The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-06-01


aged her TO associate with the young
people she met.
Harriet wrote once week TO Rich
ard, making general report, and in
closing receipted hotel and miscellane-
Gus bills. His communications usually
took the form of cables, although once
or twice she received typewriter let
ters.
In mid-April they all came home
again, and Crownlands, In the years
first shy filming Of green, looked won
derful to Harriet's homesick eyes.
Richard was to join them at dinner;
it had been impossible for him to
meet them when the boat arrived, but
Fox had been there and attended to
the formalities. 1t had pleased them
all to make the occasion formal and
to dress accordingly. Nina looked her
prettiest In white silk, and the old
lady was magnificent In diamonds and
brocade. Harriet deliberately selected
her handsomest gown, severe black
satin that wrapped her slender body
with one superb and shining sweep,
and left her white arms and firm,
flawless shoulders bare. The firm
young lines Of chin and throat, the
swelling white breast that met the en-
casing satin, the slippers with their
twinkling buckles-she could not but
find every detail pleasing, and her
scarlet mouth, firmly shut, was
twitched by sudden dimple.
She glanced at the clock, went slow
ly to the door, and slowly down the
big square stairway. Richard and his
children were In the lower hal, aud
they all glanced up.
Down In the soft glow of light came
Harriet, smiling as she slipped her left
arm about Nina, and gave the free
hand to Nina's father. She was APP
parently cool and unself-conscious; in
wardly she felt feverish, frightened
and excited and happy, all at once.
Richard was in evening dress, too; he
looked his best; his dark hair brushed
to a shining crest, and his gray eyes
full of pleasure.
"Well, Miss Field" he said, lit
tie breathlessly. "Well! Your vaca-
ton hasn't done you any harm"
1--WE had to make an occasion of
our coming home" Harriet said. with
q nervous laugh, trying not to see the
| admiration in his eyes.
"You look wonderful ~ Nina said.
"Why, you saw this gown at Mas
sau," Harriet protested.
"Louise-or whoever she was Of
Prussia, or whatever you call II,
turned in the family vault when you
walked down those stairs" Ward
said. "Oo-oo-caught you under the
mistletoe-oo-oo, you wouldw he
added, with an effort to envelop her
in his embrace.
"Ward, behave yourselfw Harriet
said, evading him, and walking toward
the dining room with his grandmother,
who came downstairs In her turn, and
joined them.
Richard Carter watched her. the in
carnation of young and beautiful
womanhood. Cleve~ he knew her to
be, capable and conscientious. but to-
night she was in new role. He liked
to see her there Mt the other end of
the table he realized that she was the
center of things, here In his house,
and that he had missed her.
After dinner Ii CHANGED that Bot
tomley called her to the telephone,
and that q moment Qter she passed
the cali on to Richard
ITS Mr.. Gardiner. Mr.. Carter. He
didn't know that you were here, but
he would rather speak TO you" Har-
riet said. Richard went to the tele-
phone, and as she moved to make
room for him, and gave him the re-
ceiver. he had a sudden breath of the
sweetness and freshness Of her, Of
hair and young firm skin, Of the
rusting satin gown, and the little
handkerchief that she dropped, and
that he picked up for her. He smiled
as he gave II, and flushed inexplicably,
and his first few words to the Devil
dered Gardiner were a little shaken
and breathless. But Richard was quite
himself again an hour or two later,
when he sent for Miss Field, and she
came into the library.
81 needn't say that I'm entirely
pleased with the way matters have
gone, Harriet" said Richard, when she
had seated herself on the opposite
side Of his big, fat desk. and locking
her white hands on the shining sur
face, had fixed her magnificent eyes on
him. "Nina seems in fine shape, and
I have meyer seen my mother better.
You seem to have genius for man
aging the Carriers. I'm seriously con-
sldering an offer from Gardiner; he's
got to take his boy out TO Nevada for
his health. Ward wants to go, and
would very probably like II when he
got there. l hope he will try 1t any
how SO that leaves Nina, who is
safe enough with you, and my mother,
who seems perfectly well and happy.
Meanwhile. while you've been gone,
| we've gotten the Brazilian company