The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-05-18

MAANS
about the empty roon1s With i desc-
late sense of los.
she was presently back, ana amused
the young people at the dinner tabIs
with q spirited account of her ststars
move Into q new house-realIy an
old house," that she and her family
had been watching for years.
Nina and Amy and Ward had rushed
from the dinner table to an early
dance at the club, and Richard, after
q talk with his mother on the terraces,
had wandered about with d vague
hope Of finding Harriet soraewhera
with her book. But she was noe
downstairs.
He went back. and presently accom-
panied his mother to her door. The
old lady stopped outside OF Nfna's
open door, from which a subdued nGht
streamed. %t
"oh, Miss Field" said Madame
Carter. ss@ss 8
E aYes, Madame Carteri" The rfch.
ready voice responded instantly. Rich
ard hoped she would come to the door.
but his mothers message was deliy-
cred too quickly to make 1t necessary.
"You're waiting up for Ninaf'
"Oh, yes, Madame Carter" Harriet
answered. The two exchanged rood
nights Richard loftered into his moth
er's room, left her in her maids hands.
and went back into the dimly lighted,
spacious upper hall. He felt oddly
stirred; there were letters downstairs.
his usual books and amusements, but
he felt euriously impelled to try foS
n more word with Miss Field.
He opened the door Of Nina's room.
and went In, and knocked on the half
with Harriet's room. =
"Come in. Is it you, Pilgrim?" the
pleasant, quiet voice said. Richard
stepped to the doorway.
Harriet, seated In a square basket
chair, under the soft food Of light
from a basket-shaded lamp, rose pre-
cipitately, and stood looking al him
with widened eyes and parted lips,
without speaking. She was plainly
frightened, though she made herself
smile. The beautiful room was full Of
shadows; at the wide-open windows
thin curtains stirred In the cool night
air.
brighten your" Richard said.
IFS there something's" Her eyes
were those Of a deer that Is afraid to
turn.
"Why, I wanted to suggest that we
tell u little piece Of news to the
family" Richard suggested, after a
momentary search for q suitable sub
ject. II came very close to telling my
mother, just now. Is there any good
eason for further delayr'
"Why, no, I DON'T don't suppose
there isr" Harriet stammered. aThers
will be talk" #
II suppose So" he answered, simply.
But what we do is own affair,
after all. I shall explain to my moth
er that for us both 1t seemed q prac-
teal and a--well, not unpleasant 10
luton. There need be no change here,
but you will simply have a more as
sured position" .'
She had been watching him, with
all June in her face. But as he went
on the color slowly drained away, and
about her beautiful eyes a look Of
strain and ever of something like
shame gradually deepened. When she
spoke, 1t was rs If the muscles OF her
throat we're CONSTRUCTED.
Eyes, I lei Certainly. I see We
win have to let them talk. This is
simply the best arrangement possible
under the circumstances"
at Is an arrangement that q man
perhaps has no right to ask Of a wom-
an" Richard said. Love e a
great deal In a girls life, and I sup
pose there Is nothing else that makes
up for the lack of it. But you are
not an ordinary woman, and I assure
you that in every way that I can I
mean to prove to you how deeply /
appreciate what you are doing for US
ALL 80
Thank you" Harriet said, almost
inaudibly.
simply change your name on your
cheeks" Richard said. thoughtfully.
Il shall have Fox step into the bank
with the authenticated signature. And
Il there Is anything else, 9 your own
Judgment. Perhaps. IL I tell my moth
er, You would like to write to certain
friends-f You can continue to draw
on the Corn Exchange, that's simplest,
and / hope you'll remember that You
have a large personal credit there" he
added, with a smile. "It occurred to
me tonight that you-you mustn't let
your sister worry about that new
house. If you want your own car"
"0h, good heavens- MI. Carter r.
Harriet said, suffocating.
Ash me anything that puzzles you"
the man said. And with q brief good
night he was gone. Harriet, who had
dropped back into her chair, sat abso-
lutely motionless for q long. long time.
Her eyes were fixed on space; she
hardly breathed lit almost seemed ID
IL her heart vas stopped.
Richard went downstairs. surprlsed
10 feel stfl vaguely unsatis1ed. He
had had his word with Harriet, had
rid indeed much that he Ind no e.
pected to shy. However,, it was muck
better to let the world know thefr ~
htionship; he wss perfectly satisfied
~ hare n 10. But still. - ~ settied
himse6 TO an hours readin8; tn
plagnlne little Impulse persisted IN
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