Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-02-16

terrace WIFI ueF uedrL DedlluS hlCh
and fast with fright, and made her
escape.
She and Nina had luxurious suite
on the second floor. shut off from the
rest Of the house by a single door, and
rather remotely placed In a wing that
commanded a superb view of the river.
Nina, half-dressed, was sprawling
luxuriously on her bed when Harriet
came in. Glass doors were open upon
square porch, and the sweet after
noon air stirred the crisp, transparent
curtains.
Harriet shut the door, and leaned
against it. and the world spun about
her. What now2 What now? What
now? hammered her heart. Nina
tossed aside her magazine, and regard
ed her with affectionate reproach.
you ran upstairs ~ she said. I'm
lying on your bed because Maude had
the laundry all over mine. Are you
going to lie DOWN."
mo, my dear!" said Harriet, in an
odd, breathy whisper.
The terror began to flood her soul
and mind again. She went out to the
porch, and looked down into the clear
shade of the early twilight, under the
trees. The terrace was deserted;
every sign of the tea party had van
iShed, not q crumb marred the order
of the grass-grown bricks. The chairs
held formal attitudes, the table was
empty. All the motorcars were gone
from the drive. She turned back into
the room, breathing more easily.
At half-past seven she came up
from little diplomatic adjusting in
the service end of the house, to peep
at Nina, who was reading in bed, and
to go on to Isabelle's room. If Mrs.
Carter was alone, she liked to see
Harriet then, to be sure Of any last
message, or to discuss any domestic
plan.
Harriet found her, exquisite In
twinkling black spangles, before her
mirror. Isabelle's hair was dressed in
dark and shining waves and scallops.
netted invisibly, set with brilliant pins.
There was not an finch of her whole
beautiful little person that would not
have survived q critical inspection.
Her skin, her white throat, her arms
and hands and fingernails, her waist
and ankles and her pretty feet, were
all absolute perfection. The illusion
that yelled her slender arms stood at
crisp angles; the silk stockings
showed warm skin tint through their
thinness; her lower eyelids had been
skillfully darkened, her cheeks deli
cately rouged, and her lips touched
with carmine; her brows had been
clipped and trained and penciled, her
lashes brushed with liquid dye, and
what fragrant powders and perfumes
could add, had been added in gen
erous measure. She wore diamonds
on her fingers, in her ears, and about
her throat, and her gown was held at
her full smooth breast by platinum
bar that bore a double line of mag
nificent stones. Harriet always
thought her handsome; tonight she
had to admit that her employer was
truly beautiful.
Mrs. Carter was in a pleasant mood
she had a good disposition, and there
was nothing in her life now to ruffie
it. She mused happily, her lips twitch-
ing with some amusing memory. Then
she became businesslike Harriet, do
you go to the city this week?"
nina and the girls are to see Ruth
st. Denis on Friday" Harriet said. 81
thought Madame Carter would take
them, but now she says no. But If
Nina stays with her grandmother over
night, thought would like to see
my sister; she hasn't been very well.
That can wait, of course. Miss Jays
tea party is tomorrow; that's Thurs
day"
"And that reminds me that Louise
Jay telephoned today, and asked me
if you would take charge of the tea
table," Isabelle said, with a shrewd
glance.
Harriet hesitated, and the color
crept into her smooth cheeks. "One
wonders" she mused in a most un-
promising tone, whether one is asked
as maid, or a guest?"
"In this case, as mother" Isabelle
was inspired to answer. Personally,
l should very much like it for Nina's
sake. But you suit yourselfl"
The tone denied the words; Harriet
knew what she was expected to do.
"Tll be delighted to help| she said,
lifelessly. "a lot Of women and chill
dren," she reflected, "and nobody
drinking tea anyway, this weather p
Nina was duly dressed for the tea
party the next day, and went to show
herself to her mother while Harriet
dressed. The young girl looked her
best in filmy white with its severely
plain ruffles, and with a wide white
hat on her thick, smoothly dressed
hair. Miss Field, too, although she
was very pale today, looked simply
gorgeous" as Isabelle expressed it.
when she saw them off in the car
although Harriet's gown was not new
and the little flowered hat she had
crushed down upon her splendid hair
had been Isabelle's own a season ago
Harriet was In no holiday mood; she
felt herself in a false position; this
was TO De one OI Tie llIleS Wu0U SHE
paid high for all the beauty and lux
ury of her life.
"Here we arel' Nina gave star.
tied glance at the lawns and gardens
of the Jay mansion already dotted
with awnings and chairs, and sprinkled
with the bright gowns of the first
arrivals. They were early, and theiI
hostess, a handsome, heavily built
woman with corsets like armorplate
under her exquisite gown, and 6
blonde bang covering her forehead
came forward with her daughter t.
meet them. Francesca was as slight
as a willow, with demurely dropped
little head and a honeyed little self
, possessed manner.
, every decent of you, Miss Field y
breathed Mrs. Jay, in voice like tha
Of horn. "You girls run along now
DeoDle will be comm Mt any minnie