The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-10
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
BY
Kathleen Norris
Illustrations BY
Irwin Myers
Hlasfrdfions BY
Irwin Myers
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright by Kathleen Norris
CHAPTER XVI.

hour Of II an intoxication to the mas
ter and mistress Of Crownlands. The
fact that their secret was all their own
was all the more enchanting. To the
domestic staff, to the children, TO the
outside world. life went upon its usual
smooth way. Mr.. Carter would be In
town tonight, Mr.. Carter was detained
at the office. Mrs. Carter was chaperon-
ing the young people, there were flow
ers for Mrs. Carter. That was all Bot
tomley and Pilgrim and Ward and M
ma saw.
But to Harriet and Richard the de-
iicious. secret game of hide-and-go-seek
made everything else In the world In
significant. Harriet opened the boxes
of flowers he sent her with heart suf-
locating with joy. Richard consented
to be absent from the dinner table
over which she presided with an ag-
ony of remuneration that almost made
him feel i'll. When he CHANGED one day
TO meet her with Nina, In breezy,
awninged summer restaurant, the
sight of the slender figure thrilled him
as he had never been thrilled by any
woman he had ever known. He was
to speak to HI hear her voice One
day he bought ner shoes; In the shop
she looked Mt him for approval. He
thought the shoes. low shoes with
buckles that showed the silk-clad an
kle. very suitable and pretty. He was
thrown into sudden confusion when
the shoe clerk turned to him with
murmured mention of the price.
Ten dollars? Richard fumbled for
his purse. He had met her walking
alone In the Avenue; she had said that
she must get shoes. Hundreds of other
men were presumably buying their
wives shoes, up and down the bril-
liant street. But Richard found the
adventure shaking to the soul
They're lovely Shoes" Harriet said,
as they walked out into the sunshine.
She told him that she was to meet
Nina at his mothers at five. Richard
with sudden eagerness, wondered If
she would spend the interval in hav-
Ing tea somewhere, but instead they
went into bookshop, and she carried
new book triumphantly away. Its
land il we're little early we may
all get away to the country that much |
sOOner!"
She established herself contentedly |
beside him when they did finally start |
for Crownlands. Ward beside Han
sen, did most of the talking; Nina was
silent. and Harriet noticed that she
was very pale. Richard was repeat
ing to himself one phrase all the way;
a phrase that he found so thrilling
and absorbing that it was enough to
keep him from speaking aloud. or lis
tening to what the others said.
~ love her-I love her-I love her"
thought Richard. And sometimes he
glanced sidewise at her, her beautiful
hair ripping In thick waves under the
thin veil, her face a little pale from
the heat of the day, her glorious eyes
family Swallowed. When the swift
movement of the car brought her
against his, their eyes met
for a smiling second. and 1t seemed to
that his heart brimmed with
the most delicious emotion that he had
ever known.
Nina complained Of a headache
when they reached home and went
Early to bed. Harriet, when she had
rubbed ard changed to an evening
gown. glanced In at Nina, and thought
he girl asleep. There were men
quests for dinner, and afterward there
vas bridge. Harriet sat with Madame ]
,arter for awhile. for the old lady had ]
Ilso dined upstairs, went about the [
louse upon her usual errands, and,
,oing to her own room, found Nina I
eading. at about ten o'clock. Nina S
I'D not look up or speak as Harriet
anne In. q
The door that led to Richards room
ras not only unlocked, but actually
Jar Harriet gave 1t surprised
lance, and spoke to Nina, In the next o
Dom. +
"Nina. did you unlock this door?" n
what door," Nina called. "Oh, s
esf' she added 81 did,
"Oh." Harriet murmured And she s.
topped to the door. and looked into a
room. "
II was a sort of upstairs sitting b
)Dui. iuiiliSutu SIMPLY. III man
ashton, with deep leather chairs on II
ach side of the fireplace. broad tables
lrrying only the essential lamps and a.
shtrays shabby desk where Rich -
I'd kept personal papers. and book HI
lelves crammed with novels. Har- m
ct. making a timid round, saw Bal
sc and Dickens, Dumas and Fielding, &C
.veral Shakespeares and complete ly
eredith, jostling elbows with modern
,veIs In bright jackets, and yellow hi
repch romances losing their paper to
,yers.
Suddenly her heart turned to water; to
me tiny sound In the silence warn
G her that some one had entered. sd
he turned. discovered here In the 81
Try center of his own private apart p
ent. He was standing not three