The herald., 1922-04-06

Why hadn't she told Linda? Well.
for one reason, she had hardly be-
lieved her own memory of the talk on
Christmas day with Richard. Then
she had feared opposition, feared
Linda's shocked references TO decent
intervals Of mourning; Linda's frank
belief that there was no strong per
sOnal feeling involved on Richards
part; Linda's advice TO a bride.
Harriet's face burned at the mere
thought of IT. No. she couldn't tell
Linda yet; she was too tired TO write
tonight. anyway. Linda and Fred had
not been at all approving, Christmas
night. David had reproached her, had
disappeared earlier than was expect
ed or necessary; they had not failed
of their suspicious.
well! / must go TO bed" she said
aloud, suddenly. She stood, one elbow
on the mantel, her beautiful eyes fixed
on the dying fire. 1t was midnight.
the room and the house very still. 1T
isn't exactly what expected marriage
to be-" she unused. But after all"
she said TO herself beginning 10 move
about with last preparations for bed,
I'm married to the man love-noth-
ing can change that. And II he doesn't
love me, he likes me. I've done moth
ing wrong, and II my life is just HI
tie different from most women's, why,
shall have TO make the best OF II !!
And / did tell him-I did tell him
And her thoughts went back to the
first few minutes she had spent In
Richards Office that day. They had
been alone, discussing the last details
Of their astonishing plan, when she
| had suddenly taken the plunge.
Mr.. Carter, there is just one thing |!
, OF course" Harriet's cheeks had
, famed, "of course, this marriage OF
, ours is not the usual marriage, and
yet, there is just one thing of which
] would like to speak to you before we
we go up to Greenwich" And find
r ing his gray eyes pleasantly fixed upon
her she had gone on, confused but de-
: termined: I'm twenty-seven now
y and perhaps / might have married
some other man before this-except
g that-when / was seventeen-l did
i fall In love with a mani And we
were to be married. She had
, stopped short; II was incredibly hard
! HE had-or 1 thought he had, brought
!, something tremendously big and won
= derful into my life" Harriet had con
= tinued, "and was a stupid little girl
just taking care Of my sisters babies
and reading my fathers books"
you are under NO obligation to tel
:. me anything Of this" Richard hat
: said. kindly. far more concerned fol
:, her distress than interested In wha
she was saying. II must have known
that there were admirers! / assur'
= you that"
"No, but just a moment!" Harrie
= had interrupted him. II was infatu
ated-I knew that at once, God know
= i've known 1t ever since! / went ava.
= with him, little fool that / was"
!, A CLEAN Of genuine surprise ha
come into Richard Carriers eyes, an
: he looked at her without speaking.
a 81 was taken Ill the day l left wit
!, him. While I was getting well / ha
n time to think 1t over. l knew then
a. was too young and too ignorant to b
"A any mans wife. / was frightened an
n I-well, 1 ran away; i went back I
"A nv sister. Both she and her husban
=. regarded me after that as in some wa
20 marked, unprincipled, unworthy"
Poor childw Richard had salt
a. aThey naturally would. You were q
10 more than Nina's agew
70 $50 that's my history" Harriet ha
m finished, simply. II thought / ha
n. done with men. And there have bee
70 men. men like Ward, for instance,
of whom could have been married will
out feeling that I need make any mel
ton of that old time. But / wante
to tell you"
THANK you very much" Richar
had said, gravely. IF the protectic
of my name and my house seems we
come to you, after some battling wit
h the world, 1t will be an additional sa
isfaction to me-"
And then before another word WI
spoken Fox had come IN, announcer
the car, and they had begun the lon
strange drive.
j She got into the luxurious bed. p
= out the bedside light, and lay Wi
4 her hands clasped behind her hea
thinking. The clock struck one; sno
: was still falling steadily outside. b
r in here the last pink glow Of lrelig
flickered and sank-fiickered al
sank lazily.
Some sudden thought made Harri
smile ruefully. She indicated that
n was unwelcome by turning over
m bury her bright head In the pillo
II ooa rosolufelv comDosinQ herself Z