The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-23

which she said his name. That he was
waiting, perhaps rs fearfully as she.
for his cue, was evidenced by the
quick relief with which he echoed the
old familiarity.
Harriet! I find you again I've
been waiting all this time to find you'll
I'd heard Ward speak Of Miss Field
Of course! But Ii never meant you
to me. I've been thinking of you all
night"
"rve been thinking, too" she said.
simply.
Its after six" Blondin said with
q glance about 1--WE can't talk here.
Can you get awayf Can we 90 some
whersr
Without another word she deserted
her seat, pinned On her hat and
picked up her gloves.
there's q very quiet back road
straight down to Crownlands," she
said, considering. "We might walk"
"AnythingT he assented, briefly.
Guided by Harriet. who was familiar
with the place, they slipped through
the hallway, and out q side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soli-
tuds than the man began deliberately:
Harriet, have not thought Of any
thing else since came upon you yes
tsrday, after all these years. I want
you to tell me that you-you aren't
angry with me. You knew-you knew
how desperately tried to and you,
Harrietf What q hell I went through"
II she had steeled herself against
the possibility Of his shaking her. she
failed herself now. It was with an
Involuntary and bitter little laugh that
she said:
you had No monopoly Of that,
Roy" s~
But you ran away from mer he
accused her. when I went to fnd
you, they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
1 felt terrible-that I walked the
streets, Harriet praying-praying!-
that I might catch q glimpse Of you.
1t was the uppsrmost thought for
years-how many ysarsf Sevenf"
more than eight" she corrected,
in somewhat nfelsss voice. 81 was
eighteen. Ny one thought, my one
hope, when I Last saw you, In Linda's
house." she went On, with sudden pas
sion. was that would never see you
again. But I'm glad to hear you say
this. Roy" she added, in gentler
tone. "'Tm glad you-felt sorry. Our
going away was q mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered Q position on
Brooklyn paper, and We all moved
from Waterfowl to Brooklyn. I was
grateful for 1t; only wanted to dis
appearI Linda stood By me, her chill
drsn saved my life. I was q nursery
maid for q year or two| never saw
anybody or went anywhere! look
back" Harriet said, talking more to
herself than to him, and walking
swiftly along In the golden sunset that
streamsd across the old back road,
land wonder didn't 20 stark, star
ing madp .- 81.
Don't think about It." he urged,
with concern.
emo; I'll not think about It Royal.
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. thought Of you, too. I
missed you. Truly. missed what You
had given my hfsi"
A dark flush came to the mans face,
land when he spoke II was with an
honest shame and gratitude in his
voice that would have surprised the
women who had only known him In
his later years.
you are generous, Harriet" he
said. You were always the most
generous girl In the worldT
More stirred than she wished to
show herself. Harriet walked on, and
| there was q silence
LINDA and Fred made 1t hard for
your" he asked.
"Oh. no! They were angels. But Of
course In their eyes, and mine, too
was marked"
Silence. Royal Blondin gave her
glance full Of distress and compunc-
ton. But he did not speak, and 1t
was Harriet who ended the pause.
"Well. that's what a little girl Of
eighteen may do with her life!" she
said. T have been a fool have
made a wreck of mine!"
/ "You are the most beautiful woman
in the world" Royal Blondin said,
steadily, you are established here,
they all adore you! Why do you say
that your life In a wreckT
'T am the daughter Of Professor
Field" said Harriet, "and at twenty
seven I am the paid companion Of
Mrs. Richard Carriers daughterl Oh,
WE'LL was happy enough to have the
opportunity What Of yourself? Where
have you besnr
But he was not quite ready to drop
the personal note.
Harriet, now that we have met,
wen be friends7 Ny life now In among
these people; you'll not be sorry If we
occasionally meetT
'Tn this casual way-no, we can
| sfsnd that - she agreed The fears