The Jasper news., 1922-02-23
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS


Ing Us she discussed the details Of the
Red Cross drive, but she wns very
sympathetic with the young girls, and
even agreed with Nina, when Amy wps
gone. that Il would be much more sem
sible 10 take her bath, and put on her
white organdie. and then go find her
father.
They dined almost silently and were
about TO dispersc quietly for the night
after ain hour OF hnfhearted conversa-
tlon In the drawing room, obviously
endured BY Richard simply for bis.
mothers sake. ghen Ward burst IN.
lie had Travelled almost four hundred
miles by motor that day, his face was
streaked with dirt and oil, and CHASTITY
with fatigue. lie went straight to-
his father.
Say. what's al this ~ he said. IN q
voice hardly recognizable. Hnrriet
saw that he had been drinking. Il got
your wire. and we started. thought
the Mater was sick, perhaps. My God
--thut worried me " he broke of bit
teriy. "BIondin came with me; we
stopped on the road for dinner, and
the man had a paper there Is that
what you wanted me for--I don't be-
lleve i'll It's dirty lie, and the boun-
der TINT put that in the paper"
"l'in glad you came home, my boy"
Richard said, ''rve been waiting for
YOU"
Harriet heard no more; she slipped
from the room. There were genuine
tears In her own eyes now for the
boy had flung himself face downward
against a great chair, and was crying.
All the household knew Il; Harriet
could read II In Bottonley's carefully
usual manner md quiet speech. In. the
little music room across tho hall Royui
Blondin was waiting.
"This Is a terrible thingl" he said.
seriously.
"Oh, frightfulw Harriet agreed. A
rather fiat silence ensued. She seemed
to have nothing 10 say to Royal now.
But she was not surprised when, n
moment later. Nina came softly In, the
picture Of girlish distress. With her wet
eyes and fresh white gown.
II thought 1t best TO leave Ward
with Granny and Father" Nina sald,
in vague explanation, going straight to
Blondin, who rose dusty and weary,
but with a SOLICITORS mnnner that was
| Infinitely soothing.
His manner. Harriet had grudgingly
to admit, was perfection, When Rich
ard and Ward Joined them few mo-
ments later, he expressed himself with
manly brevlty TO the older man. lie
realized. said Blondin. simply, that he
was absolutely dc trop; he had merely
imagined, as Tho lad" had imagined
that the sudden summons from cnrnI
meant Illness or ordinary emergency
or be would pot have intrnded at thi:
time. jIe would not express sym
pathy that must sound extremely nlrS
to the stricken family. And now, 4
they would lend him Hansen, re woult
go over to the club
"Nonsense - Wnrd said. you're al
dirty md tired and hungry, and so an
l. Wen clean up, and then we'll hay'
something to eat firstI Miss Harrie
will look out for MS"
"And Id like TO see sou for mo
ment in the library, Miss Field" Rich
ard said, rather YEARLY. II wan
something sent 10 the papers" he ca
: planned In an UNDERGONE
Ah--they all wanted her. and needle
heri How quick. and how efficient
. and how self-elfacIng Harriet was q
she went about the business OF maxim
them all comfortable
They talked deep into the nigh
Harriet knew, for she herself wa
sleepless, and she could see from til
5 upper balcony that stream of golde
? light was pouring across the brilllai
flowers beneath the library windows
3 She reviewed the incredible even
( Of the past few days, and the actor
: drifted before her vision 6tfully; Is
o belle, white-bosoned and beautiful,
y her prime Tony Pope, passionate on
q wretched; Royai, Iow-vOlced, dream
e poetic, with his eloquent black eyei
MINI, newly awakened; Ward, wea
!, boyish, ardent; Madame Carter. full
II theatrical dignity and well-rounds
a phrases, and Iastly--simple. stron
Il anxious to protect them oil, even fro
y their own follies-R lchard
d 'Not one word Of blame. not Of
;. ugly insinuation, she unused. yet 81
d has shamed him. and he Is so bond
0. able; and she hos mnde him conspIc
/ Gus, when he Is 30 modestT"
IT She thought OF Isabelle, fresh fro
n Germalne's careful hands. lying In b
ID exquisite white against the cushio
a, OF deck chair. smiling, IN the 70
iiattering light under the Seen aw
IN tus, a. ~ t,,e.f,,af.,1 mar, ha.fAa a,