The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-12
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
By
Kathleen Norris
Illustrations BY
Irwin Myers
IiIIIIIlIIlIIiIlIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIiIIIIlII
Copyright by Kathleen Norris

Father tomorrow" Nina said. Il sup
pese I might as well go down." she
ADDED, cycling herself glOomily in her
mirror, for Ward and that boy seem
absolutely at loss for amusement"
n "And I'll be down presently" Har-
raet said. But when Nina was gone
enc walked slowly to her own. dress
ang table, and sat down, and regarded
herself steadily, and with heavy eyes.
Unexpectedly, here between the fam
~ dinner and the early going TO bed,
ON n June evening, crisis in her life
was confronting her, and she knew
Ghat she must meet 1t.
Wards guest was only the young
Saunders boy, who had been with
Them constantly last summer, and who
was Of absolutely no significance in
their lives. And yet Harriet had been
introduced. to him all over again as
Mrs. Carter''-there was no halfway,
Am the eyes of the world at least, In
ghis relationship Of hers with Richard,
and she must begin to take her place
an the family.
n Mrs. CarterY Harriet loved that
distinction as If the title, the sigma
fure, and the dignity had never been
vOuchsafed to womankind before. She
had marveled at her old self, that had
taken Miss and Mrs" with cheer
ful INDEPENDENTLY, there was a
Worldwide chasm between the two!
Just to have this silly Saunders boy
call her Mrs. Carter, as matter of
course, was to receive the accOlade
that gave her all her longed-for
0Reams In one. 1t was the name of
the man she loved, and, even though
4 Ann a shadowy and unloved way, she
Mixed the title that made her his.
And now she owed him the truth,
ishe whole, painful, humiliating story.
II she had told him months ago, so
much the better and drawer woman
aha! She had not done so; she had
been fighting Nina and his mother
then; she had been afraid. But she
waA not afraid now; he could forgive
that long-ago girl of seventeen be-
cause her advocate was the woman of
twenty the finished, cultivated,
capable woman who had served him
end his house, who must win his re-
ispect back because she loved him with
every fiber Of her being.
N The words in which she would tell
him came to her in a rush. Why-it
was nothing! 1t was less than moth
Ing. In half an hour she would be
{ back here In her room again, with all
4 A. oln ctr. afrh of 10 Cf
with the cloud gone, and with her
whole soul singing with hope of the
glorious future. For a moment she
hnelt by her bed, her face In her
! hands.
! She rose to her feet. There was a
tap at the door.
\ It was Bottomley. "n you please,
'm-Mr. Carter would be so much
obliged IL you would step down to the
library, m" Harriet gave herself a
parting glance, and followed the man
downstairs.
'-Cooragel" she said to herself, with
her hand on the library door. "Pve
/ exaggerated and enlarged upon this
I thing too longl I've imagined 1t into
+ On importance that 1t really hasn't al
AIR.
Richard was back at his desk; he
smiled and rose as she came in. There
vas another man in the library, wht
rose and faced her, too.
"a And when Harriet saw him sh'
knew that she was too late. 1t wal
Royal Blondin.
r A dizziness and sickness came owe
her as she went slowly to the chai
opposite Richard. She touched thu
desk for support as she sat down. ant
Il felt that her fingers were cold ant
net.
Mr.. Blondin has come to talk t
me about Nina" Richard said. Har
net somehow moved her dizzy eye
toward Blondin, and she smiled me
ehanically. But she had TO moiste
q her lips before she could speak.
1T see II Her voice sounded hoI
Rfbly choked to her; she could fin
nothing to add to the meaningless
words.
IS "Mr. Blondin asks my consent to a
immediate marriage" Richard saiC
you know my objections TO tha
Harriet. of coursel We have jus
been discussing them, as l explaine
90 him. This is a painful matter
me. and I regret 1t. But Mr.. BlOndi
has given me no choice but to tell hi
frankly why, think him an unsuitabl
husband for my daughter. I have tOl
? him exactly what my procedure wi
b In such a case, and think we III
0erstand each other"
Royal was smiling the seren
A dreamy smile that was characterize
OF him. .........-..-.... -.
"Nina," he said. tenderly, "is war;
hearted. And a chance allusiOn TO n
financial position, which. I thought
0wed her. has distressed her unnece
Aarily. 1t will. truly, be out of Il
question for me to travel, as we hf
planned. The unfortunate specul
items OF my friend"
Whose name you withhold" Ric
ard interrupted the musical voice
any. dryly.
because Of promiseI" Roy
flashed promptly. But" he resume
turning to Harriet. 81 shall be able
negotiate this business. as l assn
MIR. Carter, without any assistan
from him or his DAUGHTER" his
!. Easter post cards cent, the b.