel like
woman engaged to he married. Some
how the fact persisted in battling her.
There was an unreality about it that
| prevented her from tasting the full
sweet. Engaged-to a rich man, and
rich mans son. Well. perhaps when
Ward came back, it would seem more
believable.
She had been standing at one of the
hall windows, window deep set in
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path TO
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
| eyes tight, she came back TO the pres
ent moment with start. Ward Car
ter was behind her He laughed AT her
confusion. and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes, he was
going back TO the Bellamys', and so
was Blondin, but they had both come
In just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought reinsurance to
! her Ward was such a dear! OF
course she loved him.
But you weren't a very good hoy
last night ~ she said. Their hands were
locked; but she had shaken a negative
when he would have kissed her.
Rotten he confessed, easily. 81
played poker, too. 10 man ought to
do that when he's edged. SOrry-sor-
ry-sorry. Listen. When we're mar
ried it's all off. No smoking, drinking,
gambling, wine, women, or song,
what?"
You may not know it, but you never
spoke a truer word :" the girl said. His
shout of laughter was pleasant to hear.
| Listen. Does Mother know it?
About US, l mealT'
"Oh, Ward-nObody knows 1t
HushT His mention of his mother
brought back realization with a rust,
and she added uncomfortably, -She's
at Great harrington"
"Oh. darn! | wanted % sse her
She wrote me, and told M she loved
me, and that she didnf t:ilnk she had
been a very good mother to mel" He
laughed, youthfully, with bewildered
widening of his eyes. Il thought she
was sick. Well. maybe we can stop
there going back"
Where did you leave Mr.. Blon-
din"
HE beat it down to the tennis
court. Say, listen, is there a chance
that he's stuck on Nina? 1t looks to
me like what the watch comes I'M"
Harriet glanced at her wrist before
she answered him. Her heart was
sick within her. Close upon her radi-
| ant uIcdUl tillS shduON,
more a shadow now, when her respon-
sibility had infinitely increased, and
when she had had proof of the love
and respect in which they held her
here.
81 don't think sol" she said, briefly.
"TI find Bottomley, and have lunch
put ahead"
you don't like him." Ward said.
watching her closely.
81 don't like him for Nina!" she
amended.
The boy followed her while she gave
her order. Then they went out into
the blazing day together.
"Nina isn't going to have more
than scalp day." said her brother,
fraternally.
"Nina has q fortune!" the girl re-
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol.
Lord, he could marry girl with
ten times that! Look here, you don't
think man like Blondin would con-
slider that !" he protested.
81 would rather see Nina dead and
buried The words burst from Har-
riet against her will, against her prom
Use to Royal There was no help for
1t, her essential honesty would have
its way.
Talk to him." Ward, fortunately.
was not inclined to take her too seri-
ously. you'll like him! Gosh. he
certainly has a good effect on me-"
added the youth, modestly. HE
doesn't drink. and he talks to me
you ought to hear him about char
acter being fate, and all that! Say,
listen, before we get out Of the
woods"
His sudden sense of her nearness
and beauty belied the careless words.
Harriet found his arms tight about
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