The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-02-10

beautiful In her furry hat and lonl
coat, with her brilliant cheeks and hel
blue eyes shining under a blown fin
of golden hair. that Linda, 90 sh.
basted the turkey In the hot kitchen
couldn't help little prayer that tha
would all come out fright"
But, Davy dearl" Harriet ant
David had stopped short In the exqui
site, silent woods. There is feel
ing-a something that makes marriage
right! And / haven't Ii, that's all =
How do you know you havent?'
he said, smiling. Harriet, If onc'
you said you would, 1t would come
Harriet" his arm was about her now
his voice close to her ear, don't le
those years with rich people spoil yor
for the real thing, dear''
She looked up at him, with some
thing wistful In her blue eyes. In
stantly she saw leap to his face the
look he had hidden so many years
she heard a new ring In his voice.
"Ah-you darling You will? You'll
let me tell them-?"
4
sorry. she put away his embrace. "Tll
-Davy, 1 hate to spoil your Christ
mas day don't know what to say
I'll think about it
She turned to go home Her heart
was lead within her.
Il suppose there's no help for It,"
she thought. In panic. 'Linda'll
see-it'll all be out In five secondsl"
But Linda met them at the door, full
of an announcement.
Harriet, Mr.. Carter is herei"
"Mr.-who?"
Back came the tide with a great
rush, nothing else mattered. For a
moment Harriet was turned to stone.
Then in a dream of radiance and de-
light she went into the little parlor,
and Richard Carter stood up to greet
her, and there was nobody else In the
world. Linda had introduced herself (;
David was introduced. Harriet glanced
about helplessly; he had not come
here to say merry Christmas" surely.
81 suggested that Hansen take the
little people for a five-minutes' drive"
he explained, "and then 1 shall have
to hurry back. I wanted to speak to
you on a matter Of business, Miss
wrapped-if we might walk to the cor
ner and meet them; I'll only steal you
from your family for five minutes"
Certainly" Harriet's heart was
singing. She was hardly conscious Of
what he said; 1t was enough that he
had sought her out, that she was to
have one more word with him.
Il came here to discuss my own
plans, Miss Field" he said at the gate,
"but hint from your sister has made
me fear that perhaps l am too late.
She tells me that you may be making
plans of your own"
"David?" Harriet said, resentfully.
81 have no plans with Davidl" she
said, simply.
II didn't know" Richard answered.
II came to ask you to come back. |
Things are In an absolute mess with
us. We have not had a serene moment
since you left us-three weeks ago."
Harriet's spirit scared. She knew she
must go back She had only despaired
Of their ever needing her again. Every |
fiber of her being strained toward the
old life.
LINDA, my sister, thinks 1t would
be unwise,' she began. The man in
rerrupted her.
"There has been q new turn of
events, Miss Field. / had some infor-
nation last night which may make
he said, gravely. 81 re-
,eived wire from Pope, In France.
Ny wife-Isabelle-died on an operat-
ng table yesterday afternoon, in
Paris"
Harriet, stupefed, could only look
It him fixedly for long minute. Her
fps parted, but she did not speak.
"Dfed?" she whispered sharply. The
nan nodded without speaking. But
tut what was it?" Harriet said.
For answer he gave her the crum-
lied cable, with the bare statement of
act. She read it dazedly, looked at
40 ooAhDCA idttp anu ituu II dbdih. |
81 can't believe 1t % she said.
swell, now" Richard began present
= In different tone, eve are, as l
aid, Miss Field, In a mess. / haven't
cd the children this; they have lot
T young people there over Christmas.
fy mother and Nina are planning
ONE entertainment for New Years
light, and | suppose this will end all
hat; l should suppose that Nina and
er brother must have a period of
lourning. l am deeply involved in q
lg project in Brazil, committee meet ,
lgs all through January can't
wing it, that's all.
Now, when we last talked of the
inject together" Richard pursued in &
buslnesslike way, you objected to
he suggestion of marriage. because
y wife was then still alive. Am |
)rrect?" S
"Yes, that's correct !" Harriet said, \
Dicelessly. She felt herself beginning /
} trembe. e
MY purpose In coming today was b
kl..A | 4.