Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1922-02-23

them a passing glance, and wondered
a little In her heart. The boy was
handsome, and fascinating, and rich,
but It was just little unusual to have
Isabelle SO openly interested in any
one.
Underlined and vague, this was still
somewhere In the background of her
thoughts as she returned to Crown
lands, and when she met Ward Car
ter. wrestling with the engine Of his
own rather disreputable racing car,
out in one Of the clean, graveled
spaces near the garage
Harriet felt a little quickening of
her pulses as she saw him. There was
no mistaking the pleasure In his eyes
as she came close.
SPARK plugs7" she asked, with the
sympathy OF one to whom the peculi-
arities Of the car were familiar.
"She's fixed now; i've just cleaned
en-" Ward announced, fiinging away
his cigarette and Strengthening his
back. She'll go like bird, now. Say,
get in and try her, will your he asked,
eagerly. "Come on-come on, be a
sportl" But perhaps he was as much
surprised as delighted when she very
simply stepped into the low front seat.
He gave her more than one sidewise
glance as they went dipping smoothly
up and down the green lanes, and said
to himself, "Gosh-when she crinkles
those blue eyes of hers, and her mouth
sort of twitches as If she wanted to
laugh, she Is beauty-that's what she
isl"
About week later they met for q
few moments in this very side garden.
1t was early evening, and twilight and
moonlight were mingled over the silent
roses, and the trimmed turf, and the
low brick walls.
They came straight toward each
other, and stood very close together,
and he took both of Harriet's hands
Now, what is it-what is lit" the
man said, quickly. 'Pve been waiting
long enough. 1 can't stand 1t any
longer can't go away tomorrow,
perhaps for two weeks, and not
kn0wl"
Ward" the girl faltered, lifting an
exquisite face that wore, even in the
faint moonshine, a troubled and In
tense expression, "can't we let it all
wait until you get back7"
why, Harriet" and his arm went
about her shoulders, and he bent his
face over hers, Harriet, why not let
me go happy?" he pleaded.
"You'll see a dozen younger girls at
the Bellamys' camp" Harriet rea-
soned, girls with whom it would be
Infinitely more suitable"
"Pleasel" he interrupted, patiently.
And almost touching her warm, smooth
cheek with his own, and coming so
close that to raise her beautiful eyes
was to find his only few inches away,
he added, fervently, ''You love me and
I love you-isn't that all that mat
ters7"
Did she love hfm2 Harriet hoped
when she reviewed 1t all in the rest
less, tossing hours OF the night, that she
had thought, In that moment, that she
did. It was wonderful TO feel that
strong, eager arm about her, there was
sweet and heady intoxication in his
passion, even If 1t, did not awaken an
answering passion In return. Under
all her reasoning and cOunter-reason-
Ing in the night there crept the knowl-
edge that she had known that this was
coming, had known that only q few
days of encouraging friendIiness, only
a few appealing glances from uplifted
blue eyes, and few casual touches of
smooth brown hand must bring this
hour upon her. And back OF this hour,
and Of a mans joy In winning the
woman he loved, she had seen the hazy
future of prosperity and beauty and
ease, the gowns and cars and homes,
the position OF young Mrs. Ward Car
ter.
She had let him turn her face up, In
the Strengthening moonlight, and kiss
her hungrily upon the lips, and she
had sent him In to his dinner half-wild
with the joy of knowing himself be-
loved. Harriet had gone In, too, shaken
and half-frightened, and with his last
whispered prophecy ringing in her
aars:
"Wait a year-roti TIL go to the
Bellamys'. because promised to, but
the day come back, and that's two
feeks from today, Wen tell everyone,
nd this time next year you win have
"sn my wife for six monthsr"
CHAPTER vi.
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