Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-05-11


blue eyes shining under a blown film
Of golden hair, that Linda, az she
basted the turkey in the hot kitchen,
couldn't help a little prayer that that
would all come out fright"
"But, Davy dear" Harriet and
David had stopped short in the exqui-
site, silent woods. "There is a feel
ing-a something that makes marriage
right And haven't it, that's all"
'How do you know you haven'tY'
he said, smiling. Harriet, if once
you said you would, it would come.
Harriet" his arm was about her now,
his voice close to her ear, ''don't let
those years with rich people spoil you
for the real thing, dearW
She looked up at him, with some
thing wistful in her blue eyes. In
stantly she saw leap to his face the
look he had hidden so many years;
she heard a new ring in his voice.
"Ah-you darling You will? You'll
let me tell them-?"
"No, no, mol" Half-angry, half
sorry, she put away his embrace "I'n
-Davy, hate to spoil your Christ
mas day. don't know what to say
I'll think about It'll"
She turned to go home. Her heart
was lead within her.
II suppose there's no help for it,"
she thought, in a panic. 'Linda1l
see-itll all be out in five secondsP'
But Linda met them at the door, full
Of an announcement.
Harriet, Mr.. Carter is here"
"Mr.-who?
Back came the tide with a great
rush, nothing else mattered. For
moment Harriet was turned to stone.
Then in a dream Of radiance and de-
light she went into the little parlor,
and Richard Carter stood up to greet
her, and there was nobody else in the
world. Linda had introduced herself {;
David was introduced. Harriet glanced
about helplessly; he had not come
here to say "Merry Christmas" surely.
II suggested that Hansen take the
little people for a f1ve-minutes' drive"
he explained, land then I shall have
to hurry back. 1 wanted to speak to
you on a matter of business, Miss
Field. 1 wonder-since you're well
wrapped-if we might walk to the cor
ner and meet them; I'll only steal you
from your family for five minutes"
"Certainlyl" Harriet's heart was
singing. She was hardly conscious Of
what he s9id; it was enough that he
had sought her out, that she was to
have one more word with him.
II came here to discuss my own
plans, Miss Field" he said at the gate,
'but a hint from your sister has made
me fear that perhaps am too late.
She tells me that you may be making
| plans of your own"
''DavidT Harriet said, resentfully.
'I have no plans with DavidW she
said, simply.
II didn't know" Richard answered.
81 came to ask you to come back.
Things are in an absolute mess with
us. We have not had a serene moment
since you left us-three weeks ago."
To go blackjack to Crownlands
Harriet's spirit scared. She knew she
must go back She had only desp9ired
of their ever needing her again. Every
fiber of her being strained toward the
old life.
LINDA, my sister, thinks it would
be unwise," she began. The man In
terrupted her.
"There has been a new turn Of
events, Miss Field 1 had some infor-
nation last night which may make a
difference" he said, gravely. II re-
ceived a wire from Pope, in France.
My wife-Isabelle-die on an operat-
ing table yesterday afternoon, In
Paris"
Harriet, stupefed, could only look
at him fixedly for long minute. Her
lips parted, but she did not speak.
"Died?" she whispered sharply. The
man nodded without speaking "But-
but what was it?" Harriet said.
For answer he gave her the crum-
pied cable, with the bare statement Of
fact. She read it dazedly, looked at
his somber face, and read it again.
II can't believe it," she said.
swell, now," Richard began present
ly in a different tone, 1--WE are, as I
said, Miss Field, in mess. haven't
told the children this; they have a lot
Of young people there over Christmas.
My mother and Nina are planning
some entertainment for New Years
night, and / suppose this will end all
that; should suppose that Nina and
her brother must have a period Of
mourning. I am deeply involved In a
big project in Brazil, committee meet
ings all through January can't
swing it, that's all.
''Now, when we last talked Of the
subject together" Richard pursued In
a businesslike way, ''you objected to
the suggestion Of a marriage, because
my wife was then still alive. Am /
correct7"
"Yes, that's correct" Harriet said,
| ,yofonIoesIv Chn felt herself hoqinufncy