The Holbrook news., 1922-02-24

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 In mid-April they all came home 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. It had pleased them all to make the occasion formal and to dress accordingly. Nina looked her prettiest in white silk, and the old lady was magnificent in diamonds and brOcade. Harriet deliberately selected her handsOmest gown, severe black satin that wrapped her slender body with one superb and shining sweep, and left her white arms and firm flawless 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.
 She glanced at the clock, went slow ly to the door, and slowly down the big square stairway. Richard and his children were in the lower hall, and they all glanced up.
 Down in the soft glow of light came Horriot ch ell hon Jac arm about Nina, and gave the free hand to Nina's father. She was ap- parentiy cool and unself-cOnsciOus; in- wardly she felt feverish, frightened and excited and happy. all at once Richard was in evening dress, too; he looked his best; his dark hair brushed to shining crest, and his gray eyes full of pleasure.
 ''Well, Miss Field-!" he said, a lit tie breathlessly. "Well. Your vaca- tion hasn't done you any harm!"
 eve had to make an occasion of our coming home!" Harriet said, with nervous laugh, trying not to see the admiration in his eyes.
 You look wonderfulr' Nina said.
 "Why, you saw this gown at Mas sau," Harriet protested.
 'LouiSe-Or whoever she was of Prussia, or whatever you call it, turned in the family vault when you walked down those stairs! !' Ward said. "Oo-OO-caught you under the mistletOe- you wouldl" he added, with an effort to envelop her in his embrace
 Ward, behave yOurself!" Harriet said, evading him, and walking toward the dining room with his grandmother, who came downstairs in her turn, and joined them.
 Richard Carter watched her, the in- carnatiOn of young and beautiful wOmanhOod. Clever he knew her to be, capable and conscientious, but to- night she was in a new role. He liked to see her there at the other end of the table; he realized that she was the center of things, here in his house. and that he had missed her.
 After dinner 1t chanced that Bot NQhCu ICl tO lliC tcltDllOlc. and that a moment later she passed the call on to Richard.
 "It's Mr. Gardiner, MT. Carter. He didn't know that you were here, but he would rather speak to you" Har- riet said. Richard went to the tele- phone, and as she moved to make room for him, and gave him the re- ceiver, he had sudden breath of. the sweetness and freshness of her. of hair and young firm skin, of the rustling satin gown, and the little handkerchief that she dropped, and that he picked up for her. He smiled as he gave it, and flushed inexplicatly, and his first few words to the bewiI- dered Gardiner were a little shaken and breathless. But Richard was quite himself again an hour or two later, when he sent for Miss Field. and she came into the library
 q needn't say that I'm entirely pleased with the way matters have gone, Harriet" said Richard, when she had seated herself on the opposite side of his big, fiat desk, and locking her white hands on the shining sur face, had fixed her magnificent eyes on him. Nina seems in fine shape, and I have never seen my mother better. You seem to have a genius for man. aging the Carters. Pm seriously con- sidering an offer from Gardiner; he's got to take his boy out to Nevada for his health. Ward wants to go, and would very probably like it when he got there. I hope he will try it any how! So that leaves Nina, who Is safe enough with you, and my mother, who seems perfectly well and happy. Meanwhile. while you've been gone, we've gotten the Brazilian company well started, so that I shall have lit tie more freedom than I've had for, years.
 You look as If you needed it," Har riet observed.
 You look wonderful" Richard re turned, simply. Wonderful! Is thal a new gOwnT'
 "Well, had 1t made last November just before I went away. Mrs. Carter gave me the material a year ago." Harriet glanced down at herself and smiled.
 You might wear pearls-Or some thing-with it," Richard said. Do you