Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-05-04

NA0AAJ AAASO AGA SbLAuCANCs WO0Au AAC |
please be darling, and see that there
was no nonsense? She could not well |
cross his grandmother and Nina with |
out his father to back her. Would he
promise her that they would be home
by ten o'clock, at latest.
Somewhat cOmforted by Wards af-
fectionate loyalty, Harriet went up to
dress for the one o'clock luncheon, and
while she was dressing a new idea
came to her. For a few minutes she
shook her head, stood thinking, with
a face of distaste.
II could do thatl" she said aloud.
And she picked up the gingham dress
that she had laid on the bed.
But there was a prettier dress In
Harriet's wardrobe, a gift from Isa-
belle, that she had never worn. 1t
was a hOwered silk of null, of a soft
deep blue that was exactly the color
Of Harriet's eyes, and at the throat
and wrists 1t had frills Of transparent
lace. The soft rufies that made the
skirt were cunningly edged with black,
and there was a great open pink rose
at the belt.
Harriet put on this enchanting gar
ment, and as she did so she felt some
half-forgOtten power rise strong with
in her. There was one trump in her
hand that she had never thought to
play in a game with Nina Carter, but
she was glad to find it now.
At half-past two o'clock the car was
at the side door, and Nina and Amy
came downstairs with their wraps,
and Saunders and Ward ran about
laughing and confusing things. Blon-
din watched the performance lazlly
from basket chair on the porch, but
when Nina called him q half-laughing,
half-daring, "We're ready, Mr.. Blon-
dinl" he sauntered down to the car
with his pleasantest expression, but
with the regretful statement that he
was not going: d vicious headache had
developed since luncheon.
Whatever the effect on Amy and the
young men, to Nina this was a stag
gering blow. She had triumphed all
through luncheon, had laughed and
chartered, had made Ward telephone
dinner reservation for FIVE, and had
assumed a hundred coquettish airs.
Now all this crumpled, faded away,
and Harriet knew, as she stood be-
side the car looking down at the folded
light rug on her arm, that she was
ready to cry.
"No, you'll have a far nicer time
without me-" said Royal, throwing
away his cigarette, and resting one
arm on the car. II wouldn't interfere,
because knew you'd all give it upl
You just all have a perfectly wonder
full time, and I'll be down next week
end and hear about It'll"
Nina stood irresolute; too choked
with sudden disappointment to risk
her voice. 1t was all hateful, madden
ing, horribleI Those two boys and
Amy-ah, there would be no "fun"
now! She loathed Amy, getting in so
briskly, and saying, "Come on, Nina |"
She hated Ward, she wished that they
were all dead, and herself, too.
The storm came at Good Ground,
and they all had to scramble with cur
tains, smelly" curtains, Nina called
them. And the dinner was eaten in
warm, sticky half-darkness on a hotel
porch, with horrible music making a
horrible racket, according to the same
authority. Saunders and Amy held
hands all the way home, too, and Nina
thought 1t was disgusting; everyone
was too tired to talk, they bounced
along silently and GROSSLY.
And upon getting home, Miss Har-
riet came out Of the shadows on the
porch, looking perfectly exquisite in
her new gown, sweetly interested and
cheerful. She said that she was so
sorry the dinner was poor, they had
had such a nice dinner at home, and
that she had had a talk with their
father, and they were to go back to
Crownlands next week. Nina did not
see Blondin; for the first time in her
life she cEANd herself to sleep.
Harriet had assuredly triumphed,
but 1t was on terms that for more
than one reason did not entirely
please her. Richard, finding the
pretty secretary prettier than ever in
her blue gown, and warmed by re-
laxed day at the club and a mood Of
friendliness, had specifically instruct
ed her that she was to dine with the
family on all occasions, and to dress
as the others did, and to regard her
self as "a member Of the family" And
this, Harriet was quick to realize,
placed her in a peculiar position, made
difficult by Richards kindly cham
pioning no less than his mothers hos
tility, by the adoring sympathy Of the
servants, and the afnectionate famil-
iarities of the Carter children. Rich
ards friends took their cue from him,
as was natural, and in the first early
winter dinner parties at Crownlands
Harriet could not but sparkle and
lead; she had reached her own level
at last