The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-02-02
I'm asking YOU :"


For answer he stood up. and smiled
wistfully dOwp upon her, with hest
fancy she knew well how to interpret
In his eyes. He had been longing so
thirstSy for just that permission, and
she had been yearning so to give IL !!
Happiness came back into both their
hearts as he turned 10 go, and she
gave him just quick touch of warm
little hand in farewell.
Other guests had come In, and Miss
Field was extremely busy, and Ward,
helping her officially, was busy, too.
Fun to have you down herew he said,
I'm her ear.
Harriet Field had an aside with a
maid regarding hot water. Then she
gave Ward an lndulgent, an Older-sis-
terly glance. He was in years almost
twenty-five, but at twenty-seven the
young woman felt him ages her junior.
He was a joyous. irresponsible boy,
and he and his mothers secretary had
always been good friends since the
day, four years ago now, when the
silent, somewhat grave Harriet Field
had first made her appearance in the
family. The young people loved her
Richard Carter occasionally said to
his wife, Every clever-very pretty
girl ]" which was perhaps as close as
he ever got to any domestic matter,
and Isabelle cOnfided to her almost all
Inf n inc tfnh hi
curious, had gathered no more than
that Miss Harriet's father had been a
college professor Of languages, and
that her only relative was a married
sister, Linda. much older, who had
four children, and lived in New Jer-
sey.
She was master of the art Of keep
ing silent, this young woman, and but
for her beauty she might have been
as inconspicuous as she sincerely
tried TO be. But her simple gowns and
her plainly massed hair only served
to emphasize the extraordinary dis.
tinction Of her appearance. and her ut.
most effort to obliterate herself could
not quite keep her from notice. Old
Mrs. Carter, who for reasons perfectly
comprehensive In an old lady who
had once been handsome herself, de-
tested Harriet, and said to her
daughter-in-law that in her opinion
there was something queer about the
girl.
She was of that alwayS-arresting
type that combines a warm dusky skin
with blue eyes and fair hair. The
eyes, In her case. were a soft smoky
blue, set in thick and inky black
lashes, and the hair was brassy gold
banded carelessly but trinity about hel
rather broad forehead. Her mouth
was wide, deep crimson, thin-lipped
terry, of character, a mouth that had
known the trembling of pain and grief
perhaps, but a firm mouth now, and
beautiful one.
Looking at her. an artist would
have fancied her a bold and charming
and bOyish-looking little girl, fifteen
years ago, with that Greek chin and
that tawny name; would have seen hel
sexleSs and splendid in her early teens
with fat breast and an untamed eye
And romancer might have wondered
what paths had led her, in the superb
realization of her beautiful woman.
hood, at twenty-seven, to this subor.
dinate position In the home of a self.
made rich man, and this conventional
tea table on a terrace over the Hud.
son.
Nearly half-past five, Nina" she
said, presently. go and change and
brush, that's a darling! You look
rather tumbled."
Nina, reaching for a maroon. obedi.
emily wandered away, and Immediately
the empty chair beside Harriet was
taken by a newcomer. Richard Carter
himself, the owner of all this smiling
estate, who had come up from the
little launch at the landing, had
changed hastily into white fiannels,
Harriet saw at a glance. and had un-
expectedly Joined them for tea.
Tea, Mr.. Carter?" Harriet ven.
tured.
He was watching his wife with a
sort of idle interest She had to re-
peat her invitation.
IF you please. Miss Field! Tea
sounded right, somehow, to me today.
It's been a terrible day!"
81 can imagine it" Harrlet's voice
was pleasantly commonplace. But the
moment had its thrill for her. This
lean, tall. tired man, with his abstract
nervous, clever hands. doomed in oddly
manner, his perfunctory courtesies, his