The herald., 1922-02-09

HARRIET and tie PIPER
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS



fixed upon some point invisible to the
joyous group about her.
To Nina, meanwhile, had come the
most extraordinary hour of her life.
She had sauntered 10 a green bench,
under great naples, with Lettuce Ora
ham and Harry Trout and Anna
Poett. And Joshua Brevoort had come
for Anna. and they had sauntered
away, with that mysterious ease with
which other girls seemed to manage
young men. And then Harry and Let
tice had I'm some manner communi-
Gated with each other, for Lettuce had
jumped up suddenly. saying: Nina.
will you excuse us? Well be back
directly" and they had wandered off
in the direction of the river, giggling
as they went. Nina had smiled gal
lantly in farewell. but her feelings
were deeply hurt. She hated TO sit on
here. visibly alone, and yet there was
small object in going back to the alb
sorbed groups nearer the house.
Then came the miracle. For as she
uncomfortably waited, Wards friend,
the queer man with the black eyes and
thick hair, suddenly took the seat be-
side her. Nina's heart gave a plunge.
for if she was ill at ease with kids
like Harry and Joshua. how much less
could she manage a conversation with
the lion of the hour! But Royal Blon-
din needed no help from Nina.
You're little Miss Carter, aren't
your" he said. I'VE were introduced,
back there, but there were too many
young men around you then for me to
get a word In Nice boys, all of them
But not worth your while"
Nina murmured confidence.
"What did you say?" Blondin said
But come" he added, frankly, you're
not afraid of me, are you? My dear
little girl, I'm old enough to be your
father! Look up-I want TO see those
eyes. That's better. Now, that's more
friendly. Tell me what you said?"
Il said-that mother expected mt
TOTO like them"
ITO? Oh, to like the boys. Mother
expects 1t? OF course she does! AnC
some day she'll expect to dress you il
white, and bid us all to come anC
dance at the wedding! But in thu
meantime, Mother mustn't blame some
one who has just little more discern
ment than-well. young Brevoort, TO
example, for seeing that her tam'
dove is really a wild little seagul
starving for the sea. And you don
want to fall in love with one of thes
lads for a year or two, anyway"
"Oh, my, nor Nina felt the expires
sion inadequate, but her breath ha,
been taken away. The man hat
turned about little, his eyes wer
all for her, and his arm, laid carelessl
along the back of the green bench
almost touched the white ruffles. The
were In full sight of the house. toe
and If Lettuce or Anna came bach
: they would see Nina in deep and last
: ing conversation with the man that al
/ the older women were so mad about
2 "You don't. But-what?" He ben
! his dark head.
II said, But / don't know how 20
{ knew it'w Nina repeated, lOokin
down in her overwhelming self-cor
!, seriousness, but with a smile of ute
e happiness and excitement.
e A second later she looked up 1
some alarm. He was silent-she Ia
somehow said the awkward thin
: again! Nina's heart fluttered ner,
Ously.
Q But what she saw reassured he
4 Royal Blondin had squared himsel
8 about. and had folded his arms, an
!, was staring darkly into space.
o "How 1 knew It! he said In a hal
t whisper, as If to himself, after a flu
" haif-minute of silence that thrille
a Nina to the soul. "Child, / don't know
q Some day you and l will read book
e together-wonderful books! And the
perhaps we will begin to understan
the cosmic secret-why your Sol
reaches out to mine-why / not onl
want to know you better, but why it
my solemn obligation to take the e,
quisite thing your coming into my III
may mean to us both! You and ha,
somehow found each other In all tn
wilderness of lies and affectations, an
we're going to be friends, aren't We
T-hope we are." Nina said. clea
\ ing her throat, with a bashful laug
= "You know we arel" Royal Blondi
amended. And In a musing tone
added: I'm afraid was little bite
few hours ago. And then saw yo
Just an honest, brave, bewildered lit
girl, wondering why the deuce the
4 all make such a fuss about nothing
clothes and bridge parties and dil
ners-"
"They never say anything wort