The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-06

plans Of your own"
'Dayid1s 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 backl She had only despaired
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 q new turn Of
events. Miss Field. I had some infor-
nation last night which may make a
difference" he said, gravely. 81 TO
ceived a wire from, Pope, In France
Ny fe-Isabelle-died on an operat-
ing table yesterday afternoon, I'm
Paris
Harriet, stupefied, could only look
at him fxedly for long minute. Hel
lips parted, but she did not speak.
'DiedT 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 1t dazedly, looked at
his somber face, and read 1t again.
81 can't believe 1t !" she said
well 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 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; 1 should suppose that Nina and
her brother must have a period Of
mourning. / 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 sof the
subject together" Richard pursued In
businesslike way, you objected to
the suggestion of marriage, because
my wife was then still alive. Am /
correctT
"Yes, that's correct!" Harriet said,
voicelessly. She felt herself beginning
to tremble.
my purpose in coming today was
to suggest that, If that was your sole
objection" the man continued, pains
takingly, "you might feel the situation
changed now. / need you. We all do.
If it is my mother who makes it i'm
possible, or some other thing that
cannot change-why, must get along
as best l can. But my proposition is
that you and I are quietly married
tomorrow; you come back tomorrow
night and announce it whenever you
see fit. l may seem little matter of
fact about this, Miss Field, but | am
hoping you understand. / am making
you an unsentimental business offer.
| need you in my life and / offer you
certain advantages which 1t would be
silly and schOolboyish for me to deny
| possess. | have certain standing
IN the community which even Mrs.
Carriers madness has not seemed to
impair seriously. The boy and the
girl both love you, and you have my
warmest friendship. Your position in
my household will be as free and in
dependent as was Isabelles. | do not
know whether you will consider this
fair return for what | ask, for after
all you are giving your services for
life to the Carter household
Nov, this is of course entirely sub
iect to what pleases you In tie mat
ter" he broke off, to say, emphatically.
Il merely throw it out as SuggeS-
ton. 1t would please me very much
l would draw q long breath of relief
to have it settled Mrs. Tabor is
there-stays there; takes the head of
my table. | spent last night at the
club had cabled Pope-and expected
an answer. but my mother telephOned
me at three o'clock this morning tC
say that Ward and some of his friends
had gone out ice-skating. Ward'>
| been dropped from his university.
can't have that sort Of thing, you
| knowr'
"When-did you want me?" Harriet
brought her beautiful eyes back from
some far vista.
81 thought that If you could meet
me at my Office tomorrow | wOult
| have all the arrangements made
| Nina is to be at the Hawkes. l senC
| the car for her at three. | thought
that you and she could go home to
| gether to Crownlands. I'll have to bt
in town that night"
"Home-to Crownlands" Suddenl,
Harriet's lip quivered and her eye:
brimmed with tears. "I'll be very
glad to go back" she said in a low
| voice
"Good!' he said. 81 needn't tel
you how I feel about 1t: 1t helps me
! out tremendously. Now, about tomor
row. how would you like that to be?'
We'll" she laughed desperately
through her tears. Were Church O.
England" She laughed again wher
he took out his notebook and wrote
the words down.
"Once it's DONE" he said, reassur
ingly, you'll see my mother and al
the rest of them come into line. Il
! puts you in a definite position, ant
| although may seem TO be rushing anC
confusing you now. there is more