The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-03-30

she thought, in a panic. "Linda1l
see-it'll all be out in five seconds"
But Linda met them at the door, full
of an announcement.
Harriet, Mr.. Carter is here!"
"Mr.-whoT
Back came the tide with a great
rush, nothing else mattered. For a
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.
81 suggested that Hansen take the
little people for five-minutes' drive"
he explained, "and then l shall have
to hurry back. l wanted to speak to
you on a matter of business. Miss
Field. 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"
Certainly" Harriet's heart was
singing. She was hardly conscious of
what he said; it was enough that he
had sought her out, that she was TO
have one more word with him.
Il 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"
"David?" Harriet said. resentfully.
81 have no plans with David!" she
said. simply.
81 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 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 despaired
of their ever needing her again. Every
fiber of her being strained toward the
old life.
LINDA, my sister. thinks 1t would
be unwise," she began. The man in
terrupted her.
"There has been a new turn of
events. Miss Field. I had some infor-
nation last night which may make a
difference" he said, gravely. 81 re-
ceived a wire from Pope, in France
NV ife-Isabelle-diedo on an operat.
ing table yesterday afternoon, in
Paris"
Harriet, stupefied, could only look
at him fixedly for long minute. Hell
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 a
his somber face, and read 1t again.
81 can't believe it!' she said.
swell, now," Richard began present
ly in a different tone, 1--WE are, as
said, Miss Field, in a mess. 1 haven
told the children this; they have a 10
J of young people there over Christmas
MY mother and Nina are plannin,
, some entertainment for New Year
, night, and / suppose this will end al
that; l should suppose that Nina AM
, her brother must have a period o
mourning. l am deeply involved in
big project in Brazil, committee meet
ings all through January can
swing 1t, that's all.
\ "Now, when we last talked of tn
subject together" Richard pursued Il
a businesslike way, 'yOu objected I
| the suggestion of a marriage, becaus
my wife was then still alive. Am
| 4 correctT
"Yes. that's correctw Harriet sale
voicelessly. She felt herself beginnin
\ to tremble.
"My purpose in coming today wa
to suggest that, If that was your sol
objection" the man continued, pain!
! takingly, "you might feel the situatio
| changed now. / need you. We all d.
If il is my mother who makes it In
possible, or some other thing that
cannot change-why, / must get alOn
4 as best l cap. But my proposition
that you and l are quietly marie
I tomorrow; you come back tomorro'
] night and announce it whenever yo
/ see fit. 1 may seem little matter-o
| fact about this, Miss Field. but / al
I hoping you understand. l am maxim
] YOU an unsentimental business offe
| need you in my life and l offer yo
n certain advantages which it would |
r, silly and schoolboyish for me to der
h I possess. l have certain standir
II in the community which even Mr.
Carriers madness has not seemed
impair seriously. The boy and Il
girl both love you, and you have m
: warmest friendship. Your position
. nv household will be as free and Il
- dependent as was Isabelle's. / do n
know whether you will consider tn
- fair return for what l ask, for aft